3 cheapest countries to study architecture for Indian students

An architecture degree promises a successful future. For Indians, even more so. As one of the most architecturally artistic countries, India is home to many architectural wonders such as the Taj Mahal, The Lake Palace, Mysore Palace and many more. With the country growing, boosted by more injections of capital, there’s so much more development in store.

That’s where you, as a future architect, come in. The buildings and the built environment of India’s future lie in your hands.

But first, you’ll need an architecture degree. While studying in the US, UK or United Arab Emirates is popular, it can be expensive. But don’t give up on your dream of building the next Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building in India, just yet. Consider these four countries to get an architecture degree instead:

3 cheapest countries for Indian students to pursue architecture courses

Outside of hosting architectural masterpieces, Italy is home to some of the cheapest universities to study the subject. Source: Miguel Medina/AFP

Italy

Known for more than just its food, Italy is home to brilliant architectural masterpieces such as the Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Milan Cathedral, Pantheon, Florence Cathedral and many more. When pursuing architecture in Italy, you won’t just study it but also live it. It is the land of “la dolce vita” after all.

Fortunately, the cost of pursuing an undergraduate course in Italy for international students is much lower compared to other European countries, the US and Canada.

Italy has several top-ranked universities for architecture. The best universities in the country for an English-taught architecture degree are Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, Sapienza University of Rome, Iuav University of Venice and University of Bologna.

While the tuition fees at Italian universities vary depending on the university, the majority of undergraduate courses in the country range between 900 euros to 4,000 euros.

As an architect in Italy, graduates can expect to earn an average gross annual salary of 39,564 euros at the entry level and 69,852 euros senior level — reportedly higher than the average salary in Italy. 

The Netherlands

The Netherlands is among the most popular study abroad destinations for international students. Currently, there are over 115,068 international students in the country — a 12% increase from 2021.

International students are drawn to the Netherlands as they can receive a high-quality education that is more affordable than in the US and UK. The average cost of pursuing an undergraduate course in the Netherlands starts as low as 6,000 euros. 

Delft University of Technology, the University of Groningen, the Eindhoven University of Technology and Leiden University offer excellent programmes. Delft University of Technology was ranked the second-best university in the world for architecture according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022.

In the last few years, architecture has become one of the most in-demand career fields in the Netherlands. Graduates in this field can expect an average salary of 72,313 euros a year.

Education in Norway is free, making it one of the cheapest locations to study architecture. Source: Odd Andersen/AFP

Norway

Norway is home to one of the best education systems in the world. It’s home to a great number of English-taught universities, many of which are ranked highly on the global stage. Throw in a welcoming community, good living conditions and a low crime rate, and it’s no question why more than 13,000 international students choose Norway. 

The best part? Education in Norway is completely free. Public universities in the country don’t tend to charge tuition fees, making it one of the most affordable destinations for international students. 

For architecture students, living in Norway is a marvel. The country is known for its sleek, clean architectural designs, with this shifting according to economic conditions, technological advances, and environmental concerns. 

The Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO) is a particularly exciting place to be. Here, students are actively involved in a variety of projects, from planning out a Norwegian mountain village to designing future neighbourhoods. 

As it is fully state-owned, AHO does not charge tuition fees. However, international students must have proof of at least 11,153.71 euros in their bank accounts to obtain a student residence permit in Norway.