Finding the cheapest country to pursue your BSc in Nursing can be difficult.
In Australia, Monash University’s Bachelor of Nursing is a three-year programme totalling around US$78,653 (128,700 Australian dollars) for those beginning in 2025. In the UK, expect to pay up to US$156,054 (120,960 pounds) for a four-year programme at the University of Glasgow.
This means that aspiring nurses from India, Nigeria, and the Philippines would each need to fork out 10.3 million Indian rupees, 187 million Nigerian nairas, and 6.9 million Philippine pesos, respectively, for a UK nursing degree.
For many international students, these figures make up the entire retirement savings of their parents — if there is even one.
Although finding an affordable medical school is rare, it is not impossible. Certain countries are home to cheap medical schools for international students, with no compromise on quality.
The cheapest countries to study a BSc in Nursing, from least to most affordable
There’s a sense of prestige to be able to study in the UK. Thankfully, not all universities require you to break the bank. Source: AFP
1. UK
We know starting with the UK and its exorbitant prices might make you doubt our list, but we know some international students are determined to study here. That said, there definitely are universities that offer BSc in Nursing programmes that won’t cost your whole life savings.
Consider the University of Wolverhampton, Glasgow Caledonian University, and Middlesex University London, where a typical three-year programme will cost you a total of around 47,985 pounds (US$61,785).
If staying and working in the UK after graduation is part of your plan, we’ve got good news for you. The nursing programmes at universities like Glasgow Caledonian University will allow you to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You can also apply for various positions in the National Health Service — the UK’s state care health system.
Japan’s not the only country in the world with dazzling sights — this picture was taken near Buda’s Castle Hill in Budapest, Hungary. Source: AFP
2. Hungary
In recent years, Hungary’s educational institutes have been climbing up the global rankings. For example, the University of Szeged is ranked among the top 570 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
The tuition fees to study nursing in Hungary total roughly 25,491 euros (US$28,000) for four years or eight semesters. The University of Debrecen and the University of Pécs are some medical schools that offer a BSc in Nursing with low tuition fees — with fees coming up to 23,671 euros (US$26,000) and 21,121 euros (US$23,200).
Living in Hungary is comparably more affordable than in other European countries. The Big Mac Index, a measure of comparing the purchasing power parity between countries, lists Hungary at 70 out of 78, making it a clear indication that international students won’t have to break the bank when it comes to living expenses too.
If you’re looking for one of the cheapest countries to pursue a BSc in Nursing, why not try Malaysia? Source: AFP
3. Malaysia
A 2023 research by the Utility Bidder UK affordability index, which is based on the average cost of electricity, gas and housing benchmarked to income levels for cross-country comparisons, named Malaysia as the fourth most affordable country amongst the 29 countries surveyed.
With that, a four-year BSc in Nursing degree from UCSI University costs up to 104,275 Malaysian ringgit (US$23,322), while IMU University totals 74,250 ringgit (US$16,607) for a three-year programme.
Luckily for international students, most Malaysians speak and understand English fluently despite the national language being Malay, so you won’t have too big of a problem adapting to life here. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the sheer diversity the country has to offer — from culture to cuisine, sights to sounds, a four-year degree might not even be enough to experience it all.
Studying in Poland also means enjoying all the sights and experiences the country has to offer. Source: AFP
4. Poland
Located in the centre of Europe, Poland is often overshadowed as a study destination by its neighbours to the west. However, those seeking an affordable BSc in Nursing programme shouldn’t make the same mistake as others.
A three-year programme at the Medical University of Silesia costs 71,400 Polish zloty (US$18,324), and the same programme at the Medical University of Gdańsk goes up to 76,800 zloty (US$19,710).
On the Big Mac Index, Poland ranks 52 out of 78, though it is notably still one of the cheaper European countries to visit and live in. English speakers won’t have too big of a problem picking up Polish, thanks to the language’s use of the Latin alphabet. Plus, having it as a second or third language will be a bonus on your CVs, considering Poland’s developing status as a major European economy.
5. South Africa
If you’ve never considered South Africa as your study abroad destination, you’ve been missing out. With five universities in the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings 2025 and with your monthly costs coming up to an estimated 11,028 South African rand (US$572), you’ll be getting your money’s worth in value.
Take the University of Pretoria, one of the largest research universities in the country, for example. Here, the four-year Bachelor of Nursing Science programme costs 256,000 rand (US$13,281) for those from the Southern African Development Community (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).
Meanwhile, other international students will pay 376,000 rand (US$19,507).
Not only is it a progressive country, Norway also has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Source: AFP
6. Norway
While Norway has begun to implement tuition fees for international students, pursuing your studies here is still relatively cheap.
The BSc in Nursing programme at VID Specialised University costs up to 50,694 Norwegian kroner (US$4,691) for three years of studies. The catch here is that the programme is taught entirely in Norwegian, so you’ll want to factor in a year’s time and living expenses if you need to learn the language.
Beyond that, it’s little wonder why international students in Norway are among the happiest in Europe. Living in one of the most progressive places in the world, with a track record of upholding human rights and cultural freedom for all its residents, can mean a lot for those who come from countries with stricter laws and regulations.
People walk and ride bicycles on the Main river embankment in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on March 14, 2025. Source: AFP
7. Germany
There’s no talking about affordable and quality education without bringing up Germany. Public universities here are generally tuition-free for all students, though you’ll be expected to pay relatively low semester fees in their place.
Note that some universities will also conduct their lessons entirely in German, so take careful note when applying as you might have to spend a year learning the language before enrolling on the official programme. This is the case for the BSc in Nursing at Evangelische Hochschule Berlin (EHB), otherwise known as the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Berlin.
Similarly to EHB, the Bochum University of Applied Sciences also teaches its BSc in Nursing in German. One of the many bonuses of studying here is that you’ll be on a training contract, allowing you to get hands-on work in the residential areas of nursing homes, on hospital wards, and in outpatient care with the cooperation partners of the nursing degree programme.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on April 7, 2025.
