Exploring Educational Opportunities: 5 Lesser-Known European Countries for Study Abroad Programs in 2024

"The world is full of wonderful things you haven't seen yet. Don't ever give up on the chance of seeing them." - J.K. Rowling.

This quote fits right for everyone who has dreamt of exploring the endless possibilities of this world. Study abroad aspirants often twinkle with the dream of exploring student life abroad, from academics to events, from friendship to assignments; everything crosses the mind of those who want to explore the unknown. While there are some famous study abroad destinations that have emerged as the top choice for studying abroad, some unpopular destinations offer unique study abroad experiences in Central Europe. For students who are in the middle of deciding which destination is suitable, we have drafted a comprehensive blog on Exploring Educational Opportunities: 5 Lesser-Known European Countries for Study Abroad Programs in 2024.

Study abroad destinations in the Baltic region are less popular but capable of providing students with overseas education opportunities with well-structured curriculums, quality education, and extensive career opportunities.

Slovenia: From Historic Caves to Global Universities

Slovenia, "the land of Slovenci," is located in Southern Central Europe, sharing a coastline with the Adriatic Sea, extending the border with Italy, Croatia, and neighbors with the Julian Alps. The Country is home to historic caves and global Universities offering cutting-edge knowledge for the seekers.

Why study in Slovenia as an international student?

Slovenia is a hidden European study abroad destination that is often veiled because of its famous neighboring countries. Though not among the top overseas educational destinations, Slovenia is home to some globally recognized universities, including the University of Ljubljana and the University of Maribor, which offer courses in Humanities, social sciences, economics, medicine and health sciences, international business, and management.

For international students seeking overseas education, Slovenia is among the affordable study-abroad destinations in Europe, with tuition fees ranging between 2000 to 15,000 Euros for undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs, while the living expenses cost around 400 to 700 Euros. Though Slovenia is an affordable European country offering a decent standard of living for its citizens and international students, there are multiple scholarships available for students seeking financial assistance to study in Slovenia.

Estonia: 1st Country to approve Online Voting

Did you know that Estonia is the first Country in the world to approve online voting? Estonia is located in Northern Europe and shares a beautiful coastline with the Baltic Sea. The Country offers an exuberant life and great academic opportunities for students who want to expand their knowledge horizons.

Why study in Estonia as an international student?

The world is ever evolving and only those who match the pace with it are recognized amongst all. Although Estonia is among the top lesser-known study-abroad countries in Europe, it is one of the emerging destinations for innovations and technological advancements. It is home to one of the oldest Universities in Northern Europe; the universities offer the best study abroad programs in Estonia for 2024 for international students seeking education from globally recognized universities. University of Tartu and Taltech University are amongst the QS-ranked universities in the world.

Like any other global university, Estonian universities generally require English Language test scores like IELTS and TOEFL to check the language proficiency of international students. Moreover, the tuition fee to pursue education in the Country is relatively low in public universities, costing between 1,600 and 7,500 Euros for Bachelor's and Master's degrees. The most significant advantage is that PhD programs are free of cost for international students. The monthly accommodation cost ranges from 100 to 150 Euros.

Estonia is one of the many emerging study abroad locations in Europe. It fosters growth and development and offers excellent career prospects for international students.

Lithuania: Traditions and Innovation

Lithuania, a member of NATO and EU, coming in the Schengen zone, was the last European Country to convert from pagan to Christianity which was earlier known as Litua. The Country's capital, Vilnius, is renowned for its well-preserved medieval old town, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and vibrant nightlife. The Country is not only known for its historical learnings but also for its globally recognized universities.

Why study in Lithuania as an international student?

Lithuania is home to the best European universities for international students, including Vilnius University, Vytautas Magnus University, and Kaunas University of Technology, which are amongst the top QS-ranked universities. By studying at these universities, international students can have a degree that will be recognized worldwide. The evaluation for English Programs in the Country is done according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The Country offers unique study abroad programs in Europe that cover extensive field knowledge. Affordable universities in Lithuania for international students provide diverse courses with tuition fees ranging from 1,000 to 6,500 Euros for Bachelor's and Master's degrees and 7,000 to 8,500 Euros per year for PhD programs.

Slovakia: Castles, Springs and Universities

Those who are often stuck in awe with the beauty and aesthetics of wooden gothic altars should know that the world’s highest wooden gothic altar is located in Levoca at St. James Church. Located in Central Europe, Slovakia is a small country that is a member of NATO and the EU. Moreover, the country is known for multiple reasons, including for its creative learning techniques that have made some of its universities on the list of top-ranked universities in the world.

Why study in Slovakia as an international student?

Comenius University Bratislava, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, and Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra are among the top thousand universities ranked by QS 2025. These reputed universities offer courses in fields like Law, Medicine, Science, Public Administration, Economics and more. The course curriculum includes lectures, seminars/events, orientation, a practical learning approach and everything that fosters student growth. The top reasons to study in Slovakia as an international student include low tuition fees of 2000 to 5000 Euros per year, and students are required to provide English Language Proficiency test scores to get admission.

Latvia: Long Coastline & Diverse Courses

Latvia is a beautiful country located on the eastern coastline of the Baltic Sea, which is 500 km long. Well, Latvia is famous for a lot of reasons, but did you know that Latvian tailors invented jeans? Imagine the jeans, which are essential wear and never go out of style, were invented long back in a small European country.

Why study in Latvia as an international student?

Latvia is home to some world-class institutions that offer high-quality education and great career prospects for students seeking to pursue their education at Latvian Universities. Riga Technical University, the University of Latvia, and Riga Stradins University are among the top-ranked Universities. Latvia can be on the list of affordable tuition fees in European countries since the tuition fees are between 1,600 to 6,000 Euros per year for most programs, while the most sought program costs between 15,000 to 25,000 Euros per year. Moreover, Latvia is blessed with natural beauty, and students enjoy a great academic and personal life there. 

Conclusion 

With this, we have come to the end of our blog titled Exploring Educational Opportunities: 5 Lesser-Known European Countries for Study Abroad Programs in 2024. Europe is a modern country that provides a decent standard of living and quality education for EU and non-EU students. Top overseas education destinations with affordable tuition fees in European countries are well-known, but still, some less popular destinations can provide students with what they are looking for. If you have high aspirations and are willing to pursue education abroad, then book a FREE virtual meet with iKounselor, an overseas education consultant in Bhopal, for guidance.