How to Move to Europe Through Study in 2027: Grants and Residence Permits

The standard scheme includes admission to a recognised university or recognised education provider, obtaining a national visa, obtaining a student residence permit, completing the programme and transitioning to a status for finding work or employment. In EU countries applying Directive 2016/801, students are given access to work outside of academic time. The national limit cannot be lower than 15 hours per week. After completing a suitable programme, a graduate can get at least nine months to find a job or start a business. Ireland and Denmark use separate national rules, while the UK, Norway and Switzerland also regulate learning migration on their own. The current version of the directive sets a minimum pan-European level, but specific conditions are always checked by country.

Choosing a country based only on the cost of education creates risk. For the long-term route, the recognition of previous education, the language of the programme, the amount of compulsory financial security, the right to part-time work, the length of the period after graduation, the state of the labour market and the rules for crediting student years for permanent status are important. A strong strategy connects the future specialty with real vacancies even before applying.

Direct admission to the bachelor’s degree is suitable for school graduates with a document recognised as the equivalent of local complete secondary education. If school systems do not match, the university may require a preparatory year, subject exams or confirmation of additional academic hours. English-language programmes are available in many countries, but the widest selection of low-cost destinations is often presented in the national language. Studying German, French, Italian, Romanian, Polish or Czech expands the choice of public universities and reduces the cost.
A master’s degree usually provides the most convenient combination of a short term, a large number of English-language programmes and available grants. For admission, you need a bachelor’s degree in a suitable profile, an application with grades, language confirmation, resume, motivation letter and recommendations.Some faculties accept candidates with a related education after checking the set of disciplines studied. The competitions Erasmus Mundus, Chevening, DAAD, France Excellence Eiffel, Swedish Institute and state programmes of individual countries are mainly focused on master’s degree programmes.

Doctoral studies are suitable for candidates with research experience and a clear scientific topic. In Europe, there are scholarship programmes and paid research positions with an employment contract. The second option can give a working or research status instead of the usual student permit. Funded positions are searched on the websites of universities and through EURAXESS. The application usually requires a research project, an academic summary, publications, recommendations and prior consent of the supervisor.

Preparatory programmes are suitable for insufficient language, mismatch of school qualifications or the need to finish profile subjects. In Germany, this route is Studienkolleg. In the Netherlands, a student residence permit can cover a preparatory period of about a year if the preparation is related to subsequent enrolment. Independent language course should be checked especially carefully. A short course often does not confer entitlements comparable to a full-fledged programme, nor does it provide an automatic transition to university.
Universities of Applied Sciences offer programmes with a practical orientation, internships and a close relationship with employers. A similar format is presented in Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Austria and other countries. For a job candidate, an application programme is sometimes more profitable than a research direction, especially in engineering, information technology, logistics, business analytics, and healthcare.

Dual higher education combines a university programme with work for a partner employer. The most famous system operates in Germany. The competition requires a strong language and early company search, but the salary reduces the financial burden and shapes professional experience before graduation. Vocational training can also become a separate learning route. German Ausbildung involves training and practice with the employer, and most destinations require German. An academic diploma is not always necessary, but the professional trajectory is different from that of a university.

Exchange Erasmus PlusSemester mobility and summer school are suitable for international experience, but usually do not replace full-time admission. The exchange is related to active home university studies and has a limited term. For long-term relocation, a reliable diploma programme is recognised as the basis for a student residence permit and subsequent job search.

Germany remains one of the most rational options. Most public universities do not charge for undergraduate and many master’s programmes. The average cost of living is estimated at about 1,150 euros per month. For a student visa in 2026, it is required to confirm a minimum of 11,904 euros per year through a blocked account, scholarship or financial guarantee. After graduation, a residence permit of up to 18 months is available to search for qualified work, and any employment is allowed during the search period. The official terms are published on the portals Study in Europe and Make it in Germany.

France combines relatively affordable public education and a large labour market. For the academic year 2025/2026, the standard cost for a student from a non-EU country without the right to a preferential rate was 2,895 euros for a bachelor’s degree and 3,941 euros for a master’s degree. Average living expenses range from 800 to 1,200 euros per month. Private schools and Grandes Écoles can cost between 6,000 and 18,000 euros per year. The actual amounts are collected on the official page of Study in France.

Italy is suitable for candidates considering regional benefits and university fee exemptions. Public universities typically cost between 900 and 4,000 euros per year, with living expenses ranging from 700 to 1,100 euros per month. The amount of payment often depends on the income of the family, the region and the rules of the university. Austrian public universities typically charge students from non-EU countries around 726.72 euros per semester, and the monthly budget is around 950 or 1,100 euros. Inexpensive study does not abolish the requirement to confirm the means of living.

Romania, Slovakia, Latvia and some other Central and Eastern European countries provide more affordable entry. In Romania, the average cost for citizens of countries outside the EU is between 2,000 and 5,000 euros per year, the usual budget for living is in the range of 600 to 900 euros per month. In Slovakia, programmes in Slovak can be free of charge and foreign language tuition costs between 750 and 11,000 euros per year. Such areas are suitable for a limited budget, but the local language significantly affects the future employment.
Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway offer many programmes in English, but require a larger budget. In Finland, an English-language bachelor’s and master’s degree for students from non-EU countries costs between 8,000 and 20,000 euros per year. In the Netherlands, the range is between 6,000 and 20,000 euros; in Sweden, the average cost is approaching SEK 129,000 per academic year. The higher cost can be offset by a university discount or fee exemption, but the partial discount does not cover accommodation.

The post-release period is particularly important for the migration plan. Germany gives up to 18 months to find a qualified job, the Netherlands one year of orientation period, Finland up to two years to find a job or start a business. In Ireland, a graduate of a level 8 programme can get 12 months, a graduate of a master’s degree can get another 12 months. The official rules are published by the migration services of Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Ireland.

As of August 13, 2026, Chevening is open for Master’s studies in the UK with the start of studies in the autumn of 2027. Applications are accepted from August 4 to October 6, 2026, the deadline for submission is 11:00 UTC. The programme covers tuition, flight, visa fee, monthly maintenance and additional costs. A bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 2,800 hours of professional experience after graduation and an application for three suitable master’s programmes are required. For migration purposes, there is a critical restriction: the scholarship holder must leave the UK for at least two years after the funding is completed. The official calendar and rules of participation confirm the timing and requirement of return. Chevening is suitable for education and career development but is not suitable for an immediate fixation in the UK.

The Belgian ARES programme accepts applications for specialized training in 2027/2028 from 3 August to 18 September 2026, the deadline is 12:00 Belgian time. One specialized bachelor’s degree, eight specialized master’s degree programmes and one advanced training programme are available. Requires residence and work in one of the 32 partner countries, a specialized diploma and a minimum of two years of suitable professional experience. Eastern European countries are not on the current list. The conditions and the list of directions are published in the ARES competition.

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for 2027/2028 will open on 20 August 2026. The programme is available to candidates from 183 countries and is mainly designed for young researchers with a completed master’s degree. The research scholarship is 2,450 Swiss francs per month. You need a project and a letter of support from a supervisor in Switzerland. The Arts Scholarship is available for the first Master’s degree in Arts only to citizens of a limited number of countries. National deadlines vary and are published separately. The Swiss Federal Secretariat specifies the date of opening and the categories of funding.

The DAAD has already published the EPOS set for 2027/2028 for master’s and individual doctoral trajectories in Germany. The programme is designed for graduates from admitted developing and newly industrialized countries with at least two years of professional experience. The funding is 992 euros per month for the graduate and 1,400 euros for the doctoral student from February 2026, additionally covered by insurance and transportation costs. The application is sent directly to the selected programme, so there is no single deadline. The current competition and links to directions are in the DAAD database.

The National Scholarship Programme of Slovakia accepts applications until 31 October at 16:00 CET for mobility in the summer semester. Student payment is 620 euros per month, the duration of study is equal to one or two semesters. A valid study at a university outside Slovakia and an invitation from a Slovak university are required. The programme supports temporary mobility rather than obtaining a full diploma, so the grant cannot be considered as an independent immigration route. Official conditions are published by the SAIA administrator.

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters remains the main pan-European option for a full master’s scholarship. Most programmes accept applications from October to January for the next academic year. EU funding can be 1,400 euros per month for up to 24 months, and the full scholarship covers participation in the programme, travel, visa and residence under the terms of a particular consortium. Study takes place at least two universities in different countries. The catalogue and terms of each Master’s degree are published on the official Erasmus Mundus page.
Stipendium Hungaricum for 2026/2027 completed the reception on 15 January 2026. The scholarship covers tuition, monthly payment, hostel or housing compensation and health insurance. The new competition for 2027/2028 as of August 13, 2026 has not yet been published. Admission depends on citizenship, agreement with the sending party and availability of the chosen specialty. Check the new set only on the official website Stipendium Hungaricum.

The Swedish SI Scholarship for Global Professionals for 2026/2027 accepted applications for a master’s degree from 15 October 2025 to 15 January 2026, a separate scholarship application was submitted from 9 to 25 February 2026. Dates for 2027/2028 have not yet been published. The competition is available to citizens of a limited list of countries and requires proven professional experience and leadership. At the same time, many universities in Sweden offer their own fee exemptions.

France Excellence Eiffel completed the 2026 competition on January 8, 2026. A new enrollment is usually run through French universities, and a self-application to Campus France is not accepted. The university sets the internal term ahead of the national term. For 2027, official dates have not yet been published. From 2026, the monthly payment for a master’s degree is 2,100 euros. Updates appear on the Campus France page.
The Romanian State Scholarship for non-EU nationals accepted applications for 2026/2027 from 16 February to 31 March 2026. Dates for the next contest have not yet been announced. The programme includes free tuition, a preparatory course of the Romanian language, if necessary, a monthly payment and accommodation support. Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy are not included in the standard competition of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Official updates are published on the page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania.

The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship completed admission on 12 March 2026. The funding includes EUR 10,000 for one year and a full exemption from tuition fees from the host university. You need a conditional or final offer for a master’s degree, postgraduate programme or doctoral studies. The 2027 competition has not yet been published. In the rules of 2026, citizens of Russia and Belarus were not allowed, so the new document must be checked separately. The Higher Education Authority of Ireland publishes the official terms of each cycle.

What dates of receipt are still available for 2026 and 2027

To begin training in the spring of 2027, Sweden holds an international reception until August 17, 2026. Confirmatory documents and collection are accepted until September 1. The spring catalogue is much smaller than the autumn one, so the choice of undergraduate and graduate programmes is limited. University Admissions Sweden recommends the first round for international students as an early decision leaves time to apply for a residence permit.

Finland is conducting a joint admission to English-language programmes starting in January 2027 from 31 August to 10 September 2026. Up to six programmes can be selected through Studyinfo. Universities also use separate and continuous sets, so deadlines are checked on each programme card.

For the Netherlands, the overall deadline for limited enrolment programmes is 15 January, for most other programmes on 1 May. The university may set an earlier date for candidates from non-EU countries. Study in NL requires you to check the date of a specific programme. For Germany, the common term for the summer semester falls on January 15, the winter semester on July 15. Master’s, Studienkolleg and individual universities may close admission earlier. Uni Assist recommends serving the kit at least eight weeks before the deadline.

Most grants for the start of studies in the autumn of 2026 have already been closed. Late submissions are maintained for individual paid programmes, universities with continuous admission and destinations from the beginning of spring 2027. For a candidate with a need for full funding, it is more realistic to prepare the 2027/2028 cycle, as a strong application requires a language certificate, references, an academic resume, a motivation letter and proven experience.

Legal continuation of residence is possible after the transition from student status to a work permit, working residence permit, research status, entrepreneurial basis or family basis. Conditions depend on the country, degree level, profession, salary and type of employer. A local university diploma facilitates job search and qualification recognition, but does not guarantee employment.

The most reliable route is formed when choosing a specialty with a clear labour market, learning the local language and receiving internships during studies. The English-language programme addresses the question of admission, but the local language often determines access to employers, especially in healthcare, law, education, the public sector and client professions.

There is no universal list of countries and grants. Citizenship, place of residence, age, education level, GPA, language, professional experience, budget and desired specialty change the options available. The personal strategy should contain the main and reserve route, the application calendar, the cost calculation, the verification of visa requirements and the plan of transition to the operational basis after release.

The M&amp team helps to select a country and programme, assess the odds, form an admission calendar, prepare a structure of a motivational letter and check a set of documents. The work is built in the format of educational support, meets the requirements of universities and the principles of academic integrity. For individual analysis, Telegram communication and email are available.

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Also relevant is the article about studying in Europe without tuition fees and 42 grant programmes for bachelors and masters:read — https://mpadvertising.agency/ru/blog/uchyoba-v-evrope-bez-platy-za-obuchenie-42-grantovye-programmy-dlya-bakalavrov-i-magistrov/