Going to university in another country can bring some solid advantages, letting students tap into foreign cultures or experience a different approach to learning. It also looks great to prospective employers on a CV.

The downside is that for countries outside the European Union, international fees are usually enough to dissuade all but the most hardened world traveller. Even within the 28 European countries, red tape or high living costs can be an issue.

However, there are ways to ensure that you can study in a foreign university without having to pay through the nose for it. Here are the hacks that will let you experience student life in the US, Australia, Japan, India and beyond.

Erasmus, Europe

Erasmus is probably the most famous student exchange scheme. Its purpose is “to provide foreign exchange options for students from within the EU” and “it involves many of the best universities and seats of learning on the continent.” Erasmus placements vary from three to 12 months.

There are a vast number of participating institutions, such as the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany), the Universiteit Gent (Belgium), the University of Pisa and the University of Granada (Spain).

UK institutions such as the University of Durham are still included for now – the effects of Brexit on the UK’s participation are not yet clear.

Grants are available through the programme to help students cover travel and subsistence costs. Anyone can apply and payments can be up to €370 a month depending on where you are studying. Tuition and use of university facilities abroad as part of the course will be free.

To take advantage of an Erasmus programme, talk to your professor at the University of Malta. Once you’ve sought their approval, contact the local Erasmus office on 2340 2204.

International exchanges

Malta participates in student exchange programmes with the rest of the world. These include the Utrecht Network Exchange, the Mid-American Universities International, the International Student Exchange Programme and The Australian European Network. Apply for one of these exchanges and you could find yourself heading to the Victoria University of Technology in Australia, seven universities in Canada including Guelph, Xiamen University in China, three Japanese institutions including Osaka or over 200 US colleges and universities.

Maltese students need the permission of the dean to participate and will then need to gain approval from their desired choice of university. Exchanges usually last for one semester but scholarships sometimes run for up to a year. Students need to be in their second year of study in Malta when they leave but should apply a year in advance – in other words, if you’re interested, apply as a first year for travel as a second year. The Student Affairs Committee can award grants of up to €2,000 to selected students and you won’t be charged fees by the host university. 

Erasmus Mundus

This allows students to follow an integrated Masters course or PhD in two or more foreign universities. More information here and here. 

Studying in Malta is such a steal that it might put you off going elsewhere, but there are some other locations that can compete

Cheap tuition offers

Studying in Malta is such a steal that it might put you off going elsewhere, but there are some other locations that can compete. For example, Germany does not charge fees to undergraduates, although you’ll need to be reasonably fluent in the language and of course, demand is high –meaning that you won’t get in without good grades. Your living costs will also be higher than in Malta.

Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden also offer free university places to EU citizens, but the cost of living might be a deal breaker there. Public universities in France charge very low fees and there are some courses taught in English. A breakdown of the fees charged by EU countries is available online.

Further afield, international students in India might pay as little as €1,100 annually for an undergraduate course and the cost of living is next to nothing. So if there’s a course abroad that you’re desperate to do, don’t write it off before you have examined the costs – they might not be as high as you think.

Japan

The Japanese government is offering a two-year scholarship for a Maltese student to study at a Japanese University as a research student for the academic years April 2017 to March 2019.

Areas of study include culture, sports, science or technology and students must have an interest in Japan and a willingness to learn the language. To apply, click here or contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China

The Chinese government offers a variety of scholarships to encourage international students to study in the country. 

Australia

This website has a list of dozens of scholarships that international students can apply for and a handy filtering system that lets you see what scholarships are available and where, for your area of study.

Rotary

The Rotary Club of Malta offers a post-graduate scholarship of $30,000 to students who wish to study abroad in the fields of peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, literacy and education or economic development.

With applications limited to residents of Malta and Gozo, it’s well worth a try.