To study abroad in Europe, compare four things: tuition, the living money a visa asks you to prove, the teaching language and whether you can earn while you study. German public universities charge little or no tuition but expect proof of EUR 992 a month; Dutch universities charge non-EU students EUR 9,000 to 20,000 a year; Swiss public universities are cheap but teach bachelor's degrees mostly in German or French.
We're the admissions team at BHMS, a private school in Lucerne, so Switzerland is our home turf. We've included the other countries on their own official figures, because the right answer for you may not be ours.
How much does it cost to study in Europe?
Here are the official numbers for a non-EU bachelor's student. Euro figures are as the sources print them; the dollar figures are approximate, at the October 2026 rate.
| Where | Tuition for a non-EU bachelor's student | What else to know |
|---|---|---|
| Germany, state universities | Generally no tuition fees; a semester contribution of EUR 70 to 430. Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students EUR 1,500 per semester | Proof of EUR 992 a month for a student visa |
| Netherlands | On average EUR 9,000 to 20,000 a year (institutional fee) | EU/EEA and Swiss students pay the statutory fee, EUR 2,694 in 2026-2027 |
| Switzerland, ETH Zurich | CHF 2'190 per semester for students who move to Switzerland to study | About CHF 28'100 a year with living costs (about US$34,000); bachelor's taught mainly in German |
| Switzerland, BHMS (private) | CHF 39'700 a year all-inclusive in Year 1 (about US$48,000) | Room and meals for the academic semester included; taught in English; paid internship every year |
Tuition is the headline, but it's rarely what breaks a budget. Rent, food and health insurance usually cost more than the fees at a public university. ETH, for example, puts rent in Zurich at CHF 11'300 and meals at CHF 7'200 a year. That's why we price BHMS as one all-inclusive number per year; the breakdown is on our fees page.
EU or non-EU: what changes for you?
Your passport changes the price and the paperwork. In the Netherlands it decides whether you pay the statutory fee or the much higher institutional fee. In Baden-Württemberg it decides whether you pay EUR 1,500 a semester. At ETH Zurich, the higher rate applies to students who came to Switzerland to study, whatever their passport.
Switzerland isn't in the EU. It works with the EU through bilateral agreements and is an associated member of Schengen. EU and EFTA citizens studying in Switzerland simply register with the residents office within 14 days of arriving. Everyone else follows the Swiss nationality rules for stays of more than 90 days: some passports need a national (type D) visa first, others register after arrival. At BHMS the visa administration is part of the yearly fee, and the Lucerne immigration office asks for the sponsor's bank statements for the last three months.
Can you study in Europe in English?
Often, but never assume it. Public bachelor's degrees are frequently taught in the national language. ETH Zurich is clear that its bachelor's studies are taught mainly in German and that foreign applicants need a C1 certificate by 31 March. Check the language line of every programme before you fall for it.
All four BHMS bachelor's degrees are taught in English. Year 1 asks for IELTS 5.5 or equivalent, and a ten-week Preparatory English Programme can be added before the degree if you're not quite there.
Can you earn money while you study?
This is where programmes differ most, and it's worth asking every school directly. At BHMS the answer is built into the degree: every year is six months of study in Lucerne followed by six months of paid work, and Swiss placements pay CHF 2'390 a month gross before deductions for room, board and social insurance. Non-EU students do not work part-time during their studies at BHMS; the internship is the earning phase. Details on the internships page.
Why study in Switzerland rather than elsewhere in Europe?
For a research degree in the national language, Germany's state universities are hard to beat on price. For hospitality, culinary arts or business, Switzerland has a different argument: the industry you study is all around you, and you work in it every year of the degree.
- Ranked. BHMS is #12 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Hospitality & Leisure Management.
- Two degrees. Every BA is awarded by BHMS and Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK, with 180 ECTS.
- Three years, three employers. One internship per year, in Switzerland or abroad.
- In the middle of Europe. Lucerne is a train ride from Zurich, and Italy, France, Germany and Austria border the country.
Our page on why Switzerland goes further, and so does bhms.ch's own overview of Swiss education. If hotels are your goal, our sister site on hotel management school in Switzerland compares the programmes in detail.
How to choose where to study in Europe
- Start with the subject. Research subjects point to public universities; applied fields like hospitality and business open private options.
- Check the language line. German or French at C1 is a serious requirement, not a formality.
- Add up the year, not the semester. Tuition + rent + food + insurance + flights.
- Check your certificate. Public universities set entry rules per country; see our guide to universities in Switzerland.
- Ask about paid work. It changes the real cost more than any discount.
Published 19 October 2026 by the admissions team of BHMS Business & Hotel Management School, Lucerne.