Cheapest Universities in Belarus with Tuition Fees
Is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia and Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania with its capital in Minsk? Unfortunately, Belarus is one of the poorest countries in Europe, but her education fees are far less when compared to other European countries, also there is a low cost of living which made it viable and affordable for international students.
1. Belarusian State University
Year of establishment – 1921
Location – Minsk
Average Tuition Fees – $950
Website – https://bsu.by
This is a government-owned university with students enrolled from across the globe, it consists of 27 faculties and educational institutions with 191 departments.
2. Vitebsk State Technological University
Year of establishment – 1965
Location – Vitebsk
Average Tuition Fees – $1200
Website – https://vstu.by
It was established as an institute of light industry, but has over time transformed into a university in 1995, with 7 faculties and various departments, and has 21 programs for undergraduates and 9 postgraduate courses.
3. Belarusian National Technical University
Year of establishment – 1920
Location – Minsk
Average Tuition Fees – $1400
Website – https://en.bntu.by
This is a government-owned technical university, ranked the second-best university in Belarus. It consists of 16 faculties with 119 departments.
4. Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno
Year of establishment – 1940
Location – Grodno
Average Tuition Fees – $1800
Website – https://en.grsu.by
Is a government-owned university consisting of four colleges, 15 faculties, and 63 departments with over 140 academic programs.
5. Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel
Year of establishment – 1968
Location – Gomel
Average Tuition Fees – $2300
Website – https://en.gstu.by
This is a government-owned university named in memory of the famous Soviet aerospace engineer Pavel Sukhoi. It has 7 faculties with 28 departments.
Studying in Belarus on a budget — what the fees above actually mean
Tuition is only one line in the budget, and on its own it is a poor guide to whether you can afford to study in Belarus. A country with low tuition and high living costs can end up more expensive than one with higher tuition and cheap accommodation. Work out the total annual cost before you compare anywhere.
How to check a tuition figure before you rely on it
Fee figures on any website — including this one — go out of date. Universities revise tuition annually, and governments change policy. Before you rely on a number:
- Open the university’s own website and find the fees page for international or non-national students. That is the only figure that counts.
- Check the academic year the figure applies to. A 2023 fee table tells you very little about what you will pay in 2026/2027.
- Confirm whether the price is per year, per semester or per credit. Per-credit pricing is common and makes cheap-looking programmes expensive.
- Check whether international students pay a different rate. In many systems local and EU students pay far less than everyone else.
- Email the admissions office and keep the reply. A written quote protects you.
A live example of why this matters: Norway’s public universities were free for everyone until 2023, when parliament introduced cost-covering fees for non-EU/EEA students — and non-European enrolment fell by roughly 80% within two years. In June 2025 the government proposed letting institutions set their own fees again, including at zero, from August 2026. Anyone relying on a five-year-old “tuition-free” article would have got it badly wrong in both directions.
Entry route: Belarus is outside the EU and issues its own student visa. Requirements usually include an admission letter, proof of funds, health insurance and legalised or apostilled academic documents. Because Belarus is outside the Schengen zone, a residence permit there does not give you free movement into EU countries.
Language of instruction: most degree programmes in Belarus are taught in the local language, with a smaller selection available in English — usually at postgraduate level. Check the language of instruction for your specific programme before anything else, because this single detail rules out more applicants than tuition cost does. Where an English-taught programme exists, ask whether an IELTS or TOEFL waiver applies to Nigerian degree holders.
Build a realistic total-cost budget
Before applying to any institution in Belarus, price all of the following. Applicants routinely underestimate the second half of this list:
- Tuition for international students, for the correct academic year
- Application and acceptance fees, which are usually non-refundable
- Accommodation — on-campus versus private rent can differ enormously
- Living costs — food, transport, data, utilities
- Health insurance, which is compulsory in most study destinations
- Visa or permit fees, plus biometrics and courier charges
- Flights, and a return flight if the visa requires proof of one
- Proof of funds — money you must show you hold, on top of what you actually spend
- Document costs — transcripts, notarisation, apostille, translation, courier
- The naira exchange rate, and how a further depreciation would affect year two
How to bring the cost down honestly
- Apply for scholarships in parallel, not afterwards. Most funding deadlines fall before or alongside admission deadlines, not after.
- Look at government scholarships from Belarus itself. Many countries fund international students directly, and these are often less competitive than the famous named awards.
- Ask about assistantships and tuition waivers at postgraduate level. Teaching or research assistantships can cut or eliminate tuition.
- Ask about fee instalments. Many institutions allow termly payment, which matters when you are converting naira.
- Check student work rights on your visa — how many hours, and whether you may work at all. Never plan a budget that depends on illegal work.
- Compare smaller cities. Rent outside the capital is often the single biggest saving available.
A warning about agents
No agent can guarantee you admission or a visa. If someone promises either in exchange for money, walk away. Legitimate agents are paid by institutions, publish their registration details, and will never ask you to send money to a personal account. Apply directly to the university wherever you can — almost every institution accepts direct applications, and it is free or cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
Can Nigerians study in Belarus?
Yes. Nigerian students are admitted to institutions in Belarus subject to meeting the academic entry requirements, the language requirement and the immigration rules set out above.
Is the cheapest university the best choice?
Not automatically. Check that the institution is recognised by the national regulator in Belarus and, if you plan to return home or move on, that its degrees are accepted where you intend to work. A cheap degree from an unrecognised institution costs you everything.
Do I need IELTS to study in Belarus?
It depends on the programme and the institution. Where teaching is in English, many institutions waive the test for applicants whose previous degree was taught in English — which covers most Nigerian graduates. Always confirm in writing before paying for a test.
How much money do I need to show?
That is set by the immigration authorities, not the university, and it changes. Check the official government source for Belarus shortly before you apply, because the figure is usually updated annually.
Can I work while studying?
Some countries permit limited part-time work on a student visa and some do not. Confirm the rule for your specific visa type, and treat any earnings as a supplement rather than the basis of your budget.
Related guides
- Full list of universities in Belarus
- International scholarships for Nigerians
- Best scholarships for Nigerians and Africans
- More study-abroad and scholarship guides
Tuition fees, visa rules and proof-of-funds thresholds change every year. Always confirm the current figures on the official university and government websites for Belarus before you apply or pay anything.