An MBA degree makes an excellent academic investment for young students and working professionals. It assures a lucrative career with an impressive growth curve. But an expensive American degree may not be in the budget of an average international student. As a study abroad aspirant, you may look for opportunities across Europe if the Ivy League universities are out of your reach.

The cost of MBA may still be a concern if you choose a European university. Beyond the tuition fees, the cost of living in this part of the world can pinch your wallet. But students on a budget need not give up the hope to obtain an international degree from a reputed institution. Europe offers some low-cost MBA programmes you can pursue without spending a fortune. Let us list the most popular options for you.

MIB TRIESTE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT- TRIESTE, ITALY

Studying at MIB gives you access to one of the most inexpensive MBA degrees in Europe. The best thing is that it is among the top European business schools off the beaten track. You spend less and get value for money. The location of the school gives it brownie points as it lies tucked away in the stunning northeast corner of Italy.

HOCHSCHULE PFORZHEIM- PFORZHEIM, GERMANY

Germany is among the most affordable education destinations because you can explore several low-cost and even free options at the public universities here. Pforzheim’s MBA in International Management is one of the low-budget options for students looking to go easy on the wallet. If you have a bachelor’s degree in economics or business, you can shorten the programme duration by six months and save even more.

CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY (CEU)- VIENNA, AUSTRIA

The MBA programme at CEU is among the least expensive in the world. The credit goes to an endowment from George Soros, the founder of the school. Besides the affordable tuition fees of the programme, you get the advantage of a low cost of living in this part of the EU.

ATHENS UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS (AUEB)- ATHENS, GREECE

The International MBA program from AUEB is another low-cost option you can pursue from a European University. Greece is also known for its optimal living costs. You can complete your full-time MBA in 14 months here, making it one of the best places to study abroad.

CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL DES ARTS ET METIERS (CNAM), INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT- PARIS, FRANCE

The thought of studying in Paris is daunting for any international student because it has a high cost of living. But you can stay within a budget for your MBA tuition fees by studying at CNAM. The International MBA programme here costs almost half of the other options in the city.

UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID (UC3M)-MADRID, SPAIN

The MBA offered UC3M in Madrid is an 11-month, full-time programme taught in English, making it ideal for international students. Not to mention, you need not worry about the hefty cost of living in this part of the world. The tuition fee for the degree is lower than in most of Europe.

ZAGREB SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT (ZSEM)- ZAGREB, CROATIA

Zagreb School of Economics in Croatia is another acclaimed institution that offers MBA degrees on a budget. You can complete the programme in one year, which means you have to spend a lot less to live in the country. You can even opt for classes during a second year without any additional fee.

POZNAN UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS- POZNAŃ, POLAND

Poznań’s MBA is a part-time degree for international students who want to study here just for some modules. The programme runs in collaboration with Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. Besides saving on tuition fees at the university, you can live on a budget as the city is cheap.

KOÇ UNIVERSITY, GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS- ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Koç University in Istanbul brings an Executive MBA programme currently ranked among the leaders in the Financial Times. You can also pursue an intensive MBA programme of 12-month duration if running tight on budget. The cost of living in the city is another reason that makes the degree ideal for international students.

UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI, UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA- LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

The modular MBA programme at the University of Ljubljana is popular with working professionals who want to pursue the degree along with their careers. It is among the least expensive in Europe, and you get the benefit of living on a budget in this affordable city.

Pursuing your MBA abroad need not be about incurring a massive amount of money. You can pick one of these European universities to get value for money education without compromising quality.