The quick answer
Public universities in Germany, Spain and Malta are usually the cheaper choice, sometimes by a long way. Most public universities in Germany charge no tuition at all for bachelor's or most master's courses. Public master's prices in Spain are set by each region; in Madrid a typical official master's costs a non-EU student around €5,000 a year. The trade-off is time: public universities admit in fixed rounds, mostly for a September or October start, and their decisions take weeks or months.
Private universities charge more, but many of them start courses several times a year and decide quicker. For someone living in the UK whose visa ends before the next public intake, that speed can matter more than the fee.
My honest position: if you have the time and your grades fit, go public. If your UK visa end date doesn't leave room for a public admission round, a recognised private university is a sensible choice, not a second-best one. The word that matters there is recognised. Below is how each country handles cost, intakes, speed and recognition, using official pages checked today.
Who this is for
This guide is for international graduates and students living in the UK, often on a Graduate visa, who want to study next in Germany, Spain or Malta and are weighing cost against timing. If you haven't yet decided whether to leave the UK at all, start with our guide to the Graduate visa change.
Germany: free public tuition, with two exceptions
DAAD, Germany's official academic exchange service, says there are generally no fees for bachelor's courses or most master's courses at state universities (DAAD: costs of education and living). There are two exceptions that catch non-EU students out:
- Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 a semester for bachelor's, master's, Diplom and state examination courses.
- Bavaria allows universities to charge students from outside the EU and EEA. DAAD says these fees can reach several thousand euros a semester and each university sets its own amount.
At public universities you also pay a semester contribution of between €70 and €430 a semester. It funds student services and the student union, and often includes a local transport ticket.
Private universities are a big part of the system. DAAD says about 30 percent of German higher education institutions are privately run, and that private institutions may charge "more substantial fees" (DAAD: the right university). There is no official fee range for private universities, so ask for the exact figure for your course before you apply.
Speed
Public universities work to two rounds. For a September or October start, applications usually run from early May to 15 July, and offers go out in August or September. For a March or April start, the window is early December to 15 January, with offers in February or March. DAAD notes that private universities may have other deadlines (DAAD: application process).
Many public universities also ask you to apply through uni-assist first. Its own guidance says an evaluation usually takes 4 to 6 weeks from the day it receives your application, with current regional estimates of 2 to 3 weeks for most regions, and then the university makes the admission decision (uni-assist: evaluation result and admission). Add that to the round dates and a public offer can be four or five months away from the day you start.
Recognition
This is the part people skip. DAAD says a degree from a private or church-run university is only valid on the international labour market if the university is state-approved. The German Rectors' Conference keeps the list. Its Higher Education Compass only includes universities that are "a state or state-recognised German university" (Hochschulkompass: criteria). If a private university isn't on it, don't apply.
The visa steps and the funds you need to show are the same whichever kind of university you choose. Our Graduate visa to Germany guide covers the blocked account and timeline, and our Germany from the UK page has the full cost table.
Spain: regional prices at public universities
Spain doesn't have one national fee. Each region sets public university prices. In Madrid, the Universidad Complutense lists the 2026/27 price for most official master's degrees at €45.02 per ECTS credit on first enrolment (UCM: master's prices).
Non-EU students should read the next line carefully. Madrid's public universities charge foreign students aged over 18 who aren't resident in Spain, other than EU nationals, the third-enrolment price for most master's degrees, which is €84.07 per credit. A student authorisation doesn't count as residence for this rule (Comunidad de Madrid: public university prices). On my arithmetic, a 60-credit master's at that rate comes to about €5,044 for the year. Other regions publish their own prices, so check the university's fee page for your course.
Private universities in Spain set their own tuition, and it's usually higher. Our Spain from the UK page compares the two.
Speed
Public universities admit for official master's in phases, with most courses starting in September and some in February. The phase dates differ by university, and the Spanish consulates in the UK need your visa application well before your course begins. Both are set out in our intakes guide and our Spain student visa guide. If the public timetable doesn't fit your UK visa, a private university with an earlier decision is usually the practical answer.
Recognition
Spain has an official register for this, the RUCT. The Ministry says it lets anyone check whether a university is official, and whether it is public or private, and which official degrees it offers (Ministry: RUCT). Watch for one more thing: Spanish universities also sell their own qualifications, called títulos propios. The Ministry describes these as non-official degrees (RUCT FAQ). A course called "Máster Universitario" that appears in the RUCT is an official master's. A "Máster" that doesn't may be a título propio, and that matters if you later want a job, a PhD or recognition in another country.
Malta: the University of Malta and licensed private providers
Non-EU students pay tuition at the public University of Malta. As one example, its MSc in Economics for 2026/27 (90 ECTS over three semesters) lists total tuition of €10,800 for non-EU students (University of Malta: MSc Economics). Fees vary by course, so check the course page itself.
Private colleges and universities in Malta often run more start dates, which is why they come up for Graduate visa holders. Our intakes guide has the University of Malta's October and February dates and its early deadline for applicants who need a visa.
Recognition
Malta's regulator, the MFHEA, is clear on how to check. Search the Malta Qualifications Database, confirm the provider's licence is valid for the whole length of your course, and confirm the course itself is accredited, because "each programme must be individually accredited by the MFHEA". It also says courses at MQF Level 5 and above make you eligible for a study residence permit, and warns that some students have lost fees when licences were revoked or had expired (MFHEA: how to verify your school). The residence permit itself is only for full-time higher education courses (Identità: study FAQ). More detail is on our Malta from the UK page.
Side by side
| Public | Private | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, Germany | None at most; €1,500 a semester in Baden-Württemberg for non-EU students; fees may apply in Bavaria | Set by each university, usually higher |
| Tuition, Spain | Set by region; Madrid official master's €84.07 per credit for non-resident non-EU students (2026/27) | Set by each university, usually higher |
| Tuition, Malta | Charged to non-EU students; e.g. €10,800 for one 90-ECTS MSc (2026/27) | Set by each provider |
| Main intakes | September or October, with a smaller spring start for some courses | Often January, May and September |
| Decision speed | Fixed rounds; weeks to months | Often quicker |
| How to check it's real | Public universities are official by default | Germany: Hochschulkompass. Spain: RUCT. Malta: MFHEA database |
The private intake and speed rows reflect what we see across the universities we work with. They aren't official rules and they change from course to course.
How to choose
- Start with your UK visa end date. If a public admission round, plus the visa, fits before it, a public university is usually the better deal.
- Price the whole course, not the first year. Look at the total tuition, the semester contributions and the funds you must show for the visa.
- Check recognition before you pay anything. Use the official register for the country. If the university or the course isn't there, walk away.
- Check the course, not just the university. Language of teaching, intake and the deadline for non-EU applicants are set course by course.
- Think about what comes after. An official, recognised degree keeps your options open for work, a PhD or residence later. Our country guides cover work rights and the routes after study.
Where we stand
We place students at public and private universities, and we'll tell you which one suits your dates and budget, even when the answer is a free public course you could apply to on your own. What we won't do is suggest a private provider that isn't recognised.
Tell us your UK visa end date, your degree and your budget, and we'll check which public and private options in Germany, Spain or Malta you can realistically make. Check your route in two minutes, search courses, or send us your details. You can also message us on WhatsApp on +44 7852 878789.