When you are planning to study abroad, application fees are the one cost that never shows up in the brochure. You research universities, shortlist eight or ten of them, and then quietly realize you need to pay anywhere from $50 to $275 per application, just for the chance to be considered. For a student applying to five universities across two countries, that bill adds up fast, and none of it is refundable.
The good news is that several well-ranked universities across the most popular study destinations for international students either do not charge an application fee at all or offer waivers that bring the cost to zero. This guide covers exactly which ones those are, what the terms are, and how to actually get the fee removed from your application.
Why Does the Application Fee Exist at All?
Universities charge application fees to cover the administrative cost of reviewing applications and, to some extent, to filter out students who are not serious. The fee discourages people from applying randomly to dozens of universities they have no real interest in attending. That said, many universities have recognised that this fee creates an unfair barrier for students from developing and middle-income countries, and they have responded by either removing it or making waivers easy to get.
How Much Are We Talking?
To understand why this matters, here is what typical application fees look like in the top destinations for international students right now.
If you apply to ten universities across the USA and Canada, your application fees alone could easily cross $1,000. That is a meaningful amount of money for most international students, and knowing which universities skip this fee can shape your shortlist significantly.
United States
The USA attracts more international students than any other country in the world, with over 1.1 million enrolled as of 2024. Application fees here range from $50 to $275, making this one of the most expensive countries to apply to in volume. However, the waiver system in the USA is also the most developed in the world, and several universities have removed the fee entirely.
There are two kinds of fee-free applications in the USA. The first is universities that simply do not charge a fee at all, no conditions, no form to fill. The second is universities where you need to request a waiver, and approval is almost certain if you meet basic criteria such as family income below a threshold or having received a fee waiver on a standardised test like the SAT or ACT.
Important: Common App and Coalition App
If you apply through the Common Application and indicated that you received a SAT or ACT fee waiver, many US universities automatically waive your application fee. International students who have taken these tests should check their Common App profile settings before paying any application fee.
Tip for international students applying to the USA
For PhD and fully-funded research master's programs at most top US universities, application fees are either waived automatically or very easy to get removed on request. Always email the graduate admissions office before paying. In many cases, they will waive the fee without asking for income documentation, regardless of which country you are from.
Canada
Canada is one of the top study destinations for international students globally, particularly popular with students from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Application fees at Canadian universities generally run from CAD 50 to CAD 250. A handful of universities have removed the fee entirely, and others offer waivers under specific circumstances.
Unlike the USA, Canada does not have a unified application platform for most universities outside Ontario (where OUAC is used). You apply directly to each university, which means fee policies vary widely and you have to check each one individually.
Ontario students: note on OUAC
If you are applying to Ontario universities, you go through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC). There is a base application fee for the platform itself, but individual universities listed on OUAC do not add their own separate fees. This makes Ontario a relatively economical province to apply to if you want to apply to multiple universities there.
United Kingdom
The UK has a unique application system that makes it naturally cheaper than most other countries. Almost all undergraduate applications go through UCAS, a central platform that charges a flat fee of £28.95 for up to five university choices. You pay once and apply to five universities. There is no separate application fee per university at the undergraduate level.
For postgraduate applications, universities handle applications directly and their own fee policies vary. Several top UK universities charge nothing for postgraduate applications, particularly when you apply directly through their website.
For students from lower-income backgrounds
Several UK universities offer specific application fee waivers for applicants from lower-income backgrounds or from developing countries. It is worth mentioning your circumstances in your communication with the admissions office. Universities including Aberystwyth and Bangor have explicit policies around financial hardship waivers for international students.
Australia
Australia charges some of the highest application fees among popular study destinations, with amounts ranging from AUD 50 to AUD 100 at most universities. However, several Australian universities have moved to a no-fee model for online applications, which is now the standard way to apply.
For students from lower-income backgrounds
Several UK universities offer specific application fee waivers for applicants from lower-income backgrounds or from developing countries. It is worth mentioning your circumstances in your communication with the admissions office. Universities including Aberystwyth and Bangor have explicit policies around financial hardship waivers for international students.
Australia
Australia charges some of the highest application fees among popular study destinations, with amounts ranging from AUD 50 to AUD 100 at most universities. However, several Australian universities have moved to a no-fee model for online applications, which is now the standard way to apply.
Australia has fewer no-fee options than other countries, which is worth accounting for in your budget if it is one of your target destinations. The universities listed above are genuine no-fee institutions. For others, always check whether the fee applies to online applications specifically, as some Australian universities charge the fee only for paper applications.
Australian Scholarship Tip
If you are applying for an Australia Awards Scholarship or any university-specific scholarship, the application fee is typically waived as part of the scholarship application process. Apply for the scholarship first, then the regular admission application often follows without a fee.
Germany
Germany is the standout country on this list for international students who want to avoid application fees. International student enrolment in Germany has grown significantly over the past decade, driven largely by its no-fee application policy and low cost of study overall.
Most public German universities do not charge an application fee for international students. You will pay a semester administrative contribution of around 150 to 350 euros after you enroll, but for the application itself, you typically pay nothing. This makes Germany the easiest country to apply to in bulk without burning money on fees.
One important note for Germany: some programmes use the uni-assist portal for application processing, and uni-assist charges a processing fee of around 75 euros for the first application and 30 euros for each subsequent one. This is not a university application fee but a document verification fee. Check whether your target programme uses uni-assist or direct university application before assuming the process is free end-to-end.
How to Actually Get Your Application Fee Waived
Knowing which universities offer waivers is only half the work. You also need to know how to ask for one properly. Here is a practical step-by-step process that works across countries.
- Check the university website first
- Most universities that offer waivers explain the process on their admissions FAQ page or on the application portal itself. Search for "application fee waiver" on the university's website before doing anything else.
- Email the admissions office directly
- If the website does not mention waivers but the university is known to offer them, email the graduate or international admissions office. Keep the email short: state your programme of interest, mention that you are an international student, and ask whether a waiver is available. Many offices say yes without requiring documentation.
- Use the Common App waiver if applying to the USA
- If you took the SAT or ACT and received a fee waiver, mark it in your Common App profile. This automatically flags you for application fee waivers at participating US universities. You do not need to ask separately at each institution.
- Apply during promotional windows
- Many universities waive application fees during specific recruitment periods, open days, or international education fairs. If you meet a university representative at an education fair in your country, they will often give you a waiver code on the spot. Keep an eye on these events locally.
- Mention financial need clearly if applicable
- For need-based waivers, you may need to provide a brief statement or attach income documents. Be straightforward about your situation. Universities offering need-based waivers genuinely want to help and are not looking to reject requests on technicalities.
Conclusion
Application fees can add up quickly, but many universities offer waivers or free applications if you know where to look. Before paying any fee, shortlist your target universities, check their fee policies, and contact the admissions team to explore your options. A simple email can save you a significant amount of money and make your study abroad journey more affordable from the very beginning.
With Inforens, you get just that: access to a strong international student community, guidance from experienced mentors with whom you could book personalized calls, and our expert professionals who can help you throughout your study abroad journey!