Why do so few Indian students consider more affordable EU countries like Lithuania compared to Germany or the Netherlands?

You are not wrong to notice that Lithuania is far cheaper, but most Indian students choose Germany or the Netherlands because they are optimizing for the job and residency outcome after graduation, not just the tuition bill during it. A bigger economy with more multinational employers and English-taught seats usually wins that calculation.

Cost And Access Compared Across The Three Countries

Why The Job Market Tips The Decision

• Germany and the Netherlands host headquarters like Siemens, ASML, Philips, and ING, generating far more English-speaking corporate roles
• Lithuania's post-study visa exists on paper, but local employers rarely sponsor non-EU workers without fluent Lithuanian
• A large Indian diaspora in Germany and the Netherlands means easier housing leads, community support, and word-of-mouth job referrals

My Advice

If your budget is genuinely tight, treat Lithuania as worth shortlisting only for programmes with a strong, named partnership into a bigger EU job market afterward, not as a stand-alone destination. Otherwise, spend your research time comparing specific German or Dutch cities and universities rather than chasing the lowest sticker price alone, since the real cost is your job search after graduation, not just tuition.