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Best Countries For International Students: This Will Help You Decide!

Going abroad for studies may sound overwhelming, but you will face unexpected challenges like adapting to a new culture, learning the local language and handling new currency but it will benefit you professionally and help you make your portfolio outstanding. Although students know about these challenges, they cannot decide which country is best for them. In this blog, we will help you to decide the best countries for international students, based on accommodation, budget-friendliness, part-time earning opportunities and countries that provide PR easily to international students. This blog will guide you through all the top countries for international students who want to study abroad.

Table Of Contents

Table Of Contents

Study in United States of America
Study in United Kingdom
Study in Australia
Study in Canada
Study in Switzerland
Study in France
Study in Germany
Study in Russia
Study in South Korea
Study in New Zealand
Conclusion
Who are we

Study in United States of America

The United State is the most preferred country for international students as it is an English-speaking nation and it’s quite easier to get admission into universities. According to 2021 academic data, there were more than 10,95,299 international students in the USA. Most of the world’s leading universities are present here with a wide range of programs, you can find a perfect program for yourself here undertaking whatever your interests are. Some top Universities in the USA are:

1. Accommodation Cost in USA

You can choose the USA as an international student, but the expense is comparatively high in the US and your accommodation will cost around INR 66,596 per month and you can cover those expenses by doing part-time work for 20 hrs a week and 40 hrs a week on holidays.

2. Post-study Work Visa in USA

Getting a work visa is an important requirement for international students pursuing their studies in the USA. In the USA if you have an F-1 visa you can apply for Pre-Completion OPT at the time of pursuing your program and Post-Completion OPT after completion of your program where OPT stands for Optional Practical Training, which allow you to stay in USA for 12 months and it can be extended for 2 years.

Study in United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is another best country for international students as it is also an English-speaking nation, which uses practical methods of teaching their students with theory. According to 2021 academic data, there were more than 4,96,570 international students in the UK. This can be the best country for your studies perspective but there is much more to explore beyond its education system which is the rich historic culture and traditions which can make your studies more enjoyable.Some Top Universities in the UK are:

  • University of Oxford
  • University of Cambridge
  • Imperial College London
  • University College London (UCL)
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • King's College London

1. Accommodation Cost in UK

Your accommodation will cost around INR 40,450 per month and you can do part-time work for 20 hrs a week and 40 hrs a week on holidays. You can easily cover your monthly expenses as well as your tuition fees if you have skills which can get you a good paying job during your studies, but it’s prohibited to work for more than 20 hrs a week to cover your expenses.

2. Post-study work visa in UK

You can also get a post-study work visa for 2 years after completing your bachelor’s and master's program. You need to get a sponsorship from the employer within this given time to continue your job in the UK after your studies or else you need to return to your respective country if you are unable to find a job.

Study in Australia

You can choose Australia as it is one of the best countries for international students as it has seven of the top ten universities in the world and plenty of programs to choose from. Australia is listed in the top 10 in the quality of life index with more than 85% of satisfied international students found in a survey. According to 2021 academic data, there were more than 4,20,501 international students. Some top Universities in Australia are: 

1. Accommodation Cost in Australia

Your accommodation cost will be around INR 13,263 per month and your average monthly expenses can be around INR 71,779. You can do part-time work for 20 hrs a week and 40 hrs a week on holidays which will help you to cover your monthly expenses easily, whereas you cannot cover your tuition fees easily by part time jobs.

2. Post-study work visa in Australia

You can also get a post-study work visa for 2-3 years depending on which program you are pursuing.

Study in Canada

International students can choose Canada as it provides quality education at less expense as compared to the USA, UK and Australia, also It is comparatively easy to get a PR in Canada. According to 2021 academic data, there were more than 4,35,415 international students.  You can apply for PR in Canada after working for 5 years and it is more likely to be accepted in Canada when compared to other countries. Some top Universities in Canada are:

1. Accommodation Cost in Canada

Your accommodation cost will be around INR 49,205 per month and you can do part-time work for 20 hrs a week and 40 hrs a week on holidays off-campus and on-campus. If you get a good part-time job or full-time job during your summer vacation you can easily cover your monthly expenses as well as your tuition fees. You need not depend on your family for any expenses.

2. Post-study work visa in Canada

You can also get a post-study work visa for 2-3 years depending on your program you are pursuing and it is not issued for programs of duration less than two years.

Study in Switzerland

You can see the universities of Switzerland  in the list of the top 100 universities in the world. Swiss universities have low tuition fees as compared to other countries. Many top MNC’s have their headquarters in Switzerland and it is also a famous tourist destination. You can enjoy the scenic beauties of Switzerland with studies. According to 2021 academic data, there were more than 31,300 international students. Some top Universities in Switzerland are:

1. Accommodation Cost in Switzerland

Your accommodation cost will be around INR 90,765 per month and if you are not from EU/EFTA countries you can do part-time work in Switzerland only after a stay of six months on a student visa for 15 hrs per week per semester and full time on holidays. You can bear your monthly expenses by working part-time in Switzerland and if you make a good command in the local language (French/German/English) you can easily earn more than your expenses.

2. Post-study work visa in Switzerland

You are given six months to find a job in your academic domain after the completion of your studies, after getting your job you can apply for residence permit with employers information and other documents.

Study in France

Major advantages for international students planning to study in France are high-quality education at comparatively low tuition fees. Universities here usually charge the same tuition fees for domestic and international students although the public universities here are free to decide their own tuition fees so it can vary accordingly. According to 2021 academic data, there were more than 3,43,400 international students. Some top Universities in France are:  

1. Accommodation Cost in France

Your accommodation cost will be around INR 17,576 per month and France has strict rules for working hours. You can do part-time 20 hrs a week or 964 hours a year off-campus. France is a cheaper country when compared to others, so here you can easily cover your expenses by part-time job and if you got a good job you might be able to cover a portion of tuition fees also.

2. Post-study work visa in France

In France students get a residence permit after completing their respective courses. Short-term courses do not offer resident permits in France for international students; they need to return to their country from where they can apply for work permits. Students of bachelor’s and master’s can apply for work permit and residence permit separately if they have a paid job in France. Although if you are a student of a master's program then you can apply for a temporary residence permit of two years.

Study in Germany

Germany is one of the most demanded countries for international students as it provides free education for many international students but on the other hand if you don’t get any scholarship it can be quite difficult to manage your expenses as Germany is an expensive country.  According to 2021 academic data, there were more than 22,002 international students. Some Top Universities in Germany are: 

1. Accommodation Cost in Germany

 Your accommodation cost will be around INR 26,184 per month and you can do part-time work for 20 hrs a week, where one full day is defined as 8 hours a day and you cannot work more than 120 days a year. You can cover your monthly expenses if you are doing a part-time job although finding part-time work in Germany is quite difficult and Germany is also an expensive country.

2. Post-study work visa in Germany

After completing your studies in Germany you can apply for a visa extension of 18 months to find a job and during this time you have no time restriction and you can work in any type of job to cover your expenses.

Study in Russia

Russia is a popular choice for international students interested in the arts, you can choose programs like art, history, or Russian language studies.Your initial sayings in Russia can be quite difficult as it is not an English speaking national and Russian language is used locally. Although it will be an interesting journey to learn a new language, culture and tradition. According to 2021 academic data, there were more than 3,34,497 international students. Some Top Universities in Russia are: 

  • Moscow State University
  • Moscow Institute of Physics & Technology
  • Novosibirsk State University
  • Tomsk State University
  • Saint Petersburg State University

1. Accommodation Cost in Russia

Your accommodation cost will be around 431-1724 RUB per month and you can do part-time work for 20 hrs a week, where one full day is defined as 4 hours per day 20 hrs a week. You can easily cover your monthly expenses and some proportion of your tuition fees.

2. Post-study work visa in Russia

You can also get a post-study work visa for 3 years after the completion of your studies.

Study in South Korea

This country is becoming popular among international students as it is inexpensive for some students, also there are a variety of programs available within top universities. According to 2021 academic data, there were more than 1,52,281 international students. Some Top Universities of South Korea are: 

  • Seoul National University
  • Yonsei University
  • Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
  • Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
  • Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
  • Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)

1. Accommodation Cost in South Korea

Your accommodation cost in the university dormitory will be around INR 33,906 to INR 1,26,511 per semester and private boarding house INR 12,318 to INR 61,558 per month. You can do part-time work in South Korea only after a stay of six months on a student visa for 20 hrs per week in a graduate program and 30 hrs per week in a postgraduate program off-campus. But you cannot cover monthly expenses by part-time job in South Korea as it is an expensive country, although you can contact your department head for any kind of financial aid

2. Post-study work visa in South Korea

You are granted a minimum of six months and a maximum of 1 year of stay in South Korea to seek jobs after completion of studies.

Study in New Zealand

New Zealand provides 20,000+ vacancies every year for international students which makes this a popular country among international students. According to 2021 academic data, there were more than 31,20,000 international students. Some Top Universities of New Zealand are:

1. Accommodation Cost in New Zealand

Your accommodation cost will be around INR 39,513– INR 46,922 per month and you can do part-time work for 20 hrs a week, and full-time during your holidays, and with this you can easily cover your monthly expenses and if you get a good paying job you might be able to cover a portion of your tuition fees along with monthly expenses.

2. Post-study work visa in New Zealand

You can also get a post-study work visa for 3 years after the completion of your studies.

Conclusion

We can conclude that choosing the best country for international students can be a daunting task, you can check for countries that have low tuition fees like Germany if you have budget constraints and the USA can be another best option for STEM courses. Most countries welcome international students by providing a high amount of scholarships and other subsidies which can benefit you in many ways.

Who are we

Career Clinic is a study abroad consultancy to help you with your visa application which can be Immigration visa, Tourist visa or study visa. Our expert counsellors can help you by preparing you overall to achieve your dream of studying abroad. Apply today for upcoming intake of 2024!

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the cheapest countries for international students were:

Germany: Known for its low or no tuition fees at public universities.

Norway: Offers tuition-free education at public institutions, even for international students.

Finland: Provides tuition-free education for EU/EEA students and nominal fees for others.

Sweden: Offers numerous scholarships and tuition waivers for international students.

Taiwan: Provides affordable tuition fees and a relatively low cost of living.

Yes, it is possible to get free education abroad in some countries. Several nations, primarily in Europe, offer tuition-free or highly subsidized education to international students, particularly at the undergraduate level. However, eligibility criteria, such as nationality, program choice, and language proficiency test, may apply. Scholarships and financial aid are also available to help cover living expenses. It's crucial to research and meet the requirements of each country and university you're interested in.

As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, countries with a relatively low cost of living for international students include:

Taiwan: Offers affordable tuition and living expenses, with a high quality of life.

Mexico: Provides lower living costs compared to many Western countries.

Poland: Known for its reasonable living expenses, making it an attractive destination.

Malaysia: Offers affordable tuition and a low cost of living.

Portugal: Provides a pleasant lifestyle at a relatively lower cost.

Always research the most up-to-date information before making a decision.

Yes, you can cover your monthly expenses by doing part time jobs although most of the countries don’t allow you to work more than 20 hrs a week and 40 hrs a week on holidays, but it will be sufficient to meet your monthly expenses. In some countries, part-time work can significantly contribute to living costs, while in others, it may only supplement them. It's crucial to research local job opportunities and consider your visa restrictions and academic commitments to determine if part-time work will sufficiently support your expenses while studying abroad.