Most people who want to study abroad have different criteria for what makes the right study destination. For instance, if the cost is a major concern, you want to stay clear of some study destinations; or if you cannot deal with cold weather, maybe due to health issues, some countries will work better for you than the others. So depending on what’s your priority, here are the best places to study abroad.
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1. If money is not a major concern
Some of the most expensive universities in the world are found in the top study abroad destinations. While most students consider cost as a primary determinant of where to study, some can comfortably afford to study where they choose. So if money is not a major concern for you, and you want to make the easy decision on where to study abroad based on popularity and quality of education, you’ll want to consider studying in Australia, USA or UK. Australia is considered the average most expensive country for oversea students. The average annual tuition fee is estimated at $24,000 and the cost of living is at $18,000; that is a total of $42,000. Next most expensive is Singapore, but Singapore is not among the most popular study destinations for international students. Hence, the UK and US should be your next choice.
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2. If you want tuition-free education
The concept of tuition-free education is not new. A lot of countries offer tuition-free higher education to their citizens and economic regions. However, most of these countries charge international students to study at their universities. Only a few countries offer tuition free education to foreign students. So if you want to study tuition free at reputable international universities, Germany and Norway are your best bet.
3. If you have a tight budget
So what if you don’t have a deep pocket but want to fund your education? What if you managed to save up less than $10,000 and still want to travel and study abroad? Which countries offer relatively quality education on a budget? Consider Taiwan, Poland, France, Italy and Malaysia. You’ll pay an average of US$4,000 in tuition fee per academic year, in Malaysia, Taiwan, Italy and Poland. In France, you could be paying less than $500. If you can spare up to $7,000, you may consider India. Before you go on to say how these countries are still too expensive, remember this is relative to other option. There is still the option of looking for a scholarship. Continue watching for countries to consider when you are in dare need of getting a scholarship.
4. If you are safety conscious
We are all safety conscious, although some people want some adventure. But for some people, this is a primary consideration for where to study. Quite a number of study abroad destinations offer student safety including Switzerland, Canada, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand and Australia.
5. If getting the best education is most important to you
If you are particular about studying in the highest-ranked universities in the world, then you have to be picky about which country to study. Although, university ranking is not a perfect way of telling which university will offer you the best study experience, if this is important to you then you definitely want to study in the United States or the United Kingdom. The US has seven universities in the top 10 universities in the world; the remaining three are in the UK according to Time Higher Education ranking. The overall best university, University of Oxford is in the UK. Switzerland and Canada get one spot each in the top 20. So these are also options to consider.
6. If you get bored easily
For some people, studying abroad is not just about getting a degree. It’s also about having an experience of a lifetime. You want to experience the wonders of nature and have a variety of sight-seeing options. Most study destinations will offer unique experiences. But some countries will take it several steps further. If you get bored easily and are looking for mind-blowing excitement accompanying your study experience, then you should consider Italy, France, Canada or Australia.
7. If you like cold weather
May be you just like snowy weather. A number of countries have long winter seasons to keep you cold; Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and New Zealand are some of them.
8. If you don’t like cold weather
Supposing you are from the equatorial region of the world where the weather is rainy and hot for most of the year, studying in a country that is opposite of that might not be ideal for some people. On the flip side, if you are not comfortable with cold weather and want to study in a country with a minimal cold, you’ll want to consider France, Morocco, and South Africa.
9. If getting a scholarship is important to you
Most students who want to study abroad want to get a scholarship; some will be fine with a partial scholarship, while others want a full scholarship or nothing. If you are in the category of students whose priority of where to study is based on the number of available scholarship opportunities, then you want to look in the direction of UK and China, then maybe the US. UK institutions and government organizations have been a major provider of scholarship opportunities to international students; with China recently joining the rank of major scholarship providers. These two countries have the highest number of scholarship opportunities for international students. So if the chance of getting a scholarship is important to you, consider applying to the UK and Chinese universities.
10. If you want to work while studying
Let’s be clear; you can hardly sustain your tuition and living cost from working part-time as a student in most countries around the world. In countries where you are allowed to work as a student, your income will mostly support your living expenses. So don’t hope to fund your entire study from working while studying. The good news is that some countries have more flexible working regulations for international students. In most cases, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week and for longer hours during vacation. Some of the top countries to work while studying are Canada, Germany, Australia and UK.
11. If you want to stay back after studying
What if you are looking to study where you can settle down after graduation? This is often subject to your ability to get a job within the work permit period after graduation. Countries to consider include Canada, the UK and Germany.
