Study Abroad — Compare Countries, Universities & Visas
Worked example: comparing three destinations
Figures are the presets in our Study Abroad Cost Calculator, in US dollars at 29 October 2026 rates.
| Destination | First-year cost (tuition + living + a flight) |
|---|---|
| Germany, public university | about US$17,300 |
| Canada, mid-range university | about US$49,700 |
| UK, Russell Group | about US$59,800 |
Real tuition, living costs, scholarships, student visas, and post-study work pathways — not marketing copy. Start with your destination country.
Study in Canada
Complete guide to studying in Canada — top universities, real tuition and living costs, scholarships, study permit rules, work rights, and the pathway from student to permanent resident.
🇬🇧Study in United Kingdom
Complete guide to studying in the UK — Russell Group vs post-92 universities, real tuition and living costs, scholarships, Student visa rules, work rights, and the Graduate Route to Skilled Worker pathway.
🇦🇺Study in Australia
Complete guide to studying in Australia — Group of Eight vs other universities, real tuition and living costs, scholarships, Subclass 500 visa rules, work rights, and the Temporary Graduate visa pathway.
🇺🇸Study in United States
Complete guide to studying in the USA — Ivy League vs state universities, real tuition and living costs, financial aid, F-1 visa rules, OPT/STEM OPT, and the honest 2026 H-1B reality.
🇩🇪Study in Germany
Complete guide to studying in Germany — tuition-free public universities, real living costs, the blocked account requirement, student visa rules, work rights, and the Job-Seeker visa to EU Blue Card pathway.
🇳🇿Study in New Zealand
Complete guide to studying in New Zealand — all 8 public universities ranked in the global top 30%, real tuition and living costs, scholarships, student visa rules, work rights, and the pathway from student to residency.
🇵🇹Study in Portugal
Complete guide to studying in Portugal — the most affordable mainstream Schengen study destination, real tuition and living costs, scholarships, D4/D5 student visa rules, work rights, and the path to EU citizenship.
🇮🇪Study in Ireland
Complete guide to studying in Ireland — Trinity College Dublin and UCD, real tuition and living costs, scholarships, Stamp 2 student visa rules, work rights, and the Graduate Work Visa pathway to EU employment.
🇫🇷Study in France
Complete guide to studying in France: real non-EU tuition (€2,850-3,941/year), Sorbonne and Paris-Saclay, the July 2026 housing aid change, student visa rules, work rights, and post-study options.
🇪🇸Study in Spain
Complete guide to studying in Spain: real tuition (€1,500-6,000/year non-EU), the EduBridge fast-track programme, 30-hour weekly work rights, the Job Seeker visa, and student visa requirements.
🇮🇹Study in Italy
Complete guide to studying in Italy: income-linked ISEE tuition (€900-4,000/year, often near-free for lower-income families), the DSU need-based scholarship, Europe's lowest proof-of-funds requirement, and student visa requirements.
🇨🇭Study in Switzerland
Complete guide to studying in Switzerland — ETH Zurich and EPFL, the 2025 two-tier tuition change for foreign students, real living costs, student visa rules, work rights, and post-study options.
🇳🇱Study in Netherlands
Complete guide to studying in the Netherlands — TU Delft and University of Amsterdam, 2,200+ English-taught programmes, real tuition and living costs, student visa rules, work rights, and the Orientation Year pathway.
🇸🇬Study in Singapore
Complete guide to studying in Singapore — NUS and NTU (both QS top 15), real tuition with the Tuition Grant subsidy, student visa rules, work rights, and Asia's strongest graduate job market.
🇯🇵Study in Japan
Complete guide to studying in Japan — University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, the fully-funded MEXT scholarship, real tuition and living costs, student visa rules, work rights, and post-study job-seeking options.
🇰🇷Study in South Korea
Complete guide to studying in South Korea — KAIST and Seoul National University, the fully-funded GKS scholarship, real tuition and living costs, D-2 student visa rules, work rights, and the D-10/E-7 post-study pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheapest for international students?
Among major destinations, Germany: most public universities charge no tuition, and the student visa asks for €11,904 a year in living funds. South Korea and Japan national universities are also low-cost, at roughly US$4,000–4,500 a year in tuition.
Which country has the best post-study work rights?
Canada (a Post-Graduation Work Permit of up to 3 years), Australia (2–3 years on a 485) and Germany (18 months to find a job) are the most generous. The UK Graduate visa is 2 years, falling to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these official or primary sources on 30 October 2026.