Best places to study abroad in 2024

International study broadens your horizons in so many ways. Not only do you boost your academic credentials, you’ll make new friends from around the world, learn a new language and gain exposure to a new culture.

Whether you plan on completing a full university degree overseas, or just want to take a semester out to learn somewhere new, this guide is for you.

We’ll take a tour of the best places to study abroad for English speakers, some of the best options in Europe and some budget friendly options too - plus we’ll also take a quick look at Wise - the smart digital account and card to make spending internationally cheap and easy.

How to choose the right study abroad destination: step by step

Studying overseas is a fantastic opportunity, but it’s also going to take a lot of research to pick the right place and course. There’s no single right way to go about this, as everyone is on a different journey - but some common steps include:

Decide whether you’d like to study abroad for a full course or s shorter term exchange with an organization like CIEE¹ Research the tuition fees in different countries - data is available as an overview from educationdata.org², and in detail from individual universities Check out the costs of living in your preferred destination - a site like Numbeo³ can be very helpful here Shortlist institutions and courses, and get in touch to discover more about the process and application requirements Apply to your preferred institutions, and wait for confirmation of your place

Once you know where you’ll be studying abroad, you’ll need to get started on more practical arrangements such as arranging a visa, flight and accommodation.

Most universities will have an international student office which can often offer support with this - so asking for help and advice early in the process is a smart idea.

What are the best places to study abroad?

We’ll go into a few of the best places to study abroad in Europe, and the best places to study abroad as an English speaker, a little later.

There are so many fantastic options for Americans looking to complete studies overseas, let’s start with some good all round options which you may not have thought of.

Norway

We’ll kick off our tour of great places to study abroad in Norway. Tuition fees for US citizens are relatively low, and the Norwegian way of life is famously great fun, with lots of outdoor activity and sports - in a highly developed country with an excellent standard of living.

Tuition costs	Around 25,000 USD⁴
Cost of living	15,000 USD/year
Pros	Courses offered in English across most subjects High standard of living Lots of international students
Cons	Not the cheapest place to live You’ll need to get used to the weather!
Good for	Study in a diverse group of international students where English is a shared language

South Korea

South Korea has excellent universities and many courses which are taught in English.

Tuition fees are fairly low, even for international students, and although living costs can be high, as a student it’s perfectly possible to stick to a pretty reasonable budget.

Travel costs - which are unavoidable - are high, though.

Tuition costs	16,800 USD
Cost of living	9,500 USD/year
Pros	High quality of teaching Modern cities with great infrastructure and safety Unique experience available
Cons	Demanding courses Travel back to the US is time consuming and costly
Good for	A unique cultural experience, offered with the option of teaching in English

Argentina

Argentina may not be the first place that comes to mind for overseas study but it has a lot of great advantages, including cheap or even free tuition and a low cost of living.

Some universities, such as the University of Buenos Aires⁵ even offer exchange programs with US universities so you could go for a term or two instead of completing an entire degree there.

Tuition costs	Free to 15,000 USD
Cost of living	Up to 5,000 USD/year
Pros	Full time and exchange programs available Spanish immersion Well connected to the US
Cons	Limited places available on competitive programs Varying quality of education depending on university selected
Good for	Adventurous students looking to perfect their Spanish language as they complete their studies

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What are the best places to study abroad for English speakers?

Many of the countries we look at in this guide have universities which offer courses in English - even where English is not an official language of the country.

However, if you’re concerned about getting by day to day in a country where English isn’t the main language, there are also some other great options. Here are some top picks for places to study abroad as an English speaker.

The UK

The UK has lots of very prestigious universities, and offers courses to international students from around the world.

Support for international students is excellent - but be aware that the costs can be high for international students, with tuition fees that are uncapped and based on the institution and course.

Tuition costs	Very varied - up to 40,000 USD or more
Cost of living	21,000 USD/year
Pros	Huge number of universities and courses to choose from Course fees vary so you can pick one in your budget Excellent support for international students
Cons	Costs can be extremely high Visas may take some time to arrange
Good for	Studying at a world famous institution

Canada

Canada - as a close neighbor - offers lots of advantages in that you can study somewhere new while still being a short hop from home.

While English is spoken in most places, you’d also have the option of picking a French speaking region if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous.

Tuition costs	20,000 USD - 45,000 USD
Cost of living	18,000 USD/year
Pros	Lots of courses available Choose a French speaking area if you want language immersion Very easy to travel back to the US
Cons	Some course fees are very high
Good for	Study in a new place within easy reach of home

Australia

Australia is a pretty expensive study destination, but it does offer plenty of perks to make up for that - including a laid back lifestyle, amazing beaches and great weather.

Tuition costs	Up to 45,000 USD
Cost of living	17,000 USD/year
Pros	Good range of locations and courses Amazing lifestyle benefits Large international communities in all cities
Cons	Relatively costly tuition Very long travel time
Good for	Work life balance, with the option to learn in a unique place

Best places to study abroad in Europe

Thinking of taking time to study in Europe to perfect a new language and soak up the culture? Here are a few different countries you might want to consider:

Spain

International tuition fees in Spain can be extremely cheap in some courses and institutions, although top end courses are still on the higher side compared to other European destinations.

If you’re looking for ways to add Spanish language learning to your daily life, this could be a perfect match.

Tuition costs	Up to 28,000 USD
Cost of living	12,000 USD/year
Pros	Learn Spanish while you study Friendly places with good student support Great climate and cuisine
Cons	Very varied tuition costs
Good for	Perfecting your Spanish while you complete your degree or exchange program

Sweden

Sweden has excellent universities in its vibrant cities, often with courses taught in English. Tuition fees do vary a lot, and can run up to about 40,000 USD - but are often far cheaper than this.

Tuition costs	Up to 39,000 USD
Cost of living	18,000 USD/year
Pros	Many courses taught in English English is widely spoken - although you could also choose to learn Swedish High quality universities
Cons	Living costs can be on the high side
Good for	English-medium courses across many different subjects

Italy

Learn Italian, eat amazing food, meet some fascinating people and get a degree at the same time. Italy is a popular destination for international students from all over the world, with many courses offered across high quality institutions.

Tuition costs	Up to 7,500 USD
Cost of living	10,000 USD/year
Pros	Low tuition fees Good range of universities and courses available Fascinating place to learn about culture and history
Cons	English may not be spoken everywhere you go
Good for	Real immersion in Italian culture, while studying whatever course interests you

What are the most affordable study abroad destinations?

Studying abroad isn’t always a cheap option. However, by selecting a country with relatively low tuition fees and a reasonable cost of living, you can make it fit your budget. Let’s look at a few cheaper options which you may choose to consider.

Germany

While tuition fees in German universities do vary a lot, some courses have surprisingly low fees - which makes Germany a great place to check out if you want a lower overall cost for your overseas study.

Tuition costs	Up to 35,000 USD
Cost of living	14,000 USD
Pros	Some courses have very low tuition costs Excellent standard of living Great location to explore Europe
Cons	Variable tuition fees - not all universities have subsidized fees
Good for	Great quality education in a modern, dynamic country

India

Looking for a real adventure? India has some great universities, and as living costs on average aren’t all that high, you can keep down your overall spending if you need to.

Tuition costs	Up to 5,500 USD
Cost of living	4,600 USD
Pros	Can be a very cheap place to live Exciting destination with lots of opportunity to explore
Cons	English may not be spoken as widely as you’d like Expect some culture shock
Good for	A real adventure in a fascinating country with low tuition fees and cost of living

Japan

It may be surprising to see Japan as a low cost study destination, but it’s feasible to keep your overall costs pretty low as a student which makes it worth considering.

There’s a huge range of courses available, and plenty of opportunities to learn Japanese.

Tuition costs	Up to 16,000 USD
Cost of living	10,000 USD
Pros	Learn Japanese as you study Great infrastructure and safety Completely different cultural experience
Cons	Courses can be very demanding English isn’t universally spoken
Good for	Pick up some Japanese as you study in a completely different environment and culture

Common questions about studying abroad

Let’s round out this guide with a few other common questions, to help you plan your overseas study adventure.

Are scholarships available for study abroad programs?

Some universities offer scholarships or exchange programs which are subsidized - however, this isn’t all that common for international students.

A great place to look is on the US government study abroad web page7, which has a full listing of awards, scholarships and programs which apply in specific circumstances - and which may be a good option for your overseas study.

What are the advantages of studying abroad?

Studying abroad can give you a competitive advantage when you graduate, as you’ll have experienced a different culture, and in many cases learned a new language.

It's also a fantastic experience in itself - and depending on where you choose, may even be cheaper than staying in the US.

How can you prepare for studying abroad?

Prepare for overseas study by thoroughly researching the country you’re going to, through the university, online and by asking others.

You’ll also need to make sure you’ve made all required practical arrangements such as finding accommodation, getting a visa and insurance, although university international student offices can often guide you through this process.

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Use this guide to start figuring out whether or not studying abroad is right for you, and remember to also check out Wise as a better way to spend when you’re overseas.

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Sources:

1. CIEE
2. Educationdata.org
3. Numbeo
4. University of Oslo - international fees
5. University of Buenos Aires
6. US government - study abroad

Sources checked on 03.04.2024