Where Should I Study Abroad in 2024/25?

4 people, 2 sitting down, 2 standing, looking at each other and smiling — Studying abroad in 2024/25 could bring you a whole host of new friends, experiences and opportunities.

Choosing the right international study destination requires careful consideration of a range of factors. As the global education landscape evolves, and international mobility increases, students need to consider the elements that are important to them. These might include academic excellence, cultural diversity, cost of living, and post-graduation opportunities. Countries like Canada, Germany, and Australia, for example, continue to rise in popularity, as they offer a high quality education and are welcoming to international students. Other countries have become less appealing to international students, due to various conflicts and political issues.

But with the changes in visa rules, university admissions requirements, and work-visa authorisations over the past few years, the whole process can feel overwhelming for many international students. This article aims to help make the process of studying abroad clearer, going over the ins and outs of your decisions, and which countries are the best for getting a good university degree.

Why Should I Study Abroad?
Where Can I Study Abroad?
Studying Near vs Far
Where Will I be Accepted?
Alternatives to Studying Abroad

Why Should I Study Abroad?

There are two main reasons why you should consider studying abroad as a prospective international student.

Firstly, it gives you the chance to experience a new culture, different traditions, history and lifestyle. Students often say that the cultural differences of a new country are a shock to them at first, but later become one of their favourite aspects of studying abroad. Experiencing a different way of life than the one in your home country allows you to grow as a person and understand the world better, and it shows future employers that you are ready to interact with people from different backgrounds in a professional setting.

Secondly, your home country may simply not have universities which are at the same level of quality as some of the world’s highest ranked universities. North America and Europe, for example, are home to over 70 percent of the QS World Rankings top 1,000 universities worldwide. Africa, in comparison, offers less than 5 percent of such universities, although the higher education landscape is improving in the continent, so this is subject to change.

If you have the financial ability or scholarships required, then studying at a world-class university with leading professors and high-quality research facilities is a major bonus of studying abroad.

Naturally, this means that in areas such as North America and Europe, where most of the world’s top universities are based, admissions for international students are quite competitive, and you must ensure that you have the best grades possible in high school or your undergraduate degree to boost chances of admission.

Grades are not everything though, and who you are as a person outside of the classroom is just as important to these universities as the letters or numbers on your transcripts. Finding extracurricular activities that you are passionate about and are connected to your study interests can be very helpful when it comes to standing out in your application.

Where Can I Study Abroad?

As a prospective international student, you have the entire world at your feet! You can choose to study abroad in most countries around the world, especially those with well ranked universities such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

You are advised to carefully check the student visa requirements for each study abroad country from your home country, because some countries may have a more complicated student visa process that requires more time and documents than others.

For example, if you are an international student from Afghanistan, you will be required to submit additional documents, financial information, personal information and other details in order to receive a student visa in many countries. For more information about student visas and their requirements, take a look at our International Study Visas article.

Another factor which will decide where you apply for studying abroad is the overall living costs and tuition fees in each country. Although some private university tuition rates can differ greatly, the rates for most public and private universities are usually within a specific range in each country.

In the USA, for example, public universities charge between 20,000-35,000 US Dollars per annum, whereas private universities can charge between 40,000-55,000 US Dollars per annum for their courses. Specialised courses such as MBAs and Law degrees may be even more expensive. Tuition fees are slightly lower in most European countries, and living expenses are also more affordable in Europe than in most parts of the USA and Canada.

If you require financial assistance for studying at a university abroad, you should consider Germany, Sweden and Denmark, alongside a few other European countries which offer free tuition to international students at public universities. The quality of universities in these countries means that you are getting excellent value for money by spending less for your education.

Thinking about how you might be able to afford to study abroad? Read our Funding and Scholarships for International Students article for more information about how you can fund your studies.

See more information about all the study abroad destination options available to you.

Studying Near vs Far

There are many advantages and disadvantages to studying far from your home country at an international university. Below, we discuss a few things you should consider when applying to universities both near and far from home.

Friends and Family

By studying abroad near your home country, you will potentially be able to see your friends and family more regularly. The small time difference and flight time will make it far easier for you to be in touch with your parents and other close relatives and friends. For international students who need to take care of elderly parents or manage a business in their home country, studying abroad near your home country makes perfect sense.

Low Travel Costs

Another benefit of studying near your home country is the low travel costs and less time spent travelling. This allows you to save money for other exciting travel adventures, and also make quick trips on long weekends to visit family and friends at home. This would be far more difficult if you were studying in a far-off country, with travel tickets costing thousands of dollars and flights taking several hours.

Engage with New Culture

One possible advantage of studying far from home when abroad is that you will have the chance to fully engage with the new culture and lifestyle in your new country of study. This is because you will be fully immersed in your new environment, and will be focused on socialising with new people at your university and in your city, learning the local language, and travelling around the country.

Of course, in some cases, you may not have the option to study abroad near your home country because of a lack of universities near you. This is the reason why millions of international students from Asia and Africa apply to universities in Europe, North America and Australia every year.

Worried about being away from home? Take a look at our Culture Shock and Homesickness advice article for tips and information about how to get comfortable in your new country.

Where Will I be Accepted?

The large increase in students applying to study abroad means that you need to work harder than ever to make sure you are admitted into the university of your choice.

In terms of academic performance, most universities in Europe and the USA will only consider you if you have secured the equivalent of a 3.0 US-style Grade Point Average (GPA) score in your high school examinations or undergraduate degree. You should check online for sources to help you calculate your country’s exam scoring system and translate it into the US GPA system.

Highly-ranked universities like their prospective students to have strong extracurricular records, social service work, professional internships and high scores on entrance tests such as the SAT and the ACT.

Additionally, for most North American, European and Australian study abroad destinations, you will be required to show proof that you are comfortable with English as the primary language of teaching at university.

International students can show their English language proficiency by taking tests such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the IELTS. Acceptable TOEFL scores for top-ranked universities and student visas are around 80 on 120 on the TOEFL and 5-5.5 out of 7 on the IELTS.

Alternatives to Studying Abroad

Pathway Programmes

Pathway programmes are courses that are designed to help prepare you for your degree or masters. They are particularly useful if you do not meet the entry requirements for a specific course, have changed your mind about what you want to study, or do not have the required level of language proficiency.

There are several different types of pathway programmes, some are designed to lead you onto bachelor degrees, some are created for masters degrees (also known as pre-masters courses), and some are to prepare or improve your language skills ahead of starting a degree or masters in a different country.

Also included in pathway programmes are foundation degrees. These can be studied as a standalone course, and you will be awarded a full Foundation level qualification on completion. Once you have graduated from your foundation course, you can choose to either pursue further studies, which could be a shorter duration than a normal degree, or you could choose to enter the workplace.

All pathway programmes are intended as a stepping stone to a degree or masters programme, and some come with guaranteed (or the increased chance of) admission to a specific programme at a university.

Find out more about Pathway Programmes.

Distance Learning

Distance Learning, or academic degree study based on online courses which can be accessed from anywhere in the world, has become increasingly popular over the past few years, and continues to grow as a study choice.

There are two major types of distance learning available for international students today. The first is Synchronous, meaning ‘at the same time.’ This method requires live communication online, because you will be attending classes at exactly the same time as students from all over the world, just like an on-campus class. The other method is Asynchronous, in which international students usually receive weekly deadlines for completing assignments and watching pre-recorded lectures which you can complete at your own pace. Most international students prefer asynchronous distance learning because it gives you the chance to manage your time and complete assignments at your own speed.

If financial or travel-related difficulties make it impossible for you to study abroad, you should consider distance learning, as it normally costs a fraction of an on-campus university degree. Whatever decision you make, you should be confident of the endless opportunities available to advance your career and experience studying abroad.

Find out more about Online Learning.

Read more advice for international students or browse by your subject interest.

StudyLink is here to support you in your study abroad adventure, feel free to have a browse around the site and take a look at our various useful resources. Best of luck with your applications and studies!