Spending a semester or two overseas can be one of the most enriching experiences a student can go through while in college. It helps broaden not only their academic horizon, but also their cultural boundaries. Nonetheless, while it is a highly rewarding experience, studying abroad can also become quite a costly endeavor.
Following, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top 12 most expensive countries for foreign students. The countries were ranked according to three indicators: tuition costs, cost of living for one year, and the total cost for studying in that specific country.
Somewhat surprisingly, the costliest country for foreign students is neither the US nor the UK, which ranked 2nd and 3rd in our countdown, but Australia. Australia is more expensive for students both in terms of tuition fees and cost of living. The high costs associated with studying in Australia have reduced the number of international students who enroll in higher education schools in the Land Down Under. Nonetheless, amidst the high costs, a strong body of foreign students still exists in the country.
Tuition fees in the US are about the same as those in Australia, but the cost of living is significantly lower, placing it on the second place. The UK ranked third mainly because of its lower tuition fees. While the US has higher tuition fees than the UK, it does have a lower cost of living, which is one aspect foreign students should consider.
The most affordable country on our countdown is Spain, where the total cost for one year of studies for a foreigner is a little over $7,000. This might have something to do with the economic downturn that has hit the country in the past years.
Looking for a university abroad? Let’s take a look at our countdown.
Note: tuition fees vary from university to university and from program to program, so the values offered below represent an average of what a foreign student would pay to enroll in a foreign course.
No. 12: Spain
Tuition fees (yearly): $1,002
Cost of living (yearly): $6,004
Total: $7,006
No. 11: Taiwan
Tuition fees (yearly): $3,270
Cost of living (yearly): $4,987
Total: $8,766
No. 10: China
Tuition fees (yearly): $3,983
Cost of living (yearly): $4,785
Total: $8,766
No. 9: Russia
Tuition fees (yearly): $3,131
Cost of living (yearly): $6,310
Total: $9,441
No. 8: Japan
Tuition fees (yearly): $6,522
Cost of living (yearly): $12,642
Total: $19,164
No. 7: Hong Kong
Tuition fees (yearly): $13,182
Cost of living (yearly): $9,261
Total: $22,443
No. 6: Singapore
Tuition fees (yearly): $14,885
Cost of living (yearly): $9,363
Total: $24,248
No. 5: Canada
Tuition fees (yearly): $18,474
Cost of living (yearly): $7,537
Total: $26,011
No. 4: The United Arab Emirates
Tuition fees (yearly): $21,371
Cost of living (yearly): $6,004
Total: $27,375
No. 3: The United Kingdom
Tuition fees (yearly): $19,291
Cost of living (yearly): $11,034
Total: $30,325
No. 2: The United States
Tuition fees (yearly): $25,226
Cost of living (yearly): $10,479
Total: $35,705
No. 1: Australia
Tuition fees (yearly): $23,375
Cost of living (yearly): $13,140
Total: $38,516
