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Choose the country that fits your ambition

Tuition, living costs, visa routes and funding cultures vary enormously. Compare destinations side by side before you commit to an application strategy.

Top destinations

Where ISG students are heading

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Destination snapshot

Indicative annual costs for international students. Figures vary by city, institution and programme.

DestinationTypical tuitionLiving costs / yearPost-study workLanguageFunding culture
🇺🇸 United States$20,000–$45,000$12,000–$20,00012–36 months (OPT)EnglishFulbright, assistantships
🇬🇧 United Kingdom£15,000–£30,000£10,000–£14,0002 years (Graduate Route)EnglishChevening, Commonwealth
🇨🇦 CanadaCAD 18,000–35,000CAD 12,000–18,0003 years (PGWP)English / FrenchVanier, institutional awards
🇩🇪 Germany€0–€4,000 (public)€10,000–€13,00018 monthsGerman / EnglishDAAD, tuition-free public universities
🇦🇺 AustraliaAUD 25,000–45,000AUD 20,000–28,0002–4 yearsEnglishAustralia Awards, RTP
🇯🇵 Japan¥535,800 (national)¥1.2–1.8mVaries by visaJapanese / EnglishMEXT, JASSO
🇨🇳 China¥20,000–40,000¥30,000–50,000Work permit routesChinese / EnglishCSC, Confucius
🇳🇱 Netherlands€8,000–€20,000€12,000–€15,0001 year (orientation)EnglishOrange Tulip, Holland Scholarship
Plan properly

Five questions to answer before you shortlist a country

1. Can you realistically fund the first year?Many "fully funded" awards still require upfront proof of funds for the visa.
2. Does the qualification transfer back home?Check professional recognition for medicine, law and engineering.
3. What are the post-study work rights?A degree is also a career route. Understand visa pathways early.
4. Is the language of instruction realistic?English-taught programmes exist in Germany, Japan and Korea — but daily life may not be in English.
5. How competitive is the funding?Apply to a portfolio: two reach awards, two match awards, one safety.
International students