Top 12 Postgraduate Study Abroad Destinations for 2020

Millions of people study abroad each year for a variety of reasons: world-class universities, value for money, exciting cultural opportunities and the opportunity to learn a new language, to name just a few.

Using data from UNESCO, we thought it would be interesting to explore exactly which countries are most popular with international postgraduates. And, while the usual suspects are up there at the top (America and the UK, we’re looking at you) there are a handful of surprises further down the list.

Nearly a million international students choose to study in the USA (to be precise: 984,898), making it the most popular study abroad destination by quite some distance. Given the country’s wealth of world-renowned universities, its appeal to postgraduates isn’t too difficult to understand.

From venerable Ivy League institutions to innovative specialised universities, the USA has over 4,500 higher education providers to pick from. In fact, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings nearly half of the world’s top 50 universities are based in the United States.

Browse American Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

The United Kingdom has a historic higher education system that has long drawn talented postgraduates from across the world. According to the UNESCO data, there are just over 430,000 international students in the UK, making it the most popular country for foreign students in Europe.

EU, EEA and Swiss students benefit from the UK Government’s guarantee that EU nationals starting a Masters or PhD in the 2020-21 academic year will continue to pay the same fees (and be eligible to receive the same postgraduate loans) as UK students for the duration of their course.

Browse UK Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

Australia is one of the world’s fastest growing study abroad destinations, with its excellent universities and famously high quality of life attracting over 380,000 international students. Vibrant coastal metropolises like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane offer a range of exciting opportunities for adventurous postgraduates.

Browse Australian Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

Germany is the largest non-anglophone study abroad destination, drawing just over 258,000 international students. German universities have a long and proud intellectual tradition (they were even responsible for developing the modern-day PhD!) so it’s no surprise that so many foreign students choose to study there.

Germany also has a generous approach to tuition fees, with public universities in 15 out of 16 states charging only a nominal registration fee (around €100 per semester) to all students, regardless of nationality. The exception is the state of Baden-Württemberg, which charges non-EEA students €1,500 per semester for Masters courses (but not PhDs).

Browse German Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

Following close on the heels of Germany, France is another extremely popular location for international students (the difference between them is just under 500 students!). . Even though French is the primary language of instruction, there are still plenty of Masters and PhDs available in English at top French universities. The country has long had one of the most generous tuition fee policies, charging just €243 per year to EU / EEA students enrolled on Masters courses at public institutions, or €380 per year for PhD programmes.

In 2019-20, the French Government introduced higher Masters fees for overseas (non-EU) students, however. At €3,770 per year, these rates are still rather cheaper than many other countries. PhD fees remain unaffected.

Browse French Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

Russia might not be as famous as the other countries on this list when it comes to studying abroad, but it’s actually a very common destination for international students from the post-Soviet states and beyond, with around 50,000 choosing to attend a university there.

Russia signed up to the Bologna Process in 2003, which means its universities and academic procedures are in line with the rest of the European Higher Education Area and that Russian postgraduate degrees will be recognised around the world.

Browse Russian Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

Next on the list is Canada, which welcomes over 200,000 international students. Canada has a well-earned reputation for diversity and tolerance, together with an excellent, well-funded network of public universities.

If you decide that you want to live in Canada after finishing your degree, the country also has a generous post-graduation work permit scheme.

Browse Canadian Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

More Chinese students study abroad than any other country (almost 930,000), but China is also a popular destination itself, with 178,000 international students at its universities. Indeed, Chinese universities are becoming more and more prominent in the various world university rankings: six appeared in the top 150 according to Times Higher Education, for example.

As well as top-class local universities, many overseas postgraduates choose to study at one of the international campuses that have been developed in partnership between foreign and Chinese universities.

Browse Chinese Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

Japan is the second most popular study abroad country in Asia, with around 164,000 international students. A proud academic tradition combined with ultra-modern cities help explain Japan’s enduring reputation, along with a clutch of world-class universities.

Browse Japanese Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

Malaysia is an emerging higher education destination, home to just over 120,000 international students. The country’s booming economy, good quality of life and affordability are all part of its appeal to Masters students from around the world.

Similar to China, there are several international branch campuses in Malaysia that offer accredited English-language postgraduate degrees from foreign universities.

Browse Malaysian Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

Turkey’s unique position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia is just one of the reasons for its popularity with international students. Over 100,000 foreign students attend its vibrant universities, attracted by low tuition fees and affordable living costs.

The country is a member of the Erasmus programme and a full participant in the Bologna process, which means its higher education qualifications are recognised across Europe and beyond.

Browse Turkish Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

Italy’s historical significance and cultural pedigree help make it one of the top choices for foreign students in Europe, with over 97,000 internationals studying at Italian universities. Whether you want to attend a traditional public university or a more specialised Scuola Superiore Universitaria (‘Superior Graduate School’), Italy’s range of higher education institutions will leave you spoilt for choice.

Browse Italian Masters degrees or PhD programmes.

Editor's note: A version of this blog was first published on 13/12/2018. We've checked and updated it for current readers.

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