You’ve navigated to the right page if you’re looking for the best countries for international students to work and study. We know the year is coming to an end and many of us already have plans for next year. And such plans most likely include studying in a country outside of yours.
However, you do not want to school in any country, but one that allows you to work while you study. Also, you want to know the countries where the cost of living isn’t high, and the tuitions are affordable. There is much to consider when choosing to school in countries outside of yours. So, stay with us as we walk you through the knowledge we’ve gathered on the best countries for international students.
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Best Countries For International Students in 2023
We understand that the concern is to find countries that allow international students to work while studying. Because you’re hoping to pay the rest of your tuition and feed off the money you earn while you study. So, we’ve listed the top countries where you can earn while you learn.
Canada
If you’re looking for one of the best countries for international students, you should consider Canada. Why? Because it is one of the countries you can study and work as a student. So while you are in Canada, you can work up to 20 hours per week. And you can work full-time during scheduled breaks- holidays after semesters. You should note that working more than the hours stated on your visa can lead to a violation of your study permit. And this can deny you the chance of being approved for a work permit.
You shouldn’t blow your chances because Canada is one of the best countries to work in after graduating. As it provides you with a chance of working full-time after your study completion. However, there are certain requirements you must meet.
Now to the cost of living. The cost of living in Canada isn’t high compared to a few other countries. But we’ll suggest you budget between CAD 20,000 to CAD 30,000, to be on the safer side. Various schools in Canada have student rooms that come with meal plans which can help make things cheaper for you. You can always find out more about the school you intend to study at. On your way to Canada to start the next academic session without an idea of the fees? We hope not!
The average tuition fee for international students in Canada ranges from CAD 8,000 to CAD 14,000. However, you should note that many schools in Canada, have fees as high as CAD 50,000 for international students. Now you can rush off to make plans on getting your student visa to study in Canada.
Top Schools in Canada
So we took the pleasure of helping you gather a list of a few schools with relatively cheap tuition. Have a look.
| S/N | School | City/State | Average Tuition Fee |
| 1 | Athabasca University | Alberta | CAD 18,710 |
| 2 | Bishop’s University | Lennoxville, Quebec | CAD 19,154 – CAD 26,219 |
| 3 | Brandon University | Brandon, Manitoba | CAD 6,697 – CAD 6,950 |
| 4 | Carleton University | Ottawa | CAD 13,060 – CAD 17,265 |
| 5 | Concordia University | Montreal | CAD 12,895 – CAD 22,050 |
The Best Countries for International Students – United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a good option when you’re looking for the best countries to study and work for international students. And it is undoubtedly one of the best countries to study abroad for English speakers. The number of work hours you get while studying in the UK depends on the course you choose to study. Generally, if you do get admission as a full-time student you can work for 20 hours per week, maximum.
We should stress here, that it doesn’t matter whether you’re getting paid for the job or not. While we are on the topic, there are certain jobs your student visa excludes you from engaging in. These Job types include Self-employment/Freelancing, Entertainer, Professional Sportsman, Full-time permanent Job, etc.
What is the cost of living in the UK? Honestly, we can’t say that living in the UK is cheap. But then again, how expensive or less expensive it gets, depends on what part of the UK you stay in. That being said, we recommend budgeting at least GBP 9,600 – GBP 15,600.
For Tuition, however, you should be budgeting GBP 4,000 – GBP 30,000 annually. Although the average cost of tuition is about GBP 11,000 per year. Your tuition fees will depend on the school you apply to and gain admission to.
Top Schools In the United Kingdom
| S/N | Schools | City/State | Average Tuition Fee |
| 1 | University of Stirling | Sterling | £13,650 |
| 2 | University Of West London | London | £12,000 |
| 3 | Leeds Beckett University | West Yorkshire | £11,500 – £12,500 |
| 4 | Teesside University | Middlesbrough | £9,750 – £17,000 |
| 5 | The University of Bedfordshire | Bedford and Luton | £11,500 – £12500 |
Germany
This is one of the most popular countries for international students and one of the best countries for international students. What should you know if you’re looking to study in Germany? First, as you’ve hoped, you can work and study in Germany. How many hours? Well, if you are a student from the EU/EEA, you can work for 20 hours per week while you study. However, if you’re a non-EU/EEA student, you can work for 120 full days or 240 half days per year. You should note that in Germany, working a full day is working 8 hours.
One issue you might think you’d face is the Language barrier. But Germany isn’t tagged as one of the best European countries to study and work for international students, for show. Most Universities in Germany have programs that are offered in English. And their Private Universities teach exclusively in English, so language may not really hinder you as much as you imagine. However, it won’t hurt to learn German, would it?
Now to tuition. If you never heard about the free tuition in Germany, well you’re hearing by way of your eyes now. But let’s break it down for you. From what we know, in 2014, the German government decided against tuition fees for undergraduates in German public Universities. In other words, Tuition was made free for all undergraduates that attended public universities, including international students. A part of the country later started charging fees for international students in 2017 though, but it still is cheap.
However, for a master’s, you’d have to pay, whether it’s public or private universities. So just budget 20,000 to 30,000 euros for your tuition per year. The average cost of living in Germany is about 10,200 euros per year.
Top Schools in Germany
| S/N | Schools | City/State | Average Tuition Fee |
| 1 | Technical University of Munich | Munich | €144 |
| 2 | University of Heidelberg | Baden-Wurttemberg | €364 |
| 3 | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | Karlsruhe | €1500 |
| 4 | Freie University of Berlin | Berlin | €354 |
| 5 | Humboldt University Berlin | Berlin | €620 |
The Best Countries for International Students – USA
If you’re looking for one of the best countries to study and work in, you should consider the USA. Does, this mean you can work while you study in the USA? Yes. Your student visa allows you to work up to 20 hours per week, on campus. And up to 40 hours per week during school breaks- holidays. However, please note that working on campus simply means working for your university. Does this mean you can’t work for any other organization or business? Well, there are certain requirements, conditions, and clauses.
When it comes to the cost of living, we can’t exactly say it’s cheap. However, as you know, the costs of living will still vary based on what parts of the USA you reside in. As an international student, you should budget at least $10,000 to $18,000 per year. And bear in mind that the cost of rent may increase this amount, as rent isn’t that cheap either.
The cost of tuition in The USA varies from university to university. It also varies from course to course as well as, the nature of the degree. However, you’re most likely to pay as high as $65,000 for a master’s degree program.
Top Schools in the United States
| S/N | Schools | City/State | Average Tuition Fee |
| 1 | Arizona State University | Arizona | $12,200 |
| 2 | The University of New Orleans | New Orleans | $15,000 |
| 3 | Eastern Michigan University | Michigan | $13,000 |
| 4 | Wichita State University | Kansas | $15,000 |
| 5 | California State University Fresno | California | $16,100 |
Australia
Looking for one of the best countries for International students to work and study? Australia is such one. An Australian student visa allows you to work up to 20 hours per week when school is in session. And you can work unlimited hours during vacations. However, early this year, 2022, the Australian Federal Government allowed international students to work unlimited hours. This privilege will, however, collapse by June 30, 2023.
How high is the cost of living in Australia? Well, all we can say is that the cost of living is not low. You should be budgeting AUD 16,800 to AUD 30,000 per year for your cost of living. This does include the price of rent, so we guess it isn’t that bad, yes?
And tuition Fees? Well, as you already know, tuition will vary depending on your choice of university. However, to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Australia, you’d pay between AUD 20,000 to AUD 45,000 per year. Looking to study for a Master’s or PhD degree? AUD 22,000 to AUD 50,000 per year should probably be your budget.
Just before you rush off, we’ve taken the pleasure of listing a few universities you might want to apply to.
Top Schools in Australia
| S/N | Schools | City/State | Average Tuition Fee |
| 1 | The University of Queensland | Brisbane | AUD 22,481- AUD 56, 164 |
| 2 | Monash University | Melbourne | AUD 8,977 – AUD 56, 923 |
| 3 | The Australian National University | Canberra | AUD 39,870 – AUD 47, 940 |
| 4 | The University of Adelaide | Adelaide | AUD 18,480 – AUD 21,730 |
| 5 | The University of Technology Syndey | Ultimo | AUD 22,167 – AUD 24,497 |
New Zealand – The Best Countries for International Students
Just like the few countries listed above, New Zealand is one of the best countries for international students. With a student visa, you can work part-time for up to 20 hours a week. And full-time during the Christmas and New year holidays. These, however, depend on if you’re doing a full-time course, with certain conditions attached.
The basic cost of living in New Zealand will vary depending on what part of New Zealand you reside in. However, it will most likely range between NZD 20,000 and NZD 25,000. Looking to chase a bachelor’s degree in New Zealand? The tuition will range between NZD 22,000 to NZD 32,000.
However, as you know, it will most likely vary according to universities. The tuition fees for a master’s degree will most likely fall between NZD 26,000 and NZD 37,000. But don’t get surprised if a university you apply to, costs higher, as we just give estimates. Want to go as far as getting your PhD degree in New Zealand? Then, you should be budgeting between, NZD 6,000 and NZD 9,000.
Be aware that proof of fund of about NZD 10,200 will be required by the New Zealand immigration office. This is to prove that you can most likely take care of yourself and your fees before you are issued a visa.
Top Schools in New Zealand
| S/N | Schools | City/State | Average Tuition Fee |
| 1 | The University of Auckland | Auckland | NZD 30,500 |
| 2 | The University of Canterbury | Christchurch | NZD 28,000 – NZD 44,000 |
| 3 | The University of Waikato | Hamilton | NZD 28,025 – NZD 75,560 |
| 4 | Lincoln University | Lincoln | NZD 31,100 – NZD 80,000 |
| 5 | Victoria University of Wellington | Wellington | NZD 30,549 – NZD 43,036 |
Switzerland
This country can be considered one of the best European countries for international students, ignoring the language barrier. Although, the 4 major languages spoken in Switzerland do not include English. It still is favourable for a Master’s degree student. As most Universities in Switzerland offer their Master’s program in English.
What is the Work-Study policy? International students are allowed to work for 15 hours per week when schools are in session. But can work full-time during semester breaks. The cost of living in Switzerland isn’t exactly cheap. But it isn’t impossible either. Your budget shouldn’t fall below 15,600 to 20,400 euros per year. Zurich and Geneva may cost higher as they are the most expensive cities to reside in.
Tuition fees in Switzerland aren’t as expensive as you would think. A bachelor’s/Master’s degree program will cost between 400 to 3700 euros per year. And a PhD degree will cost between 100 to 900 euros per year. Of course, as you know, these figures are estimates as fees vary by University.
The fee structure, however, is enough to classify, Switzerland as one of the best countries for international students.
Top Schools in Switzerland
| S/N | Schools | City/State | Average Tuition Fee |
| 1 | The University of Geneva | Geneva | €900 |
| 2 | University of Zurich | Zurich | USD 1,374 – USD 25,281 |
| 3 | The University of Bern | Bern | €1700 |
| 4 | University of Basel | Basel | USD 1,621 – USD 19,097 |
| 5 | The University of Fribourg | Fribourg | USD 1,844 – USD 44,531 |
While you are considering schools and countries, you should always consider safety alongside. Here, we havhe curated a list of the safest countries to travel to in 2023. See if the country you have chosen makes it to that list.
Ireland – The Best Countries for International Students
If you’re considering schooling outside the country, note that Ireland is one of the best countries for international students. So what is the work-study policy in Ireland? If you’re studying a full-time course, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during school sessions. Or, you get to work up to 40 hours per week during vacation. Which ranges from June to September and from 15th December to 15th January. Please note that it has to be either option, or you stand a chance of losing your student visa and leaving Ireland as a result.
For Non-EU students, tuition fees for a bachelor’s degree program will range between €9,850 to €55,000 annually. And €9,950 to €35,000 per year for a Master’s program. As you know, the figures will vary by University. The cost of living in Ireland ranges between €7,000 to €12,000 per year. And this figure includes rent, so it is quite fair.
You’re probably scared reading through this because you know for a certain that Ireland speaks Irish. There’s no reason to be worried, however, as almost all the higher education courses are taught in English.
Table of Schools You Can Study At In Ireland
| S/N | Schools | City/State | Average Tuition Fee |
| 1 | Maynooth University | Maynooth | USD 14,995 – USD 16,148 |
| 2 | University Of Galway | Galway | USD 5,674 – USD 30,811 |
| 3 | Dublin City University | Dublin | USD 15,572 – USD 16725 |
| 4 | National College of Ireland | Dublin | €10,000 – €15,000 |
| 5 | University College Cork | Cork | USD 4,426 – USD 52,582 |
Netherlands
When considering the best countries for international students, the Netherlands makes the list. A student visa in the Netherlands will permit you to work up to 16 hours per week throughout the year. Or 40 hours per week for 3 months- June, July, August- for Non-EU students. Just like in the case of Ireland, you only get to choose one of the two options.
Although Dutch is the official language in the Netherlands, the language won’t really serve as a barrier. As most universities offer their Master’s degree in English, and some bachelor’s degree programs too.
The cost of living in the Netherlands is relatively low. An average room will cost between €300 to €600 per month. And living costs generally will range between €800 to €1200 monthly. A non-EU student will pay between €6,000 to €15,000, for a bachelor’s degree program. And for a Master’s program, the tuition will range between €8,000 and €20,000.
Top Schools in the Netherlands
| S/N | Schools | City/State | Average Tuition Fee |
| 1 | Eindhoven University of Technology | Eindhoven | €11,600 – €16,700 |
| 2 | Tilburg University | Tilburg | €14,900 |
| 3 | Amsterdam University College | Amsterdam | €9,550 – €16,000 |
| 4 | Maastricht University | Maastricht | €14,446 |
| 5 | Utrecht University | Utrecht | €17,500 |
Singapore – The Best Countries for International Students
This country happens to be on the list of the best countries for international students to study. Is it possible to work and study in Singapore? Yes. You can work for a maximum of 16 hours per week. However, you must obtain a work pass exemption and some other necessary requirements.
Just in case you are worried about the language barrier, you shouldn’t be. As the Universities in Singapore teach in English. An international student is likely to spend an average of 1,500 to 3,300 Singapore dollars a month. While this living cost figure will depend on where you stay in Singapore, it will also depend on your lifestyle.
As you know, the tuition fees will vary by university. But the estimated tuition cost for a Master’s degree will range between 18,000 and 30,000 Singapore dollars. If you’re looking to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Singapore, you should budget 24,000 to 40,000 Singapore dollars.
We’ve listed a few Universities you might want to consider.
Top Schools in Singapore
| S/N | Schools | City/State | Average Tuition Fee |
| 1 | National University Of Singapore | Singapore | S$17,650 – S$66,650 |
| 2 | Nanyang Technological University | Singapore | S$31,289.72 |
| 3 | Singapore Polytechnic | Singapore | USD 6,167 |
| 4 | Singapore Management University | Singapore | USD 29,057 |
| 5 | Ngee Ann Polytechnic | Singapore | USD 6,167 |
Best Countries For International Students To Work And Study – Summary
Above, we have listed the best countries for international students, as you’ve already seen. The work-study policies available in each country, the estimated living expenses, and the estimated tuition fees also. All of these we believe will help you decide which is most affordable for you, after comparing each factor. We’ve also listed a few universities in these countries, to help make your search for universities easier.
For some of you, schooling in any of these countries and schools will be a dream come true. And we hope it does come true. Here’s to wishing you the very best on your journey to more knowledge, we’re rooting for you.
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