Where Can You Study Abroad in English?

Source: topuniversities.com

If you want to study in English, you will naturally first think of the usual English-speaking study destinations – the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. Many of these popular English-speaking study destinations err towards the expensive side, particularly for international students. If you’re concerned about costs, or simply like the idea of studying somewhere different, read on for a selection of alternative destinations where you can study abroad in English…

Europe

Europe is fast-becoming a top region for finding study programs in English, even in countries where English is not the local language. If you’re an EU citizen, you can obtain a free university education – with all your lectures taught in English – in around half of all European countries, including Denmark, Austria, Norway and Greece. In other countries such as France, tuition fees can be as low as €180 (~US$200) a year, regardless of nationality.

Germany 

More than two-thirds of Germany’s population speaks English, and there are many programs available to study in English, particularly at postgraduate level. If you want to study at undergraduate level, English-taught courses are rare but not unheard of.

There are no tuition fees for undergraduate degrees at public universities in Germany. Master’s degrees are also free if you have gained your undergraduate degree in Germany, while PhD courses are also often either free or very low-cost. Private universities in Germany will charge tuition fees, but these are often still less than the international average.

The Netherlands 

If you want to study in English in the Netherlands, you won’t be limited in communicating with the locals – 90% of Dutch residents are English speakers. There is also no shortage of English-taught courses and programs to be found here – more than 2,100 are available, mostly at postgraduate level. The government agency Study in Holland has a Study Finder, which will help you find your perfect English-taught course at any level of study.

Although tuition is not free in the Netherlands, fees are much less than the average for English-speaking countries, particularly if you’re from the EU, as you will pay €1,950 (~US$2,200) per year. If you’re not from the EU you will pay between €6,000 and €15,000 (~US$6,800-16,900).

Austria 

Teaching in Austria is mostly conducted in the country’s official language, German, but there are around 185 programs available in English at various study levels – the Study in Europe website has a listing of these programs. This is another country with a high percentage (73%) of English speakers. Higher education is free for Austrian nationals and students from the EU. Students from non-EU countries can expect to pay around €730(~US$825) per semester.

Greece 

Around half of Greece’s citizens can speak English. While teaching at universities is mainly in Greek, specialized study programs are also available in English at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Again, tuition fees are free for domestic and EU students at undergraduate level in public universities, while students from non-EU countries will pay around €1,500 (~US$1,690) per year, often including course textbooks.

Nordic countries

Denmark 

Although most teaching in universities in Denmark is conducted in Danish, there are more than 600 internationally recognized programs taught in English, and 86% of the country’s residents can speak English. You can find study programs in English via the study in Europe website. Universities in Denmark are free to attend, at all levels, for all EU/EEA students. If you are from outside the EU/EEA, you will be required to pay fees, which on average cost €6,000-16,000 per year (US$6,770-18,000).

Sweden

Another country with a large number of English speakers, over 900 programs are taught in English at Swedish universities. University is free for Swedish citizens and citizens of EU countries. However, fees have been introduced for non-EU citizens. These are set by each university; you can expect to pay somewhere between SEK80,000 and 140,000 (around US$9,700-17,000) depending on your degree.

Finland 

Finland is another destination you may well like to consider to study abroad in English. Finnish institutions provide over 500 courses in English, and there are no tuition fees, no matter what country you’re from. Again, there are many English language speakers amongst the nationals of this country (70%). English language courses are more common at universities of applied sciences and polytechnics, and only a small number of English-taught courses at bachelor’s degree level are available at general universities. A database of English courses can be found on Study in Finland’s study programs database.

Scotland 

If you’re an EU national keen to study in the UK but not so keen on the high tuition fees, you may like to consider Scotland, as there are no tuition fees for students from Scotland or elsewhere in the EU (excluding students from the rest of the UK). Although Scotland is primarily English-speaking, the country has recognized regional languages, Scottish Gaelic and the Scots language.

Asia

Singapore 

A vibrant and multicultural city state, Singapore includes some of the most prestigious universities in the world, with Singapore National University and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) both ranked among the top 30 in the QS World University Rankings® 2015/16. If you want to study in English in Singapore, the good news is that English is one of its official languages, with over 75% of the population fluent, and it’s also the official language of instruction at universities. However, costs in Singapore are relatively high – you can expect to pay around US$14,500 per year for tuition fees, and the a high standard of living is matched by high living costs.

Malaysia 

Malaysia is quickly becoming a popular study destination for international students, and has recently invested heavily in the higher education sector, for example by welcoming international branch campuses, which are run by universities based in other countries. Existing branch campuses include those operated by the UK’s University of Nottingham and Australia’s Monash University.

English is the language of Instruction of private colleges and some government universities, and is also commonly used among Malaysians. For those less proficient in the language, most colleges also offer English proficiency classes. The cost of living for international students in Malaysia for comfortable living is as low as US$4,000 per year, including food, travel and accommodation.

Hong Kong 

One of the world’s leading international financial centers, Hong Kong mixes Eastern and Western cultures, with English being widely used in both daily life and higher education – almost all university-level teaching is conducted in English. Average tuition fees are estimated to be around HK$90,000-265,000 (~US$11,620-34,200) a year, so you may wish to apply for a scholarship, either from your university of choice or the Hong Kong government.

India 

There is a great deal of diversity in India, both in terms of culture and language – hundreds of dialects are used here, and in fact the the latest census in 2011 identified no less than 21 different mother tongues with more than a million speakers. However, in Indian universities the language of instruction is largely English, especially at postgraduate level, and there are often language classes available for non-native speakers to strengthen their knowledge of the language. The costs of living in India are very affordable, and tuition fees for international students start at US$3,500 per year.

Taiwan 

Another country with a growing number of international students choosing to study abroad in English is Taiwan, in which the language is widely spoken and understood. The government in Taiwan is keen to attract international students and therefore offers many scholarships, while universities in Taiwan are increasing the number of degree courses taught partly or entirely in English. There are currently 52 universities offering 500 English language programs, while many international students are also attracted by the prospect of learning Mandarin. Tuition fees range from US$800 – US$15,000 per year.

Africa and the Middle East

Egypt 

Although the official language of Egypt is Arabic, English is widely used in tourist spots and cities, with most of the street signs bilingual in literary Arabic and English. However, English is less common in rural areas. Given their names, you won’t be surprised to learn that the British University in Egypt (near Cairo) and the American University in Cairo both conduct teaching in English. Tuition fees for non-Egyptian students start at around US$6,600 per year.

Israel 

The official languages of Israel are Hebrew and Arabic, but English is also widely used, with around 85% of the population proficient in the language. Courses at universities in Israel are often taught in Hebrew, but many leading universities in Israel also increasingly offer English-taught programs. Fees for undergraduate courses start at around US$7,000 per year, but this varies depending on the course and university.

Note that for all of these countries, if you study in English and you are not a native English speaker, you will most likely need to prove your proficiency in the language with a test such as the IELTS,TOEFL or PTE.