Are you thinking of studying abroad in 2025? Check out these top locations for Canadian students!
Your education can mean more than just getting a degree. Are you someone who craves adventure, loves culture, is independent, and want to see the world? If so, studying abroad could be the right choice for you! Whether you study abroad for your whole degree or just for a semester, you’ll gain benefits from immersing yourself in a different culture, like learning a different language, travelling the world, and gaining independence. Studying abroad could change your life.
But, now you’ve got to answer the big question: where will you go? To help narrow down your choices, check out these top six destinations for studying abroad in 2025:
1. United States of America
The United States continues to be the most popular study abroad destination for Canadian students. Did you know almost 28,000 students chose to study in the U.S. in 2023? With a reputation for quality education, not just for their ivy league schools, and an enthusiastic campus life, the U.S. could be a great option for you! The U.S. has some of the best universities in the world. They consistently dominate the top spots of world university rankings. For example, seven out of the top ten schools on the Times Higher Education (THE) world university rankings are located in the U.S. So, you can expect great learning opportunities, excellent teaching, and plenty of research options if you choose to study in the US.
When studying abroad, you usually have to get a visa. However, as a Canadian studying in the U.S., you don’t actually need a student visa! Instead, you need to submit a few forms and information. Check out exactly what it takes to study abroad in the U.S. This is a great option for studying abroad if you’re looking for somewhere that resembles close to home.
2. United Kingdom
Similar to the U.S., the United Kingdom is also known for its high-quality education and world-renowned universities. While the U.S. has the ivy league, the UK has the Russell Group, known for world-renowned research and academic achievement. Three out of the top ten schools on THE’s world university rankings, including the top school, are UK universities. So, whatever you decide to study, a degree from the UK is recognized internationally and will look great to employers.
The UK also provides a unique culture and experience for students. There’s a good mix of energetic city life filled with pubs, concerts, nightlife, art galleries, and outdoor markets, and gorgeous countryside villages with local shops and beautiful trails.
As an extra bonus, programs in the UK (excluding Scotland) are generally shorter than what you may find in Canada. Most undergraduate courses may take three years to complete, meaning you’ll graduate quicker and spend less money on tuition and other school costs. If you’re thinking of pursuing a master’s program, then you can also expect a shorter course than in Canada as most master’s programs may take one year to complete.
Are you interested in becoming a doctor? Schools in the UK offer medical degrees that you can apply to directly out of high school, which means you’ll graduate and begin your career as a doctor sooner than you think!
3. Australia
If you want to study abroad, then why not study “down under” in Australia? There are plenty of benefits and attractions to studying in Australia other than the beaches, rainforests, surfing, and incredible wildlife. Like the UK, undergraduate degrees typically take three years. On top of that, if you’re interested in a professional degree (medicine, dentistry, etc.), some Australian schools offer these degrees at the undergraduate level. So, you could work towards becoming a doctor immediately after high school!
You don’t have to worry about complex requirements to apply to Australian schools; they ask for students to complete 12 years of school — just like in Canada! You’ll need some additional requirements depending on your program, but this makes Australia a great option for Canadians!
If you complete your studies and decide you want to stay in the country (because who wouldn’t want to?), Australia offers Temporary Graduate visas allowing you to stay and work for up to two or three years! Keep in mind that the Australian dollar is pretty similar to the Canadian dollar which makes your transition a lot easier!
4. France
So, you’re interested in studying in Europe? France is a good choice for studying abroad. In 2023, almost 2,000 Canadian students chose to study abroad in France, and it’s a popular destination for French-Canadian students.
A major benefit of choosing to study at a university in France is that the French government pays for most of your tuition — no matter if you’re a domestic or international student. So, you don’t have to worry about high tuition fees as an international student. You could put that money you save in tuition towards your living expenses, or even a bit of travelling. Transportation in Europe is incredibly simple and efficient, so you could take a weekend trip in neighbouring countries as a study break.
You can find many programs taught in English, but if you want to learn a new language, there’s no better way than to fully immerse yourself in it! If you want to study in French, then you may have to take a language test to prove your proficiency, or if you want to learn French on the side while studying in English, then you’re in the right place!
5. Switzerland
If you’re considering studying abroad in Europe, why not check out the heart of Europe — Switzerland? Did you know that Switzerland also has universities with high rankings, including ETH Zurich which placed just outside of the top 10 at number 11?
Switzerland and its universities are known for being very international and a true cultural melting pot. Switzerland shares its borders with major European countries: Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and the Principality of Liechtenstein which means travelling around Europe while you study in Switzerland is very easy!
If you choose to study in Swizerland, you’ll enjoy world-renowned chocolate and cheese, and incredible mountain views.
6. Caribbean
Do you want to pursue a medical degree? If so, the Caribbean may be the best place for you! Many medical schools in the Caribbean offer medical programs that have the same high-quality education and medical opportunities as Canadian schools. You could be learning everything you need to know to become an MD, just as you would in Canada, but you could do it from warm, beachy islands in the Caribbean!
Clinical rotations are part of medical programs and are opportunities for you to study alongside doctors with real patients. Many medical schools in the Caribbean will offer clinical rotations in the US and possibly Canada as well, so you can earn international experience!
By choosing to study medicine abroad, you’re not only earning your MD accreditation and industry skills, but you’re also learning essential soft skills as well. You’re becoming independent, resourceful, confidence, adaptable, good with time management and communication.
There you have it — some of the best places for you to study abroad in 2025! These aren’t your only great options for studying abroad. Find a place that has what you’re looking for — whether that’s warm, sandy beaches or exciting cities, the one specific program you’re dying to take, the campus life you like, or anything else you can think of.
