From Malaysia to Germany: 10 countries where international students are heading beyond the Big Four

A growing group of countries across Europe and Asia is now stepping in with lower tuition fees, more flexible policies and clearer post-study pathways.

These top 10 destinations are reshaping the global study-abroad map.

Germany

Germany is now home to about 420,000 international students, according to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), with three quarters of universities reporting stable or rising enrollments over the past year. Its appeal lies in tuition-free public universities, a wide range of English-taught programs, and strong demand for skilled labor.

That said, students still face challenges around visas, housing shortages, rising living costs, language barriers and long-term career prospects.

Living expenses are estimated at a minimum of €992 (US$1,157) per month, or about €11,900 per year. Tuition is nearly free at public universities, while private institutions charge around €5,000–20,000 per year.

France

France welcomed nearly 445,000 international students in the 2024–2025 academic year and aims to reach 500,000 by 2027. In recent years, French universities, including top business schools, have accelerated admissions reviews and extended deadlines, partly to attract students and researchers affected by tighter U.S. policies. This has helped position France as a serious alternative to the U.S.

According to Campus France, students need about €600–800 per month for living costs. Tuition at public universities ranges from €2,900 to €3,900 per year, while private institutions charge €6,000–18,000.

Ireland

Ireland recorded a record high of more than 40,000 international students in the 2023-2024 academic year. Through its Global Citizens 2030 initiative, the country aims to become a leading destination for global talent, particularly in technology and innovation-driven fields.

Long visa processing times and a housing shortage remain key obstacles. Annual living costs are estimated at €10,000-20,000. Undergraduate tuition typically ranges from €18,000 to €30,000 per year, while master's programs can cost between €9,950 and €35,000.

Spain

Spain hosts more than 100,000 international students and is pushing to grow further through initiatives like EduBridge to Spain, which fast-tracks visas and admissions for students affected by stricter U.S. policies.

Universities in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia offer a growing number of English-taught programs. International students can work up to 30 hours per week while studying and may apply for a 12-month post-graduation residence permit to seek employment. Non-EU students typically pay €1,500-4,500 per year in tuition and €700-1,200 per month in living expenses.

South Korea

South Korea has already surpassed its target of 300,000 international students, reaching the milestone two years ahead of schedule. More than one third come from Vietnam, followed by China, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Nepal.

Rising global interest in Korean culture, alongside an expanding portfolio of English-taught programs, continues to drive growth.

Monthly living costs average 750,000-1 million won (US$510-680), while annual tuition ranges from 4.2 to 7.6 million won.

Japan

Japan hosted nearly 340,000 international students as of May 2024 and is moving toward its goal of 400,000 by 2033. About 90% of international students come from other Asian countries, including China, Nepal, Vietnam, South Korea and Myanmar.

From April 2026, Japan plans to increase enrollment quotas at some universities by 5% to attract high-performing international students. The government has also launched a new program to recruit foreign researchers, allocating ¥3.3 billion (US$20.7 million) to 11 universities over three years.

Monthly living costs average ¥41,000 nationwide and ¥57,000 in Tokyo. Annual tuition typically ranges from ¥600,000 to ¥1.1 million.

Malaysia

Malaysia is emerging as a major education hub in Southeast Asia, targeting 250,000 international students by 2030. Applications have risen 26% over the past two years, reaching more than 139,000, with strong growth from China as well as South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Average living costs are about $582 per month, while annual tuition ranges from $2,500 to $9,500.

China

China remains one of the world's most popular study-abroad destinations and is increasingly positioning itself as a transnational education hub, hosting overseas campuses of leading global universities. QS estimates that international student numbers will return to pre-pandemic levels of around 490,000 by 2026.

Monthly living costs range from 4,500-5,000 yuan (US$645-717) in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, and 1,500-3,000 yuan elsewhere. Annual tuition typically falls between 20,000 and 60,000 yuan.

New Zealand

New Zealand has launched a long-term plan to increase international student numbers from 85,000 to 119,000 by 2034. A key policy change is allowing students to work up to 25 hours per week, up from 20.

Annual living costs range from NZ$18,000 to NZ$27,000 (US$10,300-15,500), while tuition typically falls between NZ$35,000 and NZ$55,000.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE has seen a sharp rise in interest as a study destination, accounting for 59% of all study-abroad searches in the Middle East and North Africa as of August 2025, up nearly 90% from the previous year.

While India remains the largest source market, students from Singapore, France, the U.S. and Germany are increasingly looking to the UAE.

Living costs average about AED6,800 (US$1,851) per month, with annual tuition ranging from AED30,000 to AED120,000.

Globally, nearly seven million students are currently studying abroad, a figure QS projects will rise to 8.5 million by 2030.

From Vietnam alone, almost 250,000 students studied overseas last year, the highest number ever recorded.