10 Best Countries to Earn Your Masters Abroad Worldwide in 2018

You may be thinking, “That sounds expensive!” You’d be surprised. In many parts of the world, tuition fees are significantly lower than they would be in your home country. Coupled with an affordable cost of living abroad and a shorter program length, it could actually make more sense to get your masters degree abroad. Going to grad school abroad also makes you resume look way more attractive to potential international employers and increases your global network for job opps. Foreign degrees are accepted in the US—especially when they’re from one of these mint international universities.

How do you narrow down your grad school abroad programs and options? First, choose a subject that really gets you going or will launch your career light years ahead. To raise the stakes even higher, study in a country that specializes in your field like studying English literature in the UK or international business in China. With all that said, here are the world’s best countries to earn your masters abroad in 2018.

1. South America

Top destinations for degrees abroad in 2018

Learn more about South America, favorite place for degrees abroad amongst our users this year.

When everyone else is running to Europe, get yourself to South America instead. This massive continent has a lot of universities to find a cheap masters degree for international students. Choose to go to grad school abroad in Chile, Colombia, Brazil, or Argentina. In general, the language of instruction at universities is either Spanish or Portuguese so it’s the perfect opportunity to pick up a second or third language. South America is also a mecca for backpackers so during your semester breaks, explore the continent’s nooks and crannies to your heart’s content!

Recommended program: Get your masters degree abroad with Mente Argentina

See ALL masters degree abroad programs in South America

2. Spain

Learn more about Spain, favorite place for degrees abroad amongst our users this year.

Want to do your masters degree overseas? Why not attend a quality university in Spain? With more than 70 universities scattered across the country, you’re bound to find one that’s just right for you. Many Spanish universities are concentrated in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia. Spend one full year studying subjects like tourism, international relations, culinary arts, business, and big data.

Recommended program: Get a masters in Spain with UCAM

See ALL masters degree abroad programs in Spain

3. China

Learn more about China, favorite place for degrees abroad amongst our users this year.

There are plenty of reasons why you should consider pursuing study abroad masters programs in the Middle Kingdom. First, tuition at Chinese universities is a lot easier on the wallet. Second, China welcomes international students at its higher learning institutions. Students are also attracted to this country because it’s incredible to travel and explore. Studying at a Chinese university will also look great on your resume, especially if you learn a bit of Mandarin. Popular masters include business, TESOL, environmental policy, and Chinese studies.

See ALL masters degree programs in China

4. Switzerland

Learn more about Switzerland, favorite place for degrees abroad amongst our users this year.

Moo-ve on over to Switzerland if you’re thinking of grad school abroad in Europe. This neutral Western European country is largely covered by the Alps but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some wicked student-friendly cities. Swiss universities are very popular with international students, particularly in Geneva, Zurich, Basel, Bern, and Lausanne. Students can choose to immerse themselves in German, French, Italian, or English, depending on which region each university is located in.

Recommended program: Get your masters degree abroad with IMI

See ALL masters degree abroad programs in Switzerland

5. Asia

Learn more about Asia, favorite place for degrees abroad amongst our users this year.

Asia is one of the best regions in the world for study abroad masters programs. In general, it’s much cheaper to go to grad school abroad in Asian countries like Malaysia and China so you don’t have to worry about being saddled with debt afterward. Not only is tuition low, it’s also much more affordable to live in Asia. Asia is also the perfect place to learn new languages, whether it’s Japanese or Tagalog.

Recommended program: Get your masters degree abroad with APU Malaysia

See ALL masters degree abroad programs in Asia

6. France

Learn more about France, favorite place for degrees abroad amongst our users this year.

No one can touch France when it comes to an impressive academic tradition. The French higher education system is also second to none when it comes to world rank status. International students attend graduate school abroad in university hubs like Paris. During downtime, get your wine game on and learn about the whole gamut of French haute cuisine.

Recommended program: Get your MBA with American Business School Paris

See ALL masters degree abroad programs in France

7. Eastern Europe & Russia

Learn more about Eastern Europe & Russia, favorite place for degrees abroad amongst our users this year.

Blaze a trail in new territory by getting your masters abroad in Eastern Europe and Russia! Eastern Europe isn’t Europe’s poor cousin or just the place for cheap beer anymore. This region is chock full of history, especially since it changed hands with several empires, from the Byzantine to the Ottoman. Studying in this region is also more affordable than studying in Western Europe, leaving you with more money to partay and travel.

Recommended program: Get your masters abroad at University of Tartu

See ALL masters degree abroad programs in Eastern Europe & Russia

8. England

Learn more about England, favorite place for degrees abroad amongst our users this year.

If you’re after the familiar but with a unique twist, hop across the pond. Because there’s no real language barrier, there are heaps of study abroad masters programs in jolly old England. Masters programs abroad in England are also perfect for the independent-minded student because of the British tradition of leaving the learning up to you. Choose to study any subject, from creative writing to zoology, at quality unis across the island nation.

Recommended program: Get your masters abroad at Queen Mary University of London

See ALL masters degree abroad programs in England

9. The Netherlands

Learn more about The Netherlands, favorite place for degrees abroad amongst our users this year.

Looking for grad school abroad programs in Europe? Look no further than the Netherlands aka Holland. A Dutch education is just as good as anywhere else on the planet as many Dutch universities are world ranked. This tiny country pack a punch when it comes to research and design. It’s also perfect for international students because of the Dutch emphasis on plurality and respect for cultural diversity. The Netherlands is also one of the countries where masters degrees abroad are taught in English.

Recommended program: Get your masters abroad at Rotterdam Business School

See ALL masters degree abroad programs in the Netherlands

10. Western Europe

Learn more about Western Europe, favorite place for degrees abroad amongst our users this year.

Western Europe has always been popular as a study abroad destination. This slice of the continent is rammed with a good chunk of the world’s best universities, particularly England, Germany, and France. You can also find great universities in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Scotland, and Scandinavia. Euro trip, anyone?

Recommended program: Get your masters degree abroad with SACI

See ALL graduate school abroad programs in Western Europe

BONUS! Top TYPES of subjects

Not only did we collect data on where the world’s best countries to earn your masters abroad are according to our search data, we also found some awesome trends about the different types of subjects that are popular in these programs. Here’s that list!

A note from GoAbroad

We’d like to thank our community for not only inspiring us daily, but for also giving us enough insight to share accurate predictions for meaningful travel in 2018.

Learn more about our research methodology, recommended programs, and links here. Photo credit: Freepik.

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The World's Best Countries to Earn Your Masters Abroad in 2018

GoAbroad 2018 Official Report