Want to know the best countries to study in Asia. If you are planning to study aboard, choose Asian as your destination. Well studying in Asian countries is the best way to develop additional skills, be it academic, language, or social.
Most of the employers and recruiters seek to appoint those individuals who have actively sought different ways to enhance their experience. Besides, studying abroad is also the best way to deepen your educational experience.

The continent of Asia is quite popular among overseas students. The opportunities to travel in Asia are as huge as the continent itself. Students flock to this continent to experience a wide range of diverse and rich cultures.
Compared to most of the western nations the University degrees are in Asia are much cheaper as well. This doesn’t mean that they compromise on the quality of education and training they offer.
Most of Asian Universities offer degrees, diplomas, and certificate courses recognized all over the world. The wide range of experiences and excellent training that they gain during their course gives them an upper hand while hunting for a job in the future.
Read: Study In India, The Growing Hub Of Education
List Of Countries To Study In Asia
Let’s take a look at the 9 best countries in Asia to study for international students.
- Japan
The third-largest economy in the world, Japan is one of the most thriving of all nations known for its innovations and technological advancement. Japan has a history of thousands of years and is rich in tradition and culture. The island nation of Japan is famous for its samurai warriors, ninjas, traditional arts, and tea ceremonies. The martial art of Sumo Wrestling originated in this country.
Japan has some of the best universities in the world. This nation is also home to the most number of Nobel Prize winners that are non-western. The contributions made in the fields of Medicine, Chemistry, and Physics have earned them the most number of Nobel Prizes.
The Universities in Japan are known for their best quality in teaching, education, and training and attracts several thousands of students from all over the world every year. Compared to most other Asian countries the cost of living in Japan is quite high. However, Japan offers several scholarships to international students that are generous enough.
The tuition fees are also not too high. The cities in Japan are peaceful and safe for overseas students and travelers. The quality of education that you receive assures you of a good job within Japan or anywhere in the world.
2. Malaysia
Malaysia is famous for its food, people’s hospitality, and friendliness. Malaysians, in general, are friendly to strangers. The language wouldn’t be an issue in this country if one can speak English. The culture, people, and a wide range of food have been attracting people from all over the world to this amazing nation.
Malaysia has around 137 different languages spoken by its natives. This little nation is famous for its amazing cities, beautiful and serene rain forests, highlands, and beautiful islands. It’s no wonder this nation is quite popular among international travelers, students, workers, and immigrants.
International students who are looking for a cost-effective place in Asia to do a degree or diploma can choose to join a college/university in Malaysia. The cost-of-living in Malaysia is quite low and they offer world-class degrees and diplomas at a reasonable price.
The Malaysian Ministry of Education governs the educational institutions within the country. There are over 150 top universities in Malaysia offering several hundreds of diverse programs. This makes Malaysia one of best countries to study in Asia
The college fees vary from institution to institution. It’s comparatively lower in public colleges and universities. Tuition fees in Malaysia are quite low compared to many other Asian countries. Most of the Universities offer scholarships to students as well. Choosing to study in Malaysia will also be promising for your career in the future.
3. Singapore
Singapore is a multicultural nation that is well known for its hospitable nature towards people from all nations. This country takes great pride in its system of education and is considered a ‘Global Schoolhouse’. Singapore has been recognized all over the world for its innovations and research.
There are four official languages for this nation: English, Tamil, Mandarin Chinese, and Malay. This proves how diverse the culture in Singapore is! Most of the Universities, colleges, and other educational institutions use English as its medium of instruction.
Singapore occupies one of the top positions in Asia when it comes to the quality of teaching. There are around 34 Universities in this country. These universities are known for maintaining excellent standards in teaching, training, and learning.
The Nan yang Technological University and the National University of Singapore are in the list of Top 20 Universities in the world according to the QS World University Rankings. This ranking is given based on excellence in quality of education, a diverse community of students, and an outstanding quality of life.
The cost of living in Singapore is quite high compared to most of the nations in Asia. The tuition fees depend on the course you’ve opted for and its duration. Fees will be less if you manage to get admission to one of the public universities in this country. There are 6 public universities in Singapore making it one of the best countries to study in Asia
Singapore offers excellent scholarships to international students. However, living expenses could be comparatively high. This country permits its international students to work 16 hours every week.
They can work full time during term breaks and holidays. Having a part-time job will help students to cover a good amount of their living expenses in this country.
Students can also choose to apply for student grants to help them meet their living expenses during the course period.
Read: Ways to Migrate to Singapore
4. South Korea
South Korea has built its path since 1948 after its split from North Korea. This nation is a combination of tradition and modernity. The ancient historical temples and modern architectural designs are proof of this.
This nation focuses mainly on technological innovations and science. The government has been focusing on the system of higher education by making great investments in that area.
South Korea has always been warm and welcoming to international students. There are several private and public universities in South Korea offering a wide range of programs to students.
Around 15 universities of South Korea found themselves in the list of top 500 QS World University Rankings. There are around 400 national and private universities in this nation.
The South Korean obsession with studying popularly referred to as the ‘education fever’ is well known around the globe.
South Korea provides the best quality education to its students. The international students have a wide range of options to choose from while deciding on a specific field of study.
The most popular fields chosen by international students are Science, courses related to business and arts.
Compared to most of the western nations and some of the Asian nations the cost of living and educational fees are on the lower side. The course fee varies depending on your choice of degree or diploma and its duration.
Universities also offer several scholarship schemes to their international students. At times these scholarships could cover the entire course fee of the overseas student. It’s no wonder that this country is a popular choice among international students.
5.China
Know more about: How to Apply for China Student Visa
The world’s most populous nation, China is situated in the Eastern part of Asia. The environment, culture, and climate vary from place to place adding to the diversity of this nation. The cultural diversity owes itself to the country’s rich and strong history which is over 4000 years old.
From Bachelor’s degree to Post Doctoral Degree China has plenty to offer to international students seeking admission to its colleges and Universities. Most of the colleges use Chinese as their medium of instruction.
However, several courses are taught in English too. You need to research thoroughly before taking admission.
Around 27 Universities in China have found themselves a place in the QS World University Ranking list. This means they provide high-quality teaching and training to its students that will equip them to build a strong career in the future.
Most of the colleges and universities in this country are run by the Chinese government and the Ministry of Education.
Over the years China has been developing into a nation that provides world-class education to its students. This is one of the major reasons why China has become one of the most popular nations among international students.
Another reason is an education in China is comparatively cheaper than the western nations and some of the Asian nations as well. The cost of living is also pretty low.
Unless you choose to study and live in one of the major cities you can cut down a lot on the living expenses. The tuition fee varies depending on the course you’ve taken and its duration.
An additional cost that you have to bear if you choose to study in China is for taking medical insurance. This is mandatory for all international students. You get the best quality education at a reasonable cost when you opt to study in this country.
6. Taiwan
Taiwan is situated in East Asia and is a beautiful island nation lying close to the Philippines, Japan, and China. This country was formerly called the Formosa. Taiwan is covered in plains on the western side and mountain ranges on the east.
Most of the population of this nation lives on the western side. The Taiwanese culture is a mix and has been influenced by Confucius beliefs, the Western culture as well as Japanese culture.
The workforce of this nation is highly skilled. They are also one of the most educated sections of the world. The percentage of Taiwanese citizens holding higher degrees is also one among the highest in the world.
Taiwan offers top-quality education in a pleasant and peaceful environment. They are one of the leaders in the field of technology. These are some of the main reasons this country has been one of the favorites among international students. Their universities offer courses in several other fields as well.
The Ministry of Education in Taiwan has set a goal of taking in 150,000 international students by the end of 2020. As a result, they’ve made it a point to offer more degrees and diplomas with English as their medium of instruction. They have made the process of enrollment much simpler. Several scholarships are also being offered to international students.
11 universities from Taiwan have been listed on the QS World University Rankings (2019). This means the students can get world-class training and degree from these universities and this will help them get a good job placement anywhere in the world.
The educational expenses in Taiwan depend on your choice of course and the duration is taken. Private university charges are much higher than public universities. The tuition fees are quite high for a degree in Medicine or a post-doctoral degree.
The living expenses depend on whether you live in the city or the suburbs. Earning a scholarship to one of the universities can help you cut down on your educational expenses to a great extent.
7. The Philippines
An emerging market in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is also a recently industrialized nation. This island nation comprises over 7000 islands. Filipino culture has been influenced by Malay, Islamic, American, and Spanish cultures.
Sunshine, beaches, and the natural beauty of this island attracts thousands of international tourists to this tropical island all through the year.
The Philippines has several internationally recognized universities and educational institutions that provide courses at the graduate, undergraduate, postgraduate, and post-doctoral levels. The courses are quite affordable and the students receive the best quality training and education.
These are some of the major reasons why the Philippines have seen a great increase in the number of international students getting enrolled in their universities and colleges in recent times. Besides, the joyfulness and hospitality of this country are quite popular all over the globe which makes overseas travelers and students feel at home.
There are around 2300 listed universities and colleges in the Philippines. 4 Universities from this country have been listed on the QS World University Rankings (2018).
On average around 5000 international students move into this country for their higher education every year. The Philippines is the 3rd biggest English speaking country in the world.
Most of the colleges use English as the medium of instruction which is another reason why more international students have been seeking university admissions here. The cost of living and education in this country is quite cheap compared to most of the nations in Asia.
The educational system in the Philippines has been successfully instilling the values of peace, tolerance, leadership, co-existence, and harmony among the youth. Through this system of education, they have been successful in ensuring the students are excellent role-models to future generations.
8. Indonesia
Indonesia is the largest economy situated in Southeast Asia. This is an island nation that is comprised of several thousands of islands. Indonesia has a mix of cultures, languages and several ethnic groups live here. The influence of religion and language can be seen in their culture.
Being a tropical nation Indonesia is warm most of the year. This island is famous for its natural beauty, delicious food, and hospitable and friendly people.
The country offers the best quality education at very reasonable costs. This will be a perfect place for an international student who is looking for a good overseas educational experience.
There is a good number of private and public universities and colleges in Indonesia. These institutions come under the Ministry of Education and Culture.
The Universities offer bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, post-doctoral degrees, and associate degrees to its students. Three universities from this nation have been listed on the QS World University Ranking. They are the Bandung Institute of Technology, Universitas Indonesia, and Gadjah Mada University.
The universities offer courses in different fields of study. Several courses are taught in English but some courses are taught in other languages as well. On average around 6000 international students get enrolled in universities and colleges in Indonesia every year.
The course fee varies depending on the level of degree and the institution chosen. Fees are lesser in Universities operated by the Indonesian government. As with any other nation, the fees for a medical degree is much higher compared to the other courses.
The cost of living will be on the higher side if you choose to live in a city like Jakarta or Bali. However, it is much cheaper in suburbs and remote towns. Health insurance is a must in this country which will be an additional expense for the student.
9. Thailand
Also known as the ‘Land of Smiles’ Thailand is famous for its hospitality and friendliness towards others. This country is one of the most popular of all tourist destinations in Asia owing to its natural beauty and affordable costs.
This nation is covered in beautiful beaches, hilly terrains, waterfalls, tropical forests, and seas. This is the perfect destination for people looking for adventure and to experience the beauty of nature.
The beautiful weather and Thai cuisine are the other main reasons that bring in international travelers, students, and migrants to this nation.
The culture of Thailand is open and diverse. Thai culture has been greatly influenced by the Chinese, Indian, Burmese, and some of the Southeast nations.
Thailand offers a good quality education at affordable costs. Students are also offered opportunities to attain their career goals once they’ve completed their course.
The cost of living happens to be one of the lowest of all Asian nations. All these add to the reasons why a good number of overseas students move to this nation for their higher education.
The Universities and colleges in Thailand offer undergraduate, graduate, post graduate, and post-doctoral programs for their international students.
There are at least 124 top-rated Universities and educational institutions in this country that offers degrees and diplomas recognized all over the world. To get admission to one of the Thai universities/ colleges the students must clear the TOEFL or the IELTS examinations.
The tuition fees are very low and affordable. The fees vary depending on the area of study, the level of your course, and its duration. The Thai government also offers several scholarships to international students.
The cost of living in Thailand is also one of the lowest of all Asian countries. To a large extent, the cost of living depends on the student’s lifestyle and how much she/he chooses to spend on their day to day living.
Renting a house is very cheap and you can cut down the costs even further if you choose to share your living space with another student.
The diversity across the continent of Asia is quite impressive. Considering there is always something new and different to discover it will be a great choice for international students seeking a great experience outside their homeland. Doesn’t matter what your interests are. You’ll be able to find the right program at the right place.
Take time to understand what a particular country has to offer in terms of education and your personal experience. Understand the educational costs and living expenses. Choose the one that works perfectly for you.