Frequently Asked Questions

It depends entirely on where you go. Total annual costs (tuition + living) range from €5,400 in Argentina to €75,000+ at top US universities. The sweet spot for quality-to-cost: Germany (€11,500), Poland (€9,000), France (€10,400), and Czech Republic (€7,200 if studying in Czech). Our full cost ranking covers 15 countries.

Yes — in several countries. Germany charges €0–350/year at public universities. Argentina's public universities are free for everyone. Finland had no tuition until 2017 (non-EU students now pay). Czech Republic is free if you study in Czech. Norway was free until 2023, reversed mid-2025 — status for 2026/27 is uncertain. Plus, fully funded scholarships like DAAD, Chevening, Erasmus Mundus, MEXT, KGSP, and Türkiye Scholarships cover tuition + living. See our 7 countries with free tuition.

Key requirements: Germany — €11,904 in a blocked account (Expatrio/Fintiba). UK — £1,334/month × 9 months (London) or £1,023/month (outside). France — €615/month proof. Australia — AUD 24,505/year. Canada — CAD 20,635 + tuition. Many countries accept scholarship award letters as proof instead of bank statements. Full breakdown in our bank balance guide.

Most countries allow part-time work: Germany — 240 half-days/year (€450–800/month). Australia — unlimited hours since July 2023 (AUD 800–1,200/month). UK — 20 hrs/week (£400–600/month). Canada — 20 hrs/week off-campus. Japan — 28 hrs/week (¥80,000–100,000/month). Our part-time work guide covers 12 countries.

Yes. Many universities accept Duolingo English Test (1,500+ universities), PTE Academic, or Medium of Instruction (MOI) letters from your previous university. Some countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands have English-taught programmes with no English test required if your previous education was in English. The UK is the strictest — most universities require IELTS or equivalent. See our study UK without IELTS and IELTS vs Duolingo vs TOEFL comparison.

Typical requirements: Top 100 universities — IELTS 7.0 overall (no band below 6.5). Mid-tier universities — IELTS 6.0–6.5. Foundation/pathway programmes — IELTS 5.0–5.5. Business and humanities programmes tend to require higher scores (7.0–7.5) than STEM (6.0–6.5). Many universities offer conditional admission with a lower score if you complete a pre-sessional English course.

Not everywhere, but growing fast. 4,500+ institutions accept it as of 2026. Strong acceptance in the US, Canada, and Australia. Mixed in the UK (Russell Group universities mostly don't). Rarely accepted in Germany or the Netherlands. It costs $65 vs IELTS $255, takes 1 hour vs 3, and results come in 48 hours vs 13 days. A Duolingo score of 120+ roughly equals IELTS 7.0.

The biggest fully funded scholarships by volume: Türkiye Scholarships (14,000+ places), MEXT Japan (8,000+), KGSP South Korea (1,500+), Chevening UK (1,500+), Erasmus Mundus (varies), DAAD Germany (various). Apply 9–12 months before your start date. Most require a separate application from your university admission. Our 2026 scholarship guide lists deadlines and eligibility.

Yes. Many scholarships weight factors beyond GPA: Chevening prioritises leadership and work experience. Türkiye Scholarships have no minimum GPA. Erasmus Mundus considers regional diversity. KAIST South Korea gives full tuition to all admitted students regardless of grades. University-specific scholarships in Australia and Canada often go to students who apply early, not necessarily the highest GPA. Start with your target university's financial aid page — many have automatic scholarships based on application date.

For September 2026 intake: Chevening closed January 2026, DAAD closes October 2025–March 2026, Erasmus Mundus varies by programme (October–January), Türkiye opens January–February 2026, MEXT opens April 2026. Rule of thumb: start researching 18 months before, apply 12 months before. Most government scholarships have just one intake per year.

Most popular destinations offer post-study work visas: Canada — up to 3 years (PGWP). UK — 2 years (Graduate Route). Germany — 18 months. Australia — 2–4 years depending on degree level. Ireland — 2 years for master's. Netherlands — 1 year (Orientation Year). Japan, South Korea, and France also offer post-study work permits. See our full post-study work visa ranking.

Typical processing times: UK — 3 weeks (priority 5 days for £500 extra). Germany — 6–12 weeks. Canada — 8–16 weeks (apply as early as possible). Australia — 4–6 weeks (can take longer from some countries). Schengen countries — 2–8 weeks. Apply the moment you receive your offer letter. Don't wait for accommodation confirmation — you can do that in parallel.

Countries with high approval rates and straightforward processes: Germany (high approval if financials are proven), Ireland, Poland, Hungary, South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia. The hardest: US (F-1 visa interviews, high refusal rates from some countries), UK (strict financial requirements), and Australia (GTE requirement scrutinises genuine intent).

Standard checklist: passport (valid 6+ months beyond course end), academic transcripts (apostilled/attested), degree certificates, English proficiency test score, Statement of Purpose (SOP), 2–3 recommendation letters, CV/résumé, financial proof, passport photos (6 biometric), and health insurance. Some countries also require: police clearance certificate, medical exam, and credential evaluation (WES/ENIC-NARIC). Start collecting documents 6 months before your application deadline.

The formula that works: 1) Open with a specific experience (not "Since childhood I have been passionate about..."). 2) Connect your academic background to this specific programme. 3) Explain why this university and this country — be specific about faculty, labs, courses. 4) State your career goal and how this degree connects to it. 5) Keep it under 1,000 words. Admissions officers read hundreds — be concrete, not generic. Full guide: How to write an SOP.

Credential evaluation translates your degree into the destination country's grading system. US/Canada — WES (World Education Services) evaluation often required. Germany — uni-assist checks equivalency. UK — ENIC (formerly NARIC). Not all universities require it — check each university's application page. WES costs ~$200 and takes 2–3 weeks. Start early — getting your home university to send official transcripts to WES can take weeks.

Quick guide: Computer Science/Engineering — Germany, Canada, US, Singapore. Business/MBA — US, UK, France (INSEAD, HEC), Singapore. Medicine — UK, Ireland, Hungary, Czech Republic (lower cost). Nursing — Australia, UK, Canada (direct PR pathways). Arts/Humanities — UK, Netherlands, France. Hospitality — Switzerland. Our free assessment matches you by field, budget, and nationality.

Depends on your priorities. UK wins on: English language, 1-year master's (vs 2 in Germany), stronger for business/finance/law. Germany wins on: cost (nearly free tuition), longer post-study visa (18 months vs UK's 2 years — but Germany has a better path to permanent residency), stronger for engineering and STEM. UK's total cost is 3–5× higher than Germany's. Full comparison: UK vs Germany for master's students.

Canada: up to 3 years post-study work, lower tuition, direct pathway to PR through Express Entry. Australia: unlimited work hours while studying, 2–4 year post-study visa, higher wages. Canada has been tightening student visa rules since 2024 (caps, SDS changes). Australia's GTE requirement screens genuine intent. Both offer quality education and PR pathways — Canada's PR process is faster, Australia's student earnings are higher. Full breakdown: Canada vs Australia.

Yes. Many countries and universities look beyond GPA. Germany — public universities often admit based on your degree being recognised, not GPA cutoffs. Ireland — many programmes accept 2:2 or equivalent. Australia — pathway/foundation programmes accept lower GPAs. Turkey, Hungary, Poland — generally less GPA-focused. Top 100 universities worldwide typically need 3.0+/4.0, but there are excellent universities outside the top 100 that accept 2.5+.

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