Top 9 Countries With the Highest Investments in University Education

International student mobility data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shows that the international studies market is getting bigger and bigger. We can see this by the increasing amounts spent by students throughout the academic year.

Putting fancy words in simple terms, international students bring with them money (to pay tuition fees, living costs) or benefit from financial discounts (scholarships, tuition fees weavers). All this money can be estimated to establish a general value of the international education market in a country.

Typically, a higher value of the international students’ market means a higher number of international students in that country, making it a top student destination.

These are the countries that get the most money out of international education partnerships as well as incoming students from abroad. Check out the countries that move the most money and where do the students who spend the most money in the country come from:

1. The United States

The USA international student market is estimated at over 51 billion EUR, ranking number 1 as a study abroad destination. This value is mostly generated by students coming from China, India, Korea, Canada and Japan.

If you come from one of these countries you are more likely to be attracted to study in the USA. Here are a few American universities we recommend:

However, you should also consider that although the USA is very appealing economically, it might be difficult to work there after graduation, because of tougher regulations. Check out more Masters offered in the United States.

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2. The United Kingdom

The second destination for international students is the UK, where the international studies market is estimated at over 5.3 billion EUR, generated mostly by students from China, India, Germany, United States and Ireland. If you feel ready to meet them, here are a few British universities we recommend:

Check out more Masters offered in the United Kingdom.

3. Australia

With a total market value of over 3.1 billion EUR generated by international students, Australia ranks third in top study abroad destinations. This value is mostly created by students from China, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Canada. If you want to join them, we recommend the following universities:

Check out more Masters offered in Australia.

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4. Japan

The international student market in Japan is assessed at almost 2 billion EUR,  generated by students from China, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United States. Some of the top-ranked universities in the country are:

Check out more Masters offered in Japan.

5. Canada

With an international student market worth over 1.3 billion EUR, Canada attracts most students from China, France, India, United States, and South Korea. We recommend checking out these Canadian universities:

Check out more Masters offered in Canada.

top countries to study abroad

6. New Zealand

We bet you didn’t expect this. Yes, remote and sunny New Zealand ranks as the 6th study abroad destination as international students make higher education worth over 1,1 billion EUR.

The market distribution of international students shows that top countries of origin are China, India, Australia, United States, and South Korea. Some examples of universities you can find in New Zealand are:

Check out more Masters offered in New Zealand.

7. France

The international student market in France is valued at over 1 billion EUR with most students coming from China, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia. That makes for a very diverse international student community. If you’re looking for this type of multicultural study environment, we recommend these universities in France:

Check out more Masters offered in France.

8. Germany

The total international student market in Germany generates almost 500 million EUR. If you’re wondering why such a small sum, the answer is simple. In Germany, most undergraduate and graduate studies at public universities are free of cost for all international studies. No tuition fees, not much to count. The German government comes with the money because they know smart people can change the world.

International students who generate money flow mostly come from countries like China, Russia, Austria, Turkey and Poland. If you feel this is just the right cultural mix for you, check out the following universities in Germany:

Check out more Masters offered in Germany.

9. The Netherlands

Last but not least, the Netherlands is right behind Germany in terms of international student market which is estimated to be worth over 450 million EUR.

The market distribution of international students shows that top countries of origin are Germany, China, Belgium, Greece and Italy. So, if you like to keep it European with a pinch of Asian flavour, we recommend checking out study programmes at:

Check out more Masters offered in the Netherlands.

Where do most international students come from? Top countries of origin

By now you probably guessed that the country which gives the world the most international students is China. Well, it is the most populous country in the world, after all. But the list does not stop here. The OECD international student market reveals that the international students that generate the most money in the educational industry come from the following 10 countries:

  1. China
  2. India
  3. Korea
  4. Canada
  5. Japan
  6. Germany
  7. France
  8. Mexico
  9. Turkey
  10. The United Kingdom 

Statistics are important, but your dreams count even more

Now you can get a good idea about which are the most popular study abroad destinations and what’s the cultural background of most international students. But just because a country is very popular among international students, it doesn’t mean that you have to pursue your studies there. 

Before deciding on a country and a university you should first research what it’s like living in that country and reflect whether that particular international study environment is the right one for your personal development if it fits your budget, your academic and professional ambitions. 

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