Asia is the biggest and oldest continent, and it also has the highest peaks, the most populated cities, and the highest skyscrapers. As Asia’s economy and population have grown in recent decades, the continent’s higher education industry has flourished, luring an increasing number of students from across the world. Foreign students may acquire a first-rate education and travel experience in the cheapest Asian nations for as little as US$2,900 per year.
In addition, possibilities are expanding throughout the continent, and countries like South Korea, China, and India are producing some of the world’s most cutting-edge technology.
Foreign students have as much to gain as their host nations do. There is something for everyone in the area, whether you’re a local from one of the countries nearby or a student from “the west” seeking for a change of scenery. Imagine taking a week off in the middle of the semester to go on a hike in the Himalayas, scuba diving with turtles in the blue seas of the South China Sea, or discovering the nation that gave the world K-pop.
Despite its allure, studying in another country is not a cheap endeavour. There are several expenses that overseas students must cover on their own, such as tuition, housing, food, and more if they are not receiving financial aid.
Don’t stress. This list is perfect for those of you who want to spend as little as possible while still getting a quality education in Asia. Based on tuition costs and average income, we have ranked the four most inexpensive Asian nations as follows:
Best Asian destinations for foreign students on a budget:
Taiwan
Taiwan, the so-called “Asian Tiger,” tops the list. Taiwan is one of the most reasonably priced international study destinations, with yearly tuition of around $4,050 USD.
The quality is exceptional for such a cheap price. The strength of Taiwan’s higher education system is rated 19th in the world by QS. The most recent Asian university rankings include 43 Taiwanese institutions, with five placing in the top 50. The National Taiwan University (NTU) is the highest-ranked Taiwanese university, coming in at number 19. Hsinchu Science Park is Taiwan’s counterpart to Silicon Valley in the United States, and the city is well-known for its cutting-edge technological sector.
The annual cost of housing in Taiwan is just approximately US$2,900, making the country a viable option for those on a tight budget. For a single trip, you may expect to pay anything from NT$20 to NT$65 (about US$0.63 to US$2.05). You may get a filling local meal of rice, noodles, broth, or dumplings for far under $10.
Malaysia
If you decide to study in Malaysia, you will be near some of the world’s oldest jungles, some of the most beautiful beaches, and fascinating colonial towns like Penang.
The University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and Monash University in Australia are just two of the many prestigious universities with which Malaysia has international partnership programs, providing students with the opportunity to earn UK degrees at a fraction of the cost of studying and living in the United Kingdom.
In addition to this, there are many more reasons why Malaysia is a great place for foreign students to study. Another attractive feature is the cheap cost of living. Kuala Lumpur, the nation’s capital, came in at number one on the QS Best Student Cities 2016 list for lowest cost of living. Most students can get by on less than US$3,550 a year in Malaysia. Courses cost an annual average of US$4,000, with some being much less expensive.
In fact, according to QS Best Student Cities, Kuala Lumpur, the country’s capital, was the most inexpensive city in all of Asia in 2018. In the 2021 QS Asia University Rankings, 35 Malaysian institutions are included, with seven of them placing in the top 100. The Universiti Malaya is one of the best universities in the world, ranking 70th overall.
India
The next country on our list of the cheapest places to study abroad is India. While living expenses in India are on the rise, they are still much less expensive than in many other Asian nations such as China, Japan, and South Korea. The cost of living in the nation’s capital and other major cities is naturally going to be more than in the nation’s smaller towns.
The average cost of living for a student in India is close to US$4,600 per year, based on data from the QS World University Rankings. Everything is paid for, from rent to groceries to gas. One additional way to save money on food is to purchase at local markets and from street sellers.
It’s a great place to live because of the low cost of living. Your one-way fare on public transportation will be around $0.29 USD. The cost of tuition, however, may range widely based on factors including program kind and school location. Yearly tuition and fees average at $7,880 USD.
India has the biggest higher education system in the world and is the second most populous nation overall. There is no risk of stagnation in your professional life, and the universities are among the best in the world. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, and Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, creators of e-commerce platform Flipkart, all got their start at prestigious universities in India.
Despite the fact that English is not the most common language in India, it is increasingly being employed as the medium of instruction in higher education institutions, particularly at the graduate level.
Indonesia
The population of Indonesia makes it the fourth biggest in the world. It is home to the biggest Muslim population in the planet, and contains the majority of Southeast Asia’s Muslims.
But despite its homogeneity, the nation is home to hundreds of distinct peoples who speak dozens of various languages and celebrate a wide variety of cultural traditions. All across the globe, people dream of visiting this stunning nation and seeing its 17,000 islands, mountains, jungles, peaceful beaches, and ancient temples.
Since gaining its independence in 1945, Indonesia’s higher education system has expanded greatly. As of the year 2022, overseas students in Indonesia may choose from around 3,000 private institutions and 150 state universities. The most recent Asian rankings placed Gadjah Mada University, an Indonesian institution, at #57. This was one of thirty Indonesian colleges to place in the top 350.
There are now around 6,000 students from other countries enrolled in universities here. A sizable number of visitors go from neighbouring Malaysia and Thailand.
There are several reasons why Indonesia has risen in popularity as a study abroad destination amongst students from across the world. It’s a fantastic area to study since the language isn’t hard to pick up and there are so many amazing sights to see.
It’s reasonably priced as well. It would set you back around $8.500 USD each year to maintain your current standard of living here. Some courses have annual tuition costs as low as $2,400 USD.
