United States
Canada
Australia
Netherlands
Ireland
Japan
CyprusCost of a first year, 2026/27
The cheapest English-speaking countries to study in
In short: of the English-speaking study destinations with full official figures, a first year (public tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee) starts lowest in Singapore (from EUR 22,000) and Canada (from EUR 25,300), and highest in United Kingdom (from EUR 41,900). Read the conditions: The lower fee needs the MOE Tuition Grant, which binds you to work in Singapore for three years, and the one-year pass after graduation does not itself allow work.
8 English-speaking destinations, cheapest first
| Country | First year from | Money to show for the visa | Work in term | Stay after graduating | What to know | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SingaporeCost calculator · Visa | EUR 22,000 | No fixed sum | 16 h a week | 1 yearLong-Term Visit Pass for graduates | The lower fee needs the MOE Tuition Grant, which binds you to work in Singapore for three years, and the one-year pass after graduation does not itself allow work. | 24 Sep 2026 |
| CanadaCost calculator · Visa | EUR 25,300 | EUR 14,900 | 24 h a week | 3 yearsPost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) | A 2026 cap and a 59% refusal rate make the study permit hard to get, and a Provincial Attestation Letter is required for most bachelor's applicants. | 24 Sep 2026 |
| United StatesCost calculator · Visa | EUR 29,900 | No fixed sum | 20 h a week | 1 yearOptional Practical Training (OPT) | OPT is under formal DHS review and the usual next step, H-1B, now needs a USD 100,000 payment. | 24 Sep 2026 |
| New ZealandCost calculator · Visa | EUR 30,400 | EUR 9,900 | 25 h a week | 3 yearsPost-Study Work Visa | Tuition figures are University of Auckland 2026 undergraduate fees and living costs are only given as weekly figures, with the NZD 20,000 minimum equal to about NZD 385 a week. Living costs are the funds Immigration New Zealand asks tertiary students to show, NZD 20,000 a year. | 26 Sep 2026 |
| AustraliaCost calculator · Visa | EUR 32,600 | EUR 18,300 | 24 h a week | 2 yearsTemporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) | The AUD 29,710 proof of funds covers living costs only: first-year tuition and travel must be shown on top, and the 485 has an age limit of 35. | 24 Sep 2026 |
| IrelandCost calculator · Visa | EUR 32,900 | EUR 10,000 | 20 h a week | 1 yearThird Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) | The €10,000 threshold covers only about four months of UCD's median budget, and Dublin housing is extremely scarce. | 24 Sep 2026 |
| United KingdomCost calculator · Visa | EUR 41,900 | EUR 12,600 | 20 h a week | 2 yearsGraduate Route | The Graduate Route falls to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027 and maintenance funds rise on 30 November 2026. | 24 Sep 2026 |
| MaltaCost calculator · Visa | Tuition not published | EUR 8,900 | 20 h a week | 9 monthsPost-study residence permit | The official floor is about €746 a month but the University of Malta asks its students to show €950 a month, and no verified non-EU tuition figure is given. | 24 Sep 2026 |
Last checked: as shown on each row. First year = the lowest published tuition for international students, twelve months of the lowest published living costs and the visa fee, from each country's official sources (open a country for every source). Converted to EUR at the day's rate (2026-11-08). Rates by Exchange Rate API.
What to do next
- Compare your top two side by side, for example the UK and Canada, or with the comparison tool.
- Work out the year in your currency with the cost calculator.
- Check the visa money, due before you travel, on the visa comparison.
- Consider Europe in English: the cheapest countries in Europe and studying without IELTS.
Questions
What is the cheapest English-speaking country to study in?
of the English-speaking study destinations with full official figures, a first year (public tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee) starts lowest in Singapore (from EUR 22,000) and Canada (from EUR 25,300), and highest in United Kingdom (from EUR 41,900). Read the conditions: The lower fee needs the MOE Tuition Grant, which binds you to work in Singapore for three years, and the one-year pass after graduation does not itself allow work.
Is Ireland cheaper than the UK for international students?
On the lowest official figures, a first year in Ireland starts at about EUR 32,900 and in the United Kingdom at about EUR 41,900. Both let graduates stay to work: 1 year in Ireland and 2 years in the UK (falling to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027).
Can I study in English outside the UK and US?
Yes. Ireland and Malta teach in English, and Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore are English-speaking. Many European universities also teach in English at lower fees: see the cheapest countries in Europe and the guide to studying in English.