Study abroad: the best and cheapest countries compared
Tuition, living costs, entry rules, work rights and degree recognition — in one table, with the price year stated.
Where to start
Choosing a destination usually comes down to four questions: what tuition costs, how much you need to live on, what language the programmes are taught in, and what happens to the degree back home. The table below answers them for every destination AcademGo works with.
Prices come from official university price lists. Universities publish next year's prices closer to intake, so read the ranges rather than a single figure.
Ten destinations compared
Every figure comes from a checked source: university websites, ministries and immigration services.
| Destination | Tuition | Living | Language of study | Entry and status | Work while studying | Degree recognition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Poland | from €1,500 a year at private universities; medicine from €12,000 | €500–600 a month | Polish and English | type D student visa, then a residence card | full-time students need no work permit | EU degree | Learn more |
 Turkey | from $500 a year at public, from $4,000 at private universities | from $700 a month (Istanbul) | English and Turkish | student visa, then a student residence permit (ikamet) | only with a work permit (çalışma izni) | YÖK-accredited universities; recognition depends on your home country | Learn more |
 UAE | about AED 60,000–80,000 a year at branch campuses | from AED 5,500 a month (Dubai) | English | student visa sponsored by the university | limited, only through approved schemes | degree awarded by the UK or Australian home campus | Learn more |
 Malaysia | about RM 35,000–45,000 a year at private universities | from RM 2,000 a month (Kuala Lumpur) | English | Student Pass through EMGS, approved before you travel | up to 20 hours a week during breaks, with approval | MQA accreditation; check recognition in your home country | Learn more |
 Italy | from €160 a year at public universities (income-based, ISEE) | about €1,100–1,400 a month in Milan | Italian and English | type D visa via Universitaly, then a residence permit | up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year | EU degree | Learn more |
 Spain | about €1,200–8,200 a year at public universities; private cost more | from €600 a month (IPREM minimum: €7,200 a year) | Spanish; some programmes in English | student visa, then a TIE card | up to 30 hours a week, no separate permit needed | EU degree | Learn more |
 Hungary | about €6,000–10,000 a year in English | about €800–1,300 a month (Budapest) | English; Hungarian is needed for clinical work | type D visa, then a residence permit | up to 30 hours a week; full time during breaks, max 90 days a year | EU degree | Learn more |
 Georgia | MD in English: $5,900–6,500 at private, $8,000 at public universities | about GEL 1,730 a month without rent (Tbilisi, Numbeo) | English | visa-free entry for many countries, then a student residence permit | — | NCEQE accreditation, WFME-recognised until 11.2028; Georgian is required to practise | Learn more |
 North Cyprus | $4,450–6,400 a year at EMU (public); €2,800–4,500 at private universities after the standard discount | — | English | TRNC student residence permit | — | the TRNC is recognised only by Türkiye: degrees are not recognised in Europe directly — the working route is YÖK accreditation and legalisation through Turkish authorities | Learn more |
 Cyprus | about €9,000–11,820 a year at private universities; medicine €23,000–24,000 | rent €600–1,000 plus €600–900 a month for other costs (university estimates) | English | entry permit applied for by the university | up to 20 hours a week in term time and 38 during breaks, in permitted sectors | EU degree | Learn more |
Tuition is shown with the year of the price list. We will confirm the exact figure for your programme during the free consultation.
What a year of tuition costs in euros
Tuition, EUR per academic year, current university price lists
- Cyprus, private universitiesabout €9,000–11,820
- Hungary, English-taught programmesabout €6,000–10,000
- North Cyprus, private after discount€2,800–4,500
- Poland, private universitiesfrom €1,500
- Spain, public universitiesabout €1,200–8,200
- Italy, public universitiesfrom €160
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Master's degree abroad: costs and where to study
A master's abroad is open to bachelor's graduates, but each country prices it differently: some charge per ECTS credit, others for the whole programme. Here are three destinations we cover in detail.
- Spain. At public universities, non-EU students pay about 82–84 € per ECTS credit for a standard master's — roughly 4,900–5,100 € for a one-year, 60-credit programme. More in masters in Spain.
- Malaysia. English-taught programmes at public and private universities, from about RM 26,500 to RM 79,100 for the whole programme. More in masters in Malaysia.
- UAE. UK and Australian branch campuses in Dubai: most master's degrees cost roughly 76,000–175,000 AED, and an MBA about 85,000–118,000 AED in tuition at current prices. The degree is awarded by the parent university. More in masters and MBA in Dubai.
For the other countries, start with the destination page — links to all ten are below.
What to know before you choose
Not every destination suits every applicant, and the table already shows why.
North Cyprus is the most affordable English-taught start, but the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognised only by Türkiye: the degree is not recognised in Europe directly. There is one working route — a YÖK-listed programme and legalisation of the degree through Turkish authorities. We say this before the first payment, not after graduation.
In Georgia, NCEQE accreditation is WFME-recognised until November 2028, and practising medicine there requires Georgian. In Spain our partner universities do not teach medicine in English. In the UAE the degree is awarded by the UK or Australian home campus — a real advantage, and the price reflects it.
Study destinations
Pick a destination — each country page has prices, deadlines and university requirements.
Polandfrom €1,500 a year at private universities; medicine from €12,000Turkeyfrom $500 a year at public, from $4,000 at private universitiesUAEabout AED 60,000–80,000 a year at branch campusesMalaysiaabout RM 35,000–45,000 a year at private universitiesItalyfrom €160 a year at public universities (income-based, ISEE)Spainabout €1,200–8,200 a year at public universities; private cost moreHungaryabout €6,000–10,000 a year in EnglishGeorgiaMD in English: $5,900–6,500 at private, $8,000 at public universitiesNorth Cyprus$4,450–6,400 a year at EMU (public); €2,800–4,500 at private universities after the standard discountCyprusabout €9,000–11,820 a year at private universities; medicine €23,000–24,000Not sure where to start? Send us your school certificate and your budget for the year. We will shortlist three or four programmes across destinations and tell you honestly where your chances are strongest. The first consultation is free; the AcademGo office is in Warsaw, ul. Złota 7/28.