Most students pick a country first and a course second. We do the opposite, and we start with a number.
Start with the total cost
Add tuition, living costs for the full length of the course, the visa and health insurance, flights and a deposit for accommodation. Then subtract realistic scholarships and part-time earnings, which we cap at 15 hours a week for planning purposes. The result is the total cost, and it is the first filter.
| Destination | One-year master's, all-in, typical range | Three-year bachelor's, all-in |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £28,000 to £45,000 | £75,000 to £110,000 |
| Ireland | €25,000 to €42,000 | €70,000 to €100,000 |
| Canada (2 years) | CA$50,000 to CA$90,000 | CA$130,000 to CA$200,000 |
| United States (2 years) | US$60,000 to US$140,000 | US$150,000 to US$300,000 |
| Australia (2 years) | A$90,000 to A$140,000 | A$140,000 to A$210,000 |
| Germany (2 years) | €25,000 to €35,000 | €40,000 to €55,000 |
Figures are indicative for 2026 and change with exchange rates. The point is the shape: Germany and the UK master's are the cheapest routes to a recognised degree; the US and Australia cost the most and fund the most.
Post-study work rights
If working after graduation is part of the plan, the visa rules decide the shortlist. As of 2026: the UK gives two years (three for a PhD), Ireland gives two after a master's, Canada up to three for eligible programmes, Australia two to three, Germany 18 months to find a job, the US 12 months plus 24 for STEM. Rules change; we check the current position before you apply, and we tell you when a rule is under review.
Where your subject is strong
Every country is good at something. Engineering and automotive in Germany; games and cyber in Scotland; pharma and tech in Ireland; hospitality in Switzerland; medicine in Hungary, Poland and Grenada; business everywhere. Choose a country where your subject has employers, not just universities.
English and admission tests
If you have not sat IELTS and do not want to, the UK and Ireland accept alternatives from many countries; Australia and Canada rarely do. Germany and the Netherlands often require IELTS 6.5 for English-taught programmes. The US may add GRE or GMAT. Factor test costs and timelines into the plan.
Climate, distance and community
These matter more than students admit. A Lagos student who hates the cold will struggle in Montreal in January. A student whose family expects visits every year should look at flight prices and times. A large community from home makes the first three months easier, though it can also slow your English. Be honest with yourself here.
A worked example
A student from Hyderabad with a BTech, 68 percent, a budget of about ₹35 lakh in total, and a goal of working in data roles after graduating. Total cost rules out the US and Australia. Post-study rights and subject strength keep the UK, Ireland and Germany. No IELTS yet and a September deadline favours the UK, which accepts Medium of Instruction letters at several partner universities. Result: a one-year MSc Data Science in the UK at a university with a January intake as a fallback. That conversation takes 40 minutes with a counsellor, and it is free. Book it here.
