Study worldwide

Study worldwide. Know what each country asks of you.

We guide students to universities all over the world. Our seven most-requested destinations are compared here on the questions that decide where a file should go: money, timing, work rights and what happens after the degree. Every figure is a published government minimum, shown with its source and the date we last read it.

Book your free assessmentCompare country guides
  • 7in-depth country guides
  • 8questions compared
  • Figures last verified September 2026
  • Every figure links to its government source

The comparison

Our country guides, on the same eight questions.

Every hard figure below is the published government minimum, linked to the page it was read from. Where no national figure exists we say so rather than print an average — nobody pays an average. Read the tuition column against the proof-of-funds one: what matters is whether the fee sits on top of the money you must evidence, or inside it.

Scroll the table sideways for all eight columns — the country stays put.

Our seven most-requested destinations — Medica Study Advisor guides students worldwide — compared across intakes, tuition, proof of funds, work rights while studying, post-study work, the route to permanent residence, accepted English tests and typical processing time.
DestinationIntakesTuitionProof of fundsWork rights while studyingPost-study workPR pathwayEnglish tests acceptedTypical processing time
United KingdomSeptember · January · MayAdditional to the maintenance figure£13,347 London · £10,224 outside LondonSourceTerm-time work at degree level, within the cap printed on your grant.Graduate Route — 18 months from 1 January 2027No direct route — switch to a sponsored work visa, then qualify by residence.Secure English Language Test where required; many universities accept their own assessmentVaries by application centre and season.
CanadaSeptember · January · MayAdditional — proof of funds covers living costs onlyCAD $22,895 for a single applicantSourceOff-campus work for eligible full-time students at a designated learning institution.Post-Graduation Work Permit, length tied to programme lengthPost-graduation work experience feeding federal and provincial economic streams.IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and CELPIP, depending on the institutionPublished live by country of application.
AustraliaFebruary · July · NovemberAdditional, with a return airfareAUD $29,710 living costs for 12 monthsSourceCapped per fortnight while the course is in session; lifted in scheduled breaks.Temporary Graduate visa, length tied to qualificationPoints-tested skilled migration, driven by occupation lists that are revised.IELTS, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic — in person, not at homeIndicative times published by subclass and applicant cohort.
United StatesAugust · January · MayInside the I-20 cost of attendanceThe exact figure printed on your I-20SourceOn-campus only in the first academic year; off-campus needs CPT or OPT authorisation.Optional Practical Training, with a STEM extension for eligible fieldsNo direct route — employer sponsorship after a period of work authorisation.TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic and Duolingo, depending on the institutionInterview appointment availability, not adjudication, is the constraint.
GermanyOctober · AprilLittle or none at public universities€11,904 blocked account for 2026SourceA fixed annual allowance of working days, set nationally.Post-study residence permit to seek qualified employmentQualified employment and a period of contributions; German competence accelerates it.IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT for English-taught programmes; TestDaF or DSH for German-taughtThe appointment slot at your German mission, not the decision.
IrelandSeptember · January€6,000 payable before you file€10,000 per academic year, plus feesSourceCasual work during term, with a longer weekly allowance in defined holiday periods.Third Level Graduate Programme — up to 2 yearsOccupation-led employment permits, then a qualifying period of lawful residence.IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Duolingo, depending on the institutionCurrent dates published by visa office.
New ZealandFebruary · JulyAdditional to the living-cost figureNZD $20,000 per year of living costsSourcePart-time during study, full-time in scheduled breaks, per the visa granted.Post-Study Work Visa — up to 3 yearsSkilled work residence categories that are periodically revised.IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and NZCEL, depending on the institutionPublished by visa type and country of application.

Sources

Each proof-of-funds figure links to the government or sector page it was read from, with the date we last read it. The qualitative columns are written out in full on each destination page, where the exact wording matters.

Country guides, in detail

A table tells you what. Each page tells you why.

Requirements, the visa process step by step, work rights, the programmes in your discipline, and the refusal grounds we prepare against in each country.

  • Student route (formerly Tier 4)

    United Kingdom

    One-year master's, and a graduate route that is narrowing

    The shortest route to a recognised master's degree, and the destination whose rules are moving fastest. Two changes matter for anyone applying now: maintenance thresholds rise on 30 November 2026, and the Graduate Route shortens for applications made on or after 1 January 2027.

    Proof of funds
    £13,347 London · £10,224 outside London
    Post-study work
    Graduate Route — 18 months from 1 January 2027
    Intakes
    September and January, with a smaller May intake at some providers
    Processing
    Varies by application centre and season.

    Healthcare & engineering

    • MSc Public Health
    • MSc Renewable Energy Engineering

    SourceUKCISA — Student update: changes to the Student and Graduate rulesLast verified September 2026

  • Study permit (with PAL/TAL where required)

    Canada

    Capped, but materially easier for master's applicants in 2026

    Proof of funds
    CAD $22,895 for a single applicant
    Post-study work
    Post-Graduation Work Permit, length tied to programme length
    Intakes
    September, January and May
    Processing
    Published live by country of application.

    Healthcare & engineering

    • MSc Nursing
    • MEng Computer Engineering

    SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capIRCC — Attestation letters (PAL/TAL) operational guidanceLast verified September 2026

  • Student visa (Subclass 500)

    Australia

    Genuine Student, evidenced properly

    Proof of funds
    AUD $29,710 living costs for 12 months
    Post-study work
    Temporary Graduate visa, length tied to qualification
    Intakes
    February and July, with some November starts
    Processing
    Indicative times published by subclass and applicant cohort.

    Healthcare & engineering

    • Master of Public Health
    • Master of Nursing Practice
    • Master of Professional Engineering

    SourceAustralian Department of Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500)Last verified September 2026

  • F-1 student visa

    United States

    Decided in three minutes, prepared over three months

    Proof of funds
    The exact figure printed on your I-20
    Post-study work
    Optional Practical Training, with a STEM extension for eligible fields
    Intakes
    Fall and Spring, with limited Summer entry
    Processing
    Interview appointment availability, not adjudication, is the constraint.

    Healthcare & engineering

    • MS Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • MS Industrial Engineering

    SourceU.S. Department of State — Student visaStudy in the States (DHS) — Paying the I-901 SEVIS feeLast verified September 2026

  • National (D) visa for study purposes

    Germany

    Low tuition, high documentation

    Proof of funds
    €11,904 blocked account for 2026
    Post-study work
    Post-study residence permit to seek qualified employment
    Intakes
    Winter semester (October) and summer semester (April)
    Processing
    The appointment slot at your German mission, not the decision.

    Healthcare & engineering

    • MSc Mechanical Engineering
    • MSc Automotive Engineering
    • MSc Renewable Energy Systems

    SourceStudy.eu — Germany: blocked bank accounts for studentsLast verified September 2026

  • D Study Visa

    Ireland

    English-speaking, EU, and explicit about its numbers

    Proof of funds
    €10,000 per academic year, plus fees
    Post-study work
    Third Level Graduate Programme — up to 2 years
    Intakes
    September, with a limited January intake at some institutions
    Processing
    Current dates published by visa office.

    Healthcare & engineering

    • MSc Pharmaceutical Science
    • MSc Biomedical Engineering

    SourceIrish Immigration Service — Coming to study in IrelandLast verified September 2026

  • Fee Paying Student Visa

    New Zealand

    Three years after a bachelor's, and a new short-term route

    Proof of funds
    NZD $20,000 per year of living costs
    Post-study work
    Post-Study Work Visa — up to 3 years
    Intakes
    February and July
    Processing
    Published by visa type and country of application.

    Healthcare & engineering

    • Master of Health Sciences
    • Master of Engineering Management

    SourceImmigration New Zealand — New and updated post-study work visa optionsLast verified September 2026

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Study worldwide

Not on the list? We guide students all over the world.

The countries above have full guides on this site. Beyond them, we help students apply to universities in many other countries — tell us where you are thinking of studying and we will look at it with you during your free assessment.

Ask about another country

Europe

  • Netherlands
  • France
  • Italy
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  • Finland
  • Denmark
  • Poland
  • Hungary
  • Cyprus
  • Malta

Asia & the Middle East

  • Malaysia
  • Türkiye
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Singapore
  • United Arab Emirates
  • and more
See example pathways by discipline

Start here

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Important — please read

Medica Study Advisor is an independent study-abroad consultancy. We are not a law firm and do not provide immigration legal advice. Visa rules, fees and financial thresholds change frequently — always confirm current requirements with the relevant official government authority before acting. Figures shown were last verified in September 2026.

Medica Study Advisor does not guarantee admissions, visa outcomes, jobs or sponsorships. We provide guidance, information and support to help you pursue opportunities responsibly.

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