Top 10 Places in the World to Study Abroad 2022

According to the released rankings, Australia tops the list, scoring 83.31 out of 100. The country ranked third in the world in high-quality teaching and achieving careers and eighth for its students’ personal development. As of March 2022, a total of 440,129 international students are studying in the country. 

Australia’s universities have a reputation for world-class education as its 38 universities placed in the top 100 of the recent QS World University Rankings.

Furthermore, great work opportunities await its international students. For one thing, the temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders will allow them to work before their course of study commences. They will also be able to work more than 40 hours a fortnight in any economic sector.

For recent graduates, Australia now offers up to four years of Post-Study Work (PSW) rights to international students post completion of their respective bachelor’s degree and up to five years to Master’s degree holders.

Outside its universities, Australia takes pride in its natural beauty. With nine distinctive regions and twenty UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Great Barrier Reef, the Tasmanian Wilderness, and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, dominating the list is not surprising at all.

Following Australia is Canada, another top-of-mind destination hub for international students across the globe. The survey noted that Canada is the leading destination study country in North America. It also ranked fifth in the world when it comes to its high-quality teaching and fourth in language learning.

According to Canada International Student Statistics, the number of international students enrolled in higher education only is currently 388,782 students and as per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), there were 528,190 foreign students with study permits in 2020.

Germany came third in the survey results. Germany International Student Statistics 2022 stated that 416,437 international students are enrolled during Winter Semester 2020/2021 in Germany. “Deutschland is ranked third on our list of the best countries for international students and first in Europe for many reasons,” the survey noted. Aside from having some of the world’s oldest and most well-known universities in the world, Germany is home to awe-inspiring landscapes, mountains, castles, and beaches.

Meanwhile, quality education, a unique curriculum, a multicultural environment, and abundant opportunities are just some of the reasons why a considerable number of international students want to study in the United States. The US hosted 914,095 international students during the 2020/21 academic year.

“As a student in one of the many high-quality schools in the States, you’ll notice that even the universities are a melting pot of cultures, with domestic and international students alike coming from completely different backgrounds,” the survey added.

Switzerland and the United Kingdom are in the fifth and sixth spots, respectively, with 76.30% and 76.22% ratings. While the Swiss country ranked third for personal development and first in achieving career goals, the UK ranks first in the world when it comes to high-quality teaching from its prestigious universities and third in culture and lifestyle, giving its students experiences beyond academics.

Also included in the list are the Netherlands, France, New Zealand, and Spain. The common thing among these countries, aside from offering international students world-class international education and multicultural exposure, these study destinations give their students diverse experiences and adventure outside the universities.

Motivations and Challenges

When asked what the most important components in a study destination are, 64.97% of prospective students noted the living costs, 64.11% said the quality of education in the country, 50.09% considered language or culture, and 49.33% and 48.26% said post-study employment opportunities and safety and socio-political climate, respectively.