BlueZone / Study abroad steps / Where and what to study?

Where and what to study: choose the country and course together

Start from your budget, your grades and the job you want. Then match a country, a course and a verified university.

Last reviewed 30 September 2026. Figures are checked against the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

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£10,539+UK living funds to show (9 months, outside London)

A$29,710Australia living funds for 12 months

C$23,448Canada living funds, from 1 Sep 2026

NZ$20,000New Zealand living funds per year

Budget first Compare rules Course choice Shortlist Verify a provider FAQs

Start from budget, not country

Every country publishes a minimum amount you must show for living costs, separate from tuition. These are the official figures checked for 2026. Tuition is additional and set by each university.

Destination	Living funds to show	Visa or permit fee	Health cover
United Kingdom	£1,171 per month outside London, £1,529 in London, for up to 9 months	£558	Health surcharge £776 per year
Australia	A$29,710 for 12 months (single applicant)	A$2,500 from 1 July 2026	OSHC, roughly A$500–700 per year
Canada	C$23,448 (outside Quebec) from 1 September 2026	C$150 plus C$85 biometrics	Provincial plan or university plan
New Zealand	NZ$20,000 per year	About NZ$850	Approved insurance for the whole stay
Ireland	€10,000 plus at least €6,000 of tuition paid	€60 single entry	Private medical insurance
United States	Total on your I-20 (set by the school)	$185 visa plus $350 SEVIS	University plan, varies
Dubai and UAE	Set by the university; show tuition and living funds	About AED 5,500 to 8,500 all-in (entry permit, medical, Emirates ID)	UAE-approved insurance, required
Italy	€10,179.85 per year for 2026–27 and 2027–28	About €50 Type D visa fee	Health cover, about €30,000 minimum
France	About €615 per month (confirm current figure)	About €50 (Études en France route), plus Campus France fee	Social security or approved cover
South Korea	About ₩20 million is often quoted for the D-2 (varies)	Set by the Korean mission	Mandatory National Health Insurance
Cyprus	Set by the university and Migration Department	Set by authorities	Insurance required for the permit
Lithuania	Set by the university and migration rules	About €80 to €120 (sources differ)	Insurance required for the permit
Malaysia	Set by the university and EMGS	About RM 1,500–3,500 first-year visa costs	Mandatory, about RM 500–800

See each destination guide for full details and sources. Funds must be genuinely accessible and, in several countries, held for a minimum period.

First-year cash planner (visa funds + tuition)

Uses the official living-cost funds figure for each country, then adds the tuition from your offer letter and the visa and health costs. Enter the exchange rate your bank quotes today, because rates move daily.

DestinationTuition, first year (local currency)Health cover, per year (local currency)Rate: PKR per 1 unit

Course length (years, for UK health surcharge)UK only: study in London?

Tuition (first year)	£15,000
Living-cost funds to show	£10,539
Visa fees	£558
Health cover (surcharge for 1 yr)	£776
Minimum cash and tuition needed	£26,873
Sensible 10% buffer for rate moves and first-month costs	£2,687
Plan for	£29,560

Living funds are counted for up to 9 months. Funds must be held for 28 consecutive days before you apply. This shows visa and entry costs only. It excludes flights, deposits for housing and later-year tuition. Figures as checked on 30 September 2026.

Compare the rules that shape your decision

Destination	Main intakes	Work during study	After study	Typical English requirement
United Kingdom	September, January	Usually up to 20 hours per week in term for degree students	Graduate Route: 2 years now, 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027	IELTS 6.0–7.0
Australia	February, July	48 hours per fortnight in study periods	Temporary Graduate visa (485)	IELTS 6.0–6.5, higher for some degrees
Canada	September, January, May	Up to 24 hours per week off campus (check IRCC)	PGWP up to 3 years, field and language rules apply	IELTS 6.0–6.5
United States	Fall (Aug/Sep), Spring (Jan)	On-campus about 20 hours per week; CPT after year one	OPT 12 months, STEM OPT adds 24	TOEFL or IELTS, often 6.5–7.0
New Zealand	February, July	Up to 20 hours (25 reported for 2026)	Post Study Work Visa up to 3 years	IELTS 6.0–6.5
Ireland	September, January	20 hours in term, 40 in set holiday periods	Stamp 1G: 12 months after bachelor’s, 24 after master’s or PhD	IELTS 6.0–6.5
Dubai and UAE	September, January	Part-time with a permit, often quoted at 15 hours	Golden Visa for outstanding students and graduates	IELTS 5.5–6.5 or university test
Italy	September/October, some February	Up to 20 hours per week	Permit to look for work, up to 12 months (confirm current rule)	IELTS 6.0 or an MOI certificate, depending on course
France	September, some January	Up to 964 hours per year	Temporary permit up to 12 months for eligible master’s graduates	IELTS 6.0–6.5, or DELF/TCF for French-taught courses
South Korea	March, September	Permit needed; hours depend on TOPIK and study level	D-10 job-seeker visa	TOPIK for Korean-taught; IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught
Cyprus	September, January	About 20 hours reported in term	Check work or residence conversion	IELTS about 6.0, some accept MOI
Lithuania	September, some February	Linked to your residence permit	Job-search permit, reported at 12 months	IELTS 5.5–6.5, some accept MOI
Malaysia	January, May, September	Very limited	No automatic post-study visa	IELTS 5.5–6.0

Rules change. Each destination page lists the dated source. Open the country pages from the destinations menu.

Choose the course by career, not only by ranking

Goal	Destinations often worth comparing	Why	Check first
Computer science, AI, data	USA, Canada, UK, Ireland	Strong industry links and placements	Course accreditation, placement record, visa-friendly employers
Engineering	UK, USA, Canada, Australia, China (CSC)	Accredited programmes and co-op years	Accreditation and PEC rules if you plan to practise in Pakistan
Business, finance, accounting	UK, Ireland, Australia	One-year master’s in UK and Ireland; ACCA and CPA pathways	Professional body exemptions, employer recognition
Nursing and allied health	UK, Australia, Ireland, Canada	Registration pathways for graduates	Registration body rules for overseas-trained applicants
Medicine	Country-specific; Pakistani rules apply	Returning to practise in Pakistan needs PM&DC recognition and a passed registration exam	Read the China page and course advice before any deposit
Agriculture and environment	New Zealand, Australia, Netherlands	Applied research	Field placement and funding

Build a shortlist of five to eight

Set the budget ceilingTotal first-year cash from the table above, minus what you can genuinely fund.
Check the entry rulesGrades, the 16-year degree question and the English score. See course advice.
Sort into safe, match and reachTwo safe, three match, one or two reach. This protects you if one country tightens.
Verify each providerUse the official registers below. A provider missing from its register cannot sponsor your visa.
Compare the full costInclude tuition, rent, insurance, travel and the currency buffer.

Official registers to verify a university or course

Destination	Where to check	What it proves
United Kingdom	Register of licensed student sponsors (GOV.UK)	The institution can sponsor student visas
Australia	CRICOS (cricos.education.gov.au)	The provider and course can enrol international students
Canada	List of designated learning institutions (IRCC)	The school can host study-permit holders
United States	SEVP-certified school search (Study in the States)	The school can issue I-20 forms
Ireland	Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP)	The programme qualifies for the student immigration permission
New Zealand	NZQA register of approved providers and courses	The provider and programme are approved
Dubai and UAE	KHDA (Dubai) or the UAE Ministry of Higher Education accreditation list	The university is licensed and its programme is accredited
Italy	Universitaly (universitaly.it) and the Ministry of University and Research	The university is recognised and the programme is open to non-EU students
France	Campus France and the university’s official site	The programme is recognised and listed in Études en France
South Korea	Study in Korea and the university’s visa-issuing status (HiKorea/Immigration)	The university is allowed to issue D-2 student visas
Cyprus	Ministry of Education and the Cyprus accreditation register (CY.Q.A.A)	The university and programme are accredited in the Republic of Cyprus
Lithuania	Study in Lithuania and the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC)	The university and programme are accredited
Malaysia	Malaysian Qualifications Register and EMGS approved list	The programme is accredited and eligible for a student pass
Pakistan side	HEC recognition rules; regulators such as PM&DC, PEC, PNC and PCP	Whether the degree counts for licensing at home

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose the country first or the course first?

Choose the course and career goal first, then compare countries that teach it well within your budget. A strong course in a country you cannot afford is not a real option.

Which country is cheapest for Pakistani students?

Malaysia and China (especially with a CSC scholarship) usually cost least. Germany has low tuition at public universities but is not yet covered on this site. Compare the full first-year cost, not just tuition.

Do I need a 16-year degree for a master’s abroad?

Many universities outside the UK expect 16 years of education, meaning a four-year bachelor’s degree. Some accept a two-year BA or BSc plus a one-year bridging or postgraduate diploma. Check each university’s Pakistan entry page.

How many universities should I apply to?

Five to eight across at least two countries is a good balance. More than ten rarely improves results and costs fees and time.

Can you tell me which university will accept me?

Nobody can promise an offer. We can compare your profile with published entry rules and past admission patterns, then build a balanced shortlist.

Sources and how we verify

Checked on 30 September 2026. This page is general information, not legal, immigration, medical or financial advice. Rules, fees and deadlines change, so confirm with the official body before you pay or apply.

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