Six English-Language Postgraduate Destinations You Might Not Have Considered

If you're considering studying a Masters overseas, it's likely that you’ve already pondered postgraduate programmes in places like the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. These anglophone countries are well-established as international destinations, attracting some two million overseas students between them according to the latest UNESCO data.

But it’s worth looking beyond the traditional English-language hotspots in your quest for a Masters. Further afield it’s possible to find excellent value, high-quality postgraduate courses that offer great opportunities for multicultural experiences and personal development. Here are six places we think you should include in your own postgraduate search.

Despite its compact nature, the island city-state of Singapore is already something of a major international higher education destination, hosting more than 54,000 foreign students. And with good reason: students in Singapore enjoy a high quality of life and all the amenities of a global financial hub. In Singapore, English is the official language of higher education, so almost all Masters are taught in English.

There are only seven universities in Singapore, but the country’s higher education system punches well above its weight internationally – two of its public universities are consistently ranked among the top 50 in the world.

To find out more, read our guide to Masters study in Singapore or browse Singaporean Masters degrees.

Malaysian universities offer an excellent combination of affordability and high standards, with a number of institutions appearing in the world top 200 according to the QS World University Rankings. Tuition fees are relatively low – a Masters at a public university will generally cost around MYR 18,180-31,815 (USD $4,000-7,000) for international students. The fact that English is a recognised language in Malaysia means that English-language degrees are widely available.

Malaysia is also notable for the presence of international branch campuses. Globally-renowned institutions such as the University of Nottingham, Monash University, Newcastle University and the University of Reading all maintain campuses in Malaysia, providing affordable postgraduate degrees.

For more information, read our guide to studying a Masters in Malaysia or browse the Malaysian Masters programmes listed on FindAMasters.com.

The Netherlands has the highest level of non-native English language proficiency in the world, so it makes sense that Dutch universities offer many Masters programmes taught entirely in English. There are around 124,000 international students in the Netherlands, which is pretty impressive for a relatively small country.

Dutch universities consistently rank well in league tables, with the fourth most institutions in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (after the USA, UK and Germany).

Whether you want to study in a modern metropolis like Rotterdam, a cultural centre like Amsterdam or a quaint university town like Leiden, the Netherlands offers plenty of exciting opportunities for an English-language Masters.

Read our guide to Masters study in the Netherlands or browse Dutch Masters programmes listed on our website.

With over 600 universities, India has an extensive higher education system. Almost all Masters programmes are taught in English, while India’s prestigious Institutes of National Importance (INI) offer world-class programmes in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). These universities include the Indian Institute of Science, the Institute of Technology Bombay and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

For more information on the Indian higher education system, read our guide to studying a Masters in India.

Israel is home to a small but vibrant higher education sector that more than holds its own on the world stage. Several Israeli universities typically feature among the top 500 internationally and the country has a well-earned reputation in technological and engineering-based fields. This extends to Israel’s famous start-up culture, with plenty of tech companies based in Tel Aviv in particular.

Although Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages in Israel, English is a compulsory subject at school and many universities offer Masters courses taught entirely in English.

Read our guide to Masters study in Israel or browse the Israeli Masters programmes listed on FindAMasters.

With over 368,000 international students, Germany is one of the most popular study abroad destinations in Europe. And, while the primary language of instruction is German, increasing numbers of Masters programmes are taught entirely in English.

One of the main factors in Germany’s appeal to international postgraduates is that there are no tuition fees at its public universities. This applies to local, EU and non-EU nationals (with the exception of the state of Baden-Württemberg, which charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester).

Find out more about studying a Masters in Germany.

Editor's note: A version of this blog was first published on 12/12/19. We've updated it for current readers.

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