High school graduates and their parents often wonder whether investing in an international education is worthwhile, especially when their home country offers excellent universities. Is the hefty price tag of studying abroad justified when top-quality education is available locally, for free, or for low domestic fees? Here are some reasons why studying abroad might still be a valuable investment.
Surprise: international education can be less expensive than back home
Some students and their families might be surprised to learn that pursuing a degree abroad could actually be better for their bank accounts. This is true for students whose home countries have exorbitant tuition fees. As reported by Study International, the countries whose universities have the highest tuition fees are the US, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, and Hong Kong. In these countries, domestic students are expected to fork out up to 90,000 USD in just tuition fees per year. On top of that, they have to pay for other expenses such as student accommodation and textbooks.
The countries listed above have some of the best universities in the world. In fact, within the top 500 institutions in the QS World University Rankings 2025, American universities occupy 197 positions, British universities hold 97 spots, and Australian and Canadian universities claim 27 and 28 places respectively. Yet, domestic students attending these top-notch institutions often have to go into debt at 18 to access that education. In the US, the most expensive country for education, the average adult has close to 38,000 USD in outstanding student debt.
Students from these countries could instead opt for an unconventional path by studying abroad in more affordable destinations. After all, not all of the world's top universities are in their home countries. For instance, public universities in Germany are free for everyone, including international students. In French public universities, tuition fees for non-EU students range only between 3,000-4,000 euros per year, roughly the same amount in US dollars. International doctoral students in France pay less than 400 euros in tuition fees.
There are 23 German and 9 French universities among the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings 2025. Some of them are the Technical University of Munich, the University of Stuttgart, and the Free University of Berlin in Germany, and the Sorbonne, Science Po, and Université Grenoble Alpes in France. The only hurdle prospective international students may face is the need to learn German or French to an advanced intermediate (B2) level to get admitted. However, when considering the effort required to study a language for a year or two versus the possibility of avoiding lifelong student debt, that extra effort seems worth it.
If students are looking for affordable education in English-speaking countries, they could consider Ireland, South Africa and India. In Ireland, tuition fees for international students are around 11,000-29,000 euros (about the same amount in dollars) per year, which is lower than domestic tuition fees in Australia and the US. Close to ten Irish universities, including Trinity College Dublin and the University of Galway, are in the QS top 500.
The myth that there are no great universities in the Global South must be debunked. Let's look at the University of Cape Town, the top university of the African continent. It ranks 171st in the world and has some of the best programs worldwide in medicine, public health, infectious diseases, environmental science, education, and anthropology. International students at UCT pay only around 4,000-6,000 USD, or 76,500-115,000 South African rands, in yearly tuition fees.
In India, the prestigious network of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), whose alumni include Google's CEO Sundar Pichai, charge international tech and engineering students only between 2,500-7,000 USD, between 225,000 and 600,000 Indian rupees in tuition fees per year. Studying in South Africa, India and other English-speaking destinations across Africa and Asia could save international students and their families a lot of money, even when their own home countries have great universities.
Become bilingual and bicultural while developing a global network of connections
Studying abroad isn't just about the degree – it's also about the incredible range of soft skills you pick up along the way. It is difficult to become fluent in a foreign language at a near-native level or become fully familiar with the nuances of another culture if you remain at home.
Chinese students are the largest group of international students in many countries, and studies have shown that improving their language skills, especially their English skills, is a major pull factor for over 40% of them to study abroad. China has great public and private universities, including Tsinghua University and Peking University, which are ranked 12th and 13th worldwide, yet only about 5% of its highly-educated population is fully fluent in English. In major Chinese cities, locals speak English at least to an intermediate B1-B2 level, but few are fluent at an advanced C1-C2 level.
In 2024, more Chinese international students than ever have returned to work in their home countries after graduating abroad, reports the State Council Information Office. The advanced English skills and proficiency in other languages these returning students have gained in their 2-4 years studying abroad can help them stand out in the competitive Chinese job market.
Graduates with these foreign language skills gained abroad are ideal candidates for fields like trade, international sales and marketing, diplomacy, and education. They are more likely to get hired by the local branches of multinational companies. Beyond strictly language skills, their exposure to another culture makes them more equipped to deal with foreign clients in multinationals, because they understand other cultures' politeness etiquettes, habits around food, norms around small talk, and dress codes better.
Over the last few years, the job market across the world has been tight. According to the staffing company Aerotek, 70% of workers surveyed in the US have found it harder in 2023 and 2024 than in previous years to get a new job. This makes it even more important for graduates in 2025 and the next few years to have a solid network of contacts, as being referred to by a contact might be the way to stand out from a pool of over 100 applicants for the same job. Graduates who studied abroad develop two networks: one in their home country and one in the country they studied. They have access to internships and work placements in both countries. This also gives them a distinct edge over their peers who have a network only in one country.
Gain a transnational perspective on issues like climate change, AI and geopolitical conflicts
Globalization has been a firmly established reality since the start of this century. In 2025, more than ever, countries need a transnational and cross-cultural understanding of the challenges facing us and the new technologies we are still grappling with. Mitigating and adapting to climate change, implementing sustainable development policies, de-escalating the risk of war in an atmosphere of geopolitical tensions, managing cultural heritage sites, adapting to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace: these are only a few of the challenges facing countries that require cross-cultural expertise from their workers.
By studying abroad, you will be equipped to help your country face these challenges. For example, if you're a South African planning to study environmental science in New Zealand, you'll gain insight into their green energy initiatives and may later adapt and implement similar strategies in your home country, incorporating cross-cultural adjustments where necessary because you also understand the South African context.
The European Commission has understood the importance of having graduates with such a transnational perspective. As reported by The PIE News, the EU issued a recommendation in mid-2024 titled “Europe on the Move” to help at least 23% of all university students in the union study, undertake internships, or work abroad. Studying in another EU country will not only help “promote common EU values,” the report says, but also facilitate “the green and digital transitions” in each country, as learners bring strategies they learn abroad back home.
