Best Places to Study Abroad: How to Compare Countries
Checked against official sources on 10 October 2026
The best places to study abroad cannot be ranked for everyone: the right country depends on the language you can study in, the visa you can get, what the stay costs and whether your home college accepts the credits. This guide compares seven destinations that US students often consider (the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, Ireland, Germany and Australia) using only what their governments and the US government publish. It shows what to compare and where to check it.
Where US students study abroad
The US Department of State says that more than 300,000 American students study, intern or volunteer abroad for academic credit every year, on programmes that run from two weeks to a full academic year.
The National Center for Education Statistics publishes a table of US students abroad built from the Open Doors report of the Institute of International Education. In the 2018-19 academic year, the last one before the pandemic, 347,099 US students studied abroad. Of these, 55.7% went to Europe, 13.8% to Latin America and 11.7% to Asia. Most stays were short: 38.6% of students went for a summer term and 30.7% for one semester, while 2.1% stayed a full academic year. The total fell to 14,549 in 2020-21, when most programmes were suspended.
How to compare the best places to study abroad
Five questions can be answered from official pages for any country:
- Length of stay and visa. Short programmes often need no student visa; longer ones do, and the paperwork differs by country.
- Work rights. Each country sets its own limit on paid work for students.
- Money. Compare tuition rules for foreign students, the funds the visa office asks you to show, and the visa fee.
- Language. Check the language of instruction of the course, not only of the country.
- Credit and aid. Ask your home college, in writing, how the credits will count and whether your financial aid applies.
Visas, work rights and costs in seven countries
The table gives what each country's official page said when it was read in October 2026. Amounts are in the currency of the source.
| Country | Route for a long stay | Paid work while studying | Cost figures on the official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Student visa, for people aged 16 or over with a place from a licensed student sponsor. Courses of up to 6 months can be taken as a visitor. | Allowed in some cases; the amount depends on the course and on term time. | Visa fee of £558, plus a healthcare surcharge. Funds of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 elsewhere, for up to 9 months. |
| Spain | Study visa for stays of more than 90 days. | Up to 30 hours a week as a general rule. | Monthly funds equal to 100% of the IPREM index (Royal Decree 1155/2024); the Los Angeles consulate gives the 2026 figure as 600 a month for a student travelling alone; visa fee of $160 for US citizens (Los Angeles consulate). |
| Italy | National visa for study, for stays over 90 days. Residence permit requested at the Questura within 8 working days of entry. | Not stated on the consulate page. | No amount on the page; proof of funds, insurance and lodging is required. |
| France | Long-stay student visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS), for four months to one year. | 964 hours a year. | Public university tuition for non-EU students in 2026-2027: €2,902 a year for a bachelor's degree, €3,950 for a master's. |
| Ireland | Stays over 90 days need a full-time programme on the official lists and registration with immigration. | 20 hours a week in term time; 40 hours in the listed holiday periods. | Registration fee of €300. |
| Germany | Residence visa for more than 90 days. US passport holders may apply for the residence permit after arrival. | Student jobs of up to 20 hours a week. | Proof of €992 a month, €11,904 for a year (checklist dated January 2025). |
| Australia | Student visa (subclass 500), for the length of the course, up to five years. | 48 hours a fortnight while the course is in session. | Visa fee from AUD$2,500 (in force since 1 July 2026). |
United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia
The UK Student visa requires that the applicant can speak, read, write and understand English. For a course of no more than 6 months at an accredited institution, the Standard Visitor rules apply instead. After a degree, the Graduate visa allows a stay of 2 years if the application is made on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months after that date.
Ireland's immigration service says that all non-EEA students must register to stay more than 90 days, including those who do not need a visa, and must show money for fees and living costs. The programme must be full time and appear on the lists of eligible programmes.
Australia's Student visa (subclass 500) has no work-hour limit during scheduled course breaks.
Spain, Italy, France and Germany
In Spain, the consulate in Los Angeles states that no student visa is needed for study stays of up to 90 days. Longer stays fall under Royal Decree 1155/2024. The directory lists schools in Spain and Spanish universities.
For Italy, the consulate in Los Angeles accepts applications up to six months before the trip and no later than 15 calendar days before departure.
In France, the VLS-TS student visa must be validated online within 3 months of arrival. Campus France notes that some schools charge different tuition rates, so check the fee on the institution's own site.
The German missions in the United States say that employment may start only once a residence permit that authorises it has been issued. Their student visa checklist asks, as a rule, for at least level B2 in the language of instruction.
Language of instruction
The United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia teach in English. In Spain, Italy, France and Germany it depends on the programme. Germany asks for proof of the language of instruction with the visa application, and Italy's consulate in Los Angeles states that national student visas cannot be issued for low to mid-level Italian language programmes. Ask the school for the language of each course before you choose.
Safety, credit transfer and federal aid
The State Department's advice for students is to get informed, get enrolled and get insured:
- Read the travel advisory and country information for the destination on travel.state.gov.
- Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive security updates.
- Check that your passport is valid for at least six months and has two or more blank pages.
- Check that your health insurance covers you abroad. The Department warns that a medical evacuation can cost up to $100,000.
On money, the Department says that students may also be able to use federal financial aid to fund study abroad, and advises them to speak to the campus study abroad office. Credit transfer is decided by the home college, not by the host country. Get the approval for each course before paying a deposit. Funding options are listed under scholarships.
Steps to choose a destination
- Decide the length of stay first: under 90 days, a semester or a full degree.
- List the courses you need and ask your college which ones it will credit.
- Check the language of instruction of each course.
- Read the official visa page of each country on your shortlist and note the fee, the funds to show and the work limit.
- Ask the financial aid office what aid you can take abroad.
- Compare schools in the directory of schools by country.
Frequently asked questions
Where do most US students study abroad?
In Europe. It received 55.7% of US students abroad in 2018-19, according to the federal table based on Open Doors.
Which country lets students work the most hours?
The official pages give 30 hours a week in Spain and 48 hours a fortnight in Australia. Germany and Ireland (in term time) allow 20 hours a week, and France 964 hours a year. The UK and Italian pages read give no figure.
Do US students need a visa for a short programme?
It depends on the country and the length. Spain's Los Angeles consulate says no student visa is needed for study stays of up to 90 days, and the UK lets visitors study for up to 6 months at an accredited institution. Confirm with the consulate of the country.
Can federal financial aid be used abroad?
The State Department says it may be possible. The home college's financial aid office confirms what applies to a given programme.