Top 4 most popular countries to study abroad for South Africans – and how much it costs

With admission pressures on local educational institutions, high unemployment, and worsening load shedding, South African students are increasingly opting to study abroad. According to the managing director at Sable International Study Abroad, Brent Morris, an average of 11,000 South Africans study overseas each year.
While studying abroad has proven to be more expensive than studying in one’s home country, many students offset this with the prospect of obtaining an internationally recognised qualification, building a business network, then working internationally and even applying for permanent residence or citizenship, said Morris.
With these prospects in mind, a report published by education platform Erudera listed the top 10 most popular study destinations for international students worldwide by numbers, which are:
- USA – 1,075,496
- UK – 551,495
- Canada – 503,270
- China – 492, 185
- Australia – 463,643
- France – 358,000
- Russia – 353,331
- Germany – 302,157
- Japan – 228,403
- Spain – 125,675
Of these 10 countries, the report also highlighted the four countries that host the most South African students as of the last academic year. These are:
- 2,375 South African students studied in the USA.
- 2,060 South African students studied in the UK.
- 903 South African students studied in Australia.
- 828 South African students studied in Germany.
How much it costs
Among all the countries in the world that welcome international students to study abroad, the lifestyle, living expenses, and university costs are what make the difference between them, said Erudera.
Some of the most popular study abroad destinations offer affordable or no tuition fees, reasonable living standards, or a great education system – while others are much more expensive, added Erudera. However, it is important to note that most international universities offer a wide range of bursaries or scholarships for international students.
Apart from tuition fees for studying overseas, it’s essential to factor in your living costs when considering your budget. In light of this, the average living costs and tuition fees of the four most popular countries to study abroad for South Africans are listed below, as outlined by Erudera.
United States of America
The average cost of living for international students is $10,000 to $18,000 (R173,400 to R312,200) per year.
- The United States can be one of the world’s most expensive countries to study abroad.
- The average college tuition can range from $32,000 to $60,000 (R555,000 to R1.04 million) annually.
- The tuition cost can vary depending on the major you choose, living circumstances, the location, and the type of university.
The United Kingdom
The average cost of living for international students is $17,000 (R295,000) annually.
- The tuition fees for international students studying in the UK range from $14,100 to $38,000 (R245,000 to R659,000) for undergraduate and graduate studies.
- There are 109,145 EU students enrolled in higher education studies in the UK.
- On the other hand, the number of Non-EU students enrolled in UK universities is 452,225.
Australia
The average cost of living for international students is $14,290 to 19,288 (R247,000 to R333,600) per year.
- International students in Australia have proven to spend more money on living costs than is predicted by the government ($14,493 per year).
- Tuition fees for international students in Australia vary depending on the level of study:
- Undergraduate studies: $14,290 – $32,147 (R247,000 to R556,000) per year.
- Graduate studies: $15,720 – $35,730 (R272,000 to R618,000) per year.
- Postgraduate studies: $10,060 – $26,600 (R174,000 to R460,000) per year.
Germany
The average cost of living for international students is €11,208 (R203,000) per year.
- Germany holds a reputation for being an affordable study-abroad destination with a monthly average of €930 (R16,800) in living expenses, depending on the city.
- Student fees per semester can range from €100 to €350 (R1,800 to R6,325) depending on the university.
- Some public universities in Germany have no tuition fees for either international or domestic students, excluding extra administration and student fees per semester. Such as the Technical University of Munich, the University of the Mannheim, the University of Bremen, the University of Cologne, and others.