Top 10 Emerging Study Abroad Destinations for Indian Students: Thinking Beyond the Famous 5

While the traditional study abroad destinations like the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and Germany have long been popular choices for Indian students, the landscape is rapidly evolving. Several countries are emerging as attractive alternatives, offering unique academic experiences, affordable education, and promising job prospects.

Studying Abroad is a dream often dreamt by an Indian student at varying stages of his/her life. Be it pursuing a master’s program, taking up a research fellowship, or even starting early for a bachelor’s degree, every student aspires to add a foreign degree to his/her resume. The calling could be a better job opportunity outside India, a better educational experience or even gaging the wide cultures of the world while exploring new avenues…whatever your reason for stepping out for higher education…studying abroad adds the sparkle to your dreams. Read this article to explore some of the emerging study abroad destinations for Indian students.

Top 10 Emerging Destinations to Study Abroad

Check out the list of newly emerging and most popular countries to study abroad. 

1. New Zealand 

New Zealand's pristine natural beauty, high quality of life, and strong focus on environmental safety and sustainability make it a desirable destination for international students. The country offers a unique and unforgettable experience with its stunning landscapes, clean air, and friendly culture. Its world-class education system and supportive environment for international students further enhance its appeal. The country is also regarded as one of the safest countries in the world.

Every year New Zealand attracts a large number of international students due to its excellent academic standards, research opportunities and safe & welcoming environment. The popular courses for which New Zealand stands unbeatable are agriculture, horticulture, environmental science, and tourism.

New Zealand hosts several world-class universities that constantly rank among the top universities in the world. Some of the top universities in New Zealand are given in the table below. 

Apart from the above-given points, below are some more major attractions of New Zealand that attract students from around the world:

• English is the official language of communication.
• New Zealand has relatively straightforward visa and immigration policies for international students.
• The cost of living in New Zealand is somewhat higher (minimum INR 86,511 per month) than in some other emerging study-abroad destinations, but the cost of studying is relatively lower (NZD 22,000 - NZD 35,000).
• Numerous job opportunities for international students in fields like technology, healthcare and agriculture are available in New Zealand.

2. Singapore

This emerging study-abroad destination, Singapore's strategic location, robust economy, and multicultural society make it a highly sought-after destination for international students. Its world-class education system, excellent infrastructure, and a strong emphasis on research and innovation further enhance its likeability for international students. The popular programs taught in Singapore include finance, banking, engineering, and technology. The top 5 universities in Singapore are:

The top attractions in Singapore for international students include:

• English is the official language.
• Similar to New Zealand, the cost of living in Singapore is fairly high but the cost of education is quite affordable. 

3. Ireland

Ireland has been in the race of emerging global study destinations since long and has framed its name among the favourite destinations of international students. The Irish government closely monitors the quality of education to ensure that students receive quality learning experiences. The country is known for its strong focus on research and development, a sector which constantly receives funding from the European Union. The field is popularly known for contributing to the studies of natural sciences, humanities, and technology. Check the list of top universities in Ireland below.

Several factors that lure international students towards Ireland by skipping popularly established study abroad destinations like the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia include:

• This beautiful destination comes with a lot of travel opportunities for students along with providing an excellent education system. 
• Acclaimed popularity in courses like business, arts and engineering. 
• The top universities in Ireland like Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin have a very low acceptance rate. Moreover, international students are given priority in admission.
• English is the official language of communication. So, students won’t have to learn any other language and take their respective exams to prove their fluency. 
• The visa and immigration policies are pretty straightforward and students can also avail of the post-study work visa to live and search for work after completing their studies. 
• The cost of studying in Ireland is higher than in most Indian universities (INR 9-25 lakhs per annum). However, this is compensated by a low cost of living (€1,000). 

4. Malaysia 

This multi-cultural nation is becoming famous among international students due to its quite affordable cost of living and studying. Not just that, its capital city, Kuala Lumpur, is ranked 23rd in the QS Best Student Cities 2025 rankings for its acceptance of diverse cultures and religions, many students call it a “melting pot of different cultures”. 

The popular courses in Malaysia include business, engineering and healthcare. The competition for getting admission to Malaysian universities is moderately high and international students are given priority.

Check out the top universities in Malaysia below.

Studying in Malaysia comes with a unique set of pros and cons such as:

• English is not the official language but is widely spoken in the country. Students must check the language of instruction before enrolling on one of the programs offered at Malaysian universities. 
• The costs of living and studying in Malaysia are extremely affordable for international students (an average amount of INR 39,308 is needed to live comfortably in Malaysia per month and INR 2-9 lakhs per annum is needed to study).
• With the above points in mind, international students can get lucrative jobs in Malaysia in the technological and healthcare sectors. 
• With a strong academic background and work experience, international students can also get a PR in the country quite easily.
• The country has a well-developed healthcare system. 

5. South Korea

Students worldwide are increasingly choosing South Korea as a study destination due to its high-quality education system, strong academic reputation, innovative spirit, vibrant culture, affordable cost of living, readily available scholarships, and a safe and welcoming environment for international students, particularly in fields like technology, engineering, and business; all while offering a unique blend of traditional and modern experiences. 

Due to being a global leader in technology and innovation, getting admission to a top university in South Korea is really competitive. However, international students are given priority during the admissions process. Check out the most famous universities in South Korea below.

Other perks of studying in South Korea:

• The country is safe for international students and has low crime rates. 
• South Korea is a popular tourist destination, offering a variety of attractions, including historical sites, modern cities, and beautiful landscapes. The country has a well-developed healthcare system. 
• The official language is not English even then, some universities provide courses in the English language. 
• Various scholarships are available in South Korea for international students (such as the GKS Scholarship) which can make the cost of living and studying in the country much easier. 
• The cost of living in South Korea is pretty expensive for Indian students (INR 1.5 lakhs a month).

6. Japan

Japan’s name and fame in terms of its advanced technology and high standard of living, with its people strictly adhering to the disciplines of life, education and career are popular worldwide. With social media now easily giving us a hint of how it feels to be living and studying in a country with a high literacy rate and due to its countless technical advancements, students abroad want to come and join the universities in Japan to enhance their critical thinking and technical knowledge. 

The most famous courses in Japan include engineering, technology and business studies. The country is safe and free of any crime which becomes the foundation for an inclusive and academically strong environment for international students. 

Check out the top universities in Japan below.

Here are the additional points to consider:

• The cost of living in Japan is relatively higher than in other countries but is still relatively affordable.
• Students can get excellent job opportunities with competitive salaries. 
• Japan is known for its high safety standards and low crime rates. The country has a rich and unique culture, offering a fascinating experience.
• Japan is a popular tourist destination, offering a variety of attractions, including historical temples, modern cities, and beautiful landscapes. The country has a well-developed healthcare system

7. The Netherlands

The Netherlands has a well-established higher education system with internationally recognised degrees. Dutch universities are known for their high-quality and scientific research. The Netherlands is particularly renowned for its programs in engineering, business, and agriculture. While studying at this scenic location, students can also leverage its art work and museums which are very popular among the locals. 

The programs are offered in 2 semesters across the year and the exams are held at the mid and the end term of the year. After the completion of the first year of studies, the universities in the Netherlands provide students with Binding Study Advice (BSA) which determines whether they can continue their studies or not. Check out the popular universities in the Netherlands below.

Here are some additional points to consider the Netherlands as a study destination:

• The Netherlands offers a large number of English-taught programs and 95% of the Dutch speak in English.
• The cost of living and studying in Netherlands are pretty much affordable than in most English-speaking countries. 
• There are good scopes for getting a job in sectors like technology, finance, and agriculture. 

8. Sweden

Sweden is a popular study destination for international students because of its highly ranked universities, innovative education system, and open culture. The Swedish Higher Education Authority constantly evaluates the quality of education and research conducted in universities.

Sweden is highly accepting of international students and for this reason, there are over 1000 degree programs for students allowing them to work while studying in the country. 

Check out the list of top universities in Sweden:

Below are a few more points to consider:

• Sweden is a leading country in terms of innovation and technology; and is even home to famous companies like IKEA, Skype and Spotify.
• When not engaged in their studies, students can enjoy exploring its mountains, forests and a great 3000 km coastline.
• Indian students must be mentally prepared to adjust to the different daylight cycles of Sweden. 
• Although Swedish is the official language, many programs are offered in English. 

9. Spain

Spain is famous among international students for its pleasant weather, world-class education and rich culture. The education in Spain incorporates both theory lessons and experimental training which makes it unique as the students get a thorough understanding of the concepts.  Degrees awarded by the Spanish universities are accepted worldwide. 

Other than education, Spain is also widely famous for its art, architecture and festivals. The country is a safe place for students and Spanish people enjoy games and keep on engaging in several fun and games activities. Spain offers freedom and several leisurely activities to students. 

Check out the best universities in Spain below:

Here are the additional points to consider:

• The cost of living in Spain is relatively less than in most other study destinations.
• In its Mobile World Congress, Spain invites several global companies for trade opportunities to businesses which also means work opportunities for many graduates. 

10. UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) growing in popularity among international students in terms of its strong economy, rich cultural heritage, top universities and modern infrastructure. With its excellent post-study job opportunities, the UAE allows international students to apply for work visa (employment visa) after completing their studies.

Check out the top universities in UAE below:

• Even though the cost of living in UAE is pretty high, the cost of studying at a public university can be relatively low. Students can also choose to apply for sveral university or government scholarships which can ease their financial burdens. 
• Popular job sectors in UAE include business, engineering, hospitality and healthcare. 
• Arabic is the official language in the country but still most universities provide lectures in English for the ease of international students. 

Requirements to Study at Emerging Study Abroad Destinations

The emerging study abroad destinations also ask international students to fulfil certain requirements such as:

• Taking English language tests such as IELTS, TOEFL and PTE.
• Achieving significantly good marks in previous qualifying exams. 
• Gathering required documents for visa processes. 
• Securing enough funds to pay for your living expenses in the country.

This was all about the emerging study abroad destinations. If you wish to study abroad, get free assistance from Shiksha’s Counselling Services.