Study abroad
Study Abroad Master's Programs
Master's degrees in nine destination countries. Compare programs, tuition, post-study work rights, and visa options side by side.
Tracking 26,285 programs at 1,988 universities across 9 countries.
Pick a destination
Each country page covers programs, tuition ranges, post-study work rights, and language requirements.
United States
USUS master's graduates get 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs qualify for a 24-month extension (36 months total).
United Kingdom
GBUK master's graduates qualify for the Graduate Route visa, which grants 2 years of unrestricted work rights after graduation (3 years for PhDs).
Germany
DEGermany grants international master's graduates an 18-month residence permit to find skilled work related to their degree. Since June 2024, the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) adds a separate 1-year points-based route for qualified non-EU graduates to enter Germany without a job offer.
Australia
AUAustralia's Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa allows master's graduates 2 to 3 years of post-study work rights, extendable in regional areas.
Canada
CACanada's Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) gives up to 3 years of open work rights to master's graduates from eligible institutions.
Netherlands
NLThe Netherlands offers international master's graduates a 1-year 'orientation year' (zoekjaar) residence permit to find skilled work or start a business.
Switzerland
CHSwitzerland grants non-EU master's graduates a 6-month residence permit to seek qualified employment; EU/EFTA citizens have unrestricted work rights.
Hong Kong
HKHong Kong's Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) grants 24 months of unrestricted work rights after graduation, extendable based on employment.
Singapore
SGSingapore offers a 1-year Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) to graduates of recognised institutions to seek employment; strong pathway to Employment Pass sponsorship.
Why study abroad
A master's abroad buys you three things US-only options don't: a different job market to recruit in, a second set of visa sponsors that don't depend on the H-1B lottery, and exposure to how your field is practiced somewhere else. The tradeoffs are distance, language, and (in some countries) a higher bar for recognition when you come home.
The nine countries above are where the catalog has the deepest coverage and the clearest documentation. They cluster into three cost tiers: Germany and the Netherlands anchor the affordable end, the UK and Canada sit in the middle, and the US, Switzerland, Singapore, and Hong Kong anchor the premium end. Post-study work rights invert that ordering: Canada, the UK, and Hong Kong give you the most time to find a job, while the US and Switzerland give the least without employer sponsorship.
How to choose a country
If you care most about cost, look at Germany, the Netherlands, and the cheaper public universities in the UK. If you care most about staying to work, look at Canada's 3-year PGWP, the UK's Graduate Route, and STEM-designated US programs. If you care most about employer brand recognition back home, the US and UK are safest; Singapore has emerging strength in Asia-Pacific. Tuition is the cheap decision to reverse; country choice is the expensive one, so check visa rules, work rights, and the industry's actual hiring radius before picking on price.
Frequently asked questions
- Which country is cheapest to do a master's abroad?
- Germany and the Netherlands are consistently the cheapest destinations for an English-taught master's, with public-university tuition ranging from free to around 15,000 euros per year. The UK and Australia sit in the middle. The US and Switzerland are the most expensive at the top end, but online programs from major US public universities can be cheaper than any European option.
- Which country has the best post-study work rights?
- Canada (up to 3 years via the Post-Graduation Work Permit) and Hong Kong (2 years via IANG) are the most generous for non-local graduates. The UK's Graduate Route gives 2 years. The US gives 12 months of OPT, extendable to 36 months for STEM-designated programs. Germany and the Netherlands grant 12 to 18 months specifically to find skilled work.
- Can I do a master's abroad in English without speaking the local language?
- Yes. All programs in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong are taught in English. The Netherlands offers the largest selection of English-taught programs in continental Europe. Germany and Switzerland have English-taught master's at their technical universities (TU Munich, ETH Zurich, EPFL). Canada teaches in English or French depending on province. English proficiency (IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+) is the universal gate.
- Do international students qualify for scholarships?
- Yes, though sources differ by country. In the US, program-specific fellowships and assistantships dominate. In the UK, Chevening and Rhodes are prestigious national scholarships; schools also run their own (Clarendon at Oxford, Gates at Cambridge). In Germany and Scandinavia, tuition is often free for everyone including international students at public universities. Check each program's funding page and the Fellowships tab on GradsMatch for coverage.
- How do I apply to a master's abroad?
- Application is per-program: each university has its own online portal and deadline. Typical requirements are a bachelor's degree, official transcripts, a statement of purpose, 2 or 3 recommendation letters, and English proficiency test scores (TOEFL / IELTS). Some programs require the GRE or GMAT. Start 9 to 12 months before the intake term: Fall intake applications usually open September to December, Spring intake applications open March to May.