Most Affordable Countries for Bangladeshi Students to Study Abroad
Many Bangladeshi students looking abroad face a steep financial gap. For example, studying in the UK can cost £20,000–£35,000/year (tuition + living, depending on city and course) for international students. In Malaysia, by contrast, total annual costs (tuition + living) more often lie between USD 4,000 and USD 16,000. For New Zealand, tuition fees for international students tend to range from NZD 22,000 to NZD 37,000/year, and living costs add another NZD 15,000-20,000/year. Denmark and Sweden tend to sit in the middle: tuition for non-EU students commonly €8,000-€18,000/year in Denmark, depending on programme; Sweden’s fees are similarly in the SEK 80,000-295,000 range, which, when converted and combined with high living costs, can make it expensive.
|
Country |
Tuition for International Students |
Living Costs / Other Costs |
Extras & Special Considerations |
|
UK |
– Undergraduate: ~ £12,000–£18,000/year for many universities. – Postgraduate (MA/MSc): ~ £14,000–£20,000/year commonly. – Some professional / high prestige / lab-intensive / medicine courses can be much higher. | – Living in the UK (outside London) typically requires £900-£1,300/month (accommodation, food, transportation, etc.). In London, it’s higher: ~ £1,300-£1,400/month. – Monthly rent, bills, etc., plus extras (books, leisure), add up. – Additional costs: visa, insurance (Health Surcharge ~£470/year), etc. | – Degrees in the UK are often 3 years for a Bachelor’s (vs 4 in many places), which reduces total cost. – Work rights: International students can work part-time (e.g., up to 20 hours/week during term). – Many universities offer scholarships and bursaries, but competition is stiff. – Location matters a lot: London & the southeast are much more expensive than, say, northern England, the Midlands, Wales, or Scotland (depending on the course). |
| Australia | – Bachelor’s / Master’s: roughly AUD 17,000–50,000/year depending on course, university, and field. – Vocational / TAFE or other non-university college options: somewhat lower. | – The living cost requirement mandated by the government is around AUD 20,290/year just for living expenses. – Plus other costs (accommodation, food, transport, etc.). – Health insurance (OSHC) is compulsory for international students. – Visa costs can also be significant. | – Universities are highly ranked; they have a good reputation globally. – Course lengths: often 3-4 years undergrad, 1-2 years master’s. – Part-time work is allowed with a visa, which helps cover living costs. – Tuition increases are happening in some universities. – Location matters: major cities (Sydney, Melbourne) tend to be costlier than regional or smaller cities. |
| New Zealand | – For public universities: Bachelor’s degrees often cost less than in Australia and/UK in many cases. (Exact numbers vary by programme.) – Master’s tend to be somewhat higher. – Some private universities are significantly more expensive. | – Living costs: you need to budget about NZD 20,000-25,000/year for living (accommodation, food, transport, etc.). – Monthly living cost depends heavily on the city (Auckland/Wellington are on the higher side). – Additional costs like flights, health insurance, and materials. | – Good quality of life, safety, etc. – Part-time work allowed under student visas (hours limit applies). – Fewer scholarship opportunities compared to the UK/Australia, but good institutional ones exist. – Universities tend to be more spread out; regional cost variations matter. |
| Denmark | – Non-EU/EEA international students generally pay tuition. Fees often range from ≈ €8,000 to €16,000/year, depending on programme/institution. – More specialised / lab-intensive / medical programmes may cost more. | – Higher cost of living in Denmark (Nordic country) in general: accommodation, transportation, and food are more expensive than in many parts of Asia or even the UK outside London. – Need for more budget for daily life, winter clothing, etc. (though exact numbers vary). | – Some programmes are in English. – Scholarships and grants are sometimes available for international students, but they are competitive. – Social welfare infrastructure is strong. – Work rights might be more restricted; visa rules might be stricter. – Mental & cultural adjustment (Nordic climate, language, etc.) might add “hidden cost”. |
| Sweden | – If you are a non-EU/EEA student, you’ll generally pay tuition. Fees vary by university and programme. For example, tuition fees for some annual programmes range from SEK ~80,000 to SEK ~295,000 (~depending on programme). – Social sciences or humanities tend to be on the lower side, engineering/medicine, etc., higher. – There are also scholarships for international students. | – Living costs are high, especially in major cities (Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala): housing, food, transport, utilities, etc. – Need to budget carefully; sharing accommodation, etc, helps. – Costs for winter gear, longer dark periods, etc., can be extra. | – Strong education quality, research, and global recognition. – Many programmes in English. – Generous social benefits; safety; good standard of living. – Visa/work rules can be/or are restrictive; limited to certain hours for students, etc. – Scholarship programmes (e.g. Swedish Institute) may help. |
| Malaysia | – Among the most affordable on your list. Tuition fees at public/private institutions tend to be significantly lower than those in the UK/Australia/New Zealand. Fees often range between USD 3,000 and USD 10,000/year, depending on the programme – Private university fees vary, but are still often cheaper than Western destinations. | – Cost of living is significantly lower: accommodation, food, and transport are cheaper. – Many cities are student-friendly. – Because it’s in Asia, the travel cost home is less. – Visa/permit costs are lower. – Be aware of quality variation between universities and programmes. | – Malaysia also has good regional recognition in many fields. – Tropical climate; cultural proximity may help with adaptation. – Malaysia is a hub for many branch campuses of foreign universities (so sometimes a “foreign degree” in Malaysia can be cheaper). – Many international students are already there, with established support systems. |
Note: “Tuition for international students” means students from outside the country or from non-EU/EEA countries in Denmark / Sweden. Costs are approximate and vary by year, institution, course, and city/region. Currency fluctuations matter, as does the conversion rate to Bangladeshi Taka (BDT). Hidden costs (such as books, insurance, flights, visa, and warm clothing) can add up significantly.
Affordability for Bangladeshi Students: What to Consider
“Affordable” isn’t just “lowest cost”. It depends on:
- Conversion rate and strength of BDT vs British Pound, AUD, NZD, SEK, EUR, MYR. If your funds are in BDT, currencies that weaken/inflate can drastically raise the cost.
- Duration of study: 3-year vs. 4-year programmes matters.
- Living costs (especially accommodation) often decide more than tuition.
- Ability to work part-time; visa rules.
- Scholarships, grants, and institutional aid.
- Hidden and unplanned expenses (e.g., travel home, health, winter clothing, insurance).
Rough Yearly Budget Estimates (for a Bangladeshi Student) per Country
Here are sample “back-of-envelope” yearly estimates combining tuition + living + extras, for moderate‐cost programmes (not the top prestige, but solid, mid-tier universities) in each country. All figures are approximate and will vary.
| Country |
Estimated Total Cost / Year |
|
UK |
£25,000-£35,000/year for many courses in a good location (outside London cheaper, inside London more expensive). Equivalent in BDT depends on the exchange rate. |
|
Australia |
AUD 45,000-70,000/year for a Bachelor’s in a city, including tuition + living, etc. |
|
New Zealand |
NZD 35,000-55,000/year for a manageable program + living. |
|
Denmark |
€12,000-€25,000/year for most courses + living. On the lower end, prices are cheaper in regions, but higher in Copenhagen and major cities. |
|
Sweden |
SEK 120,000-200,000+/year, depending on the programme and living expenses. (Lower programmes might be around SEK 80,000-100,000 tuition + living expenses). |
|
Malaysia |
USD 4,000-15,000/year (or equivalent in MYR) for many programmes + living; likely one of the cheapest in your list after converting. |
These are approximate for a “mid-cost” scenario (non-luxury, sharing accommodation, etc.).
Verdict & Recommendations
Based on the comparison, here’s how I see affordability:
- Most affordable among your list: Malaysia. For Bangladeshi students, Malaysia offers the best balance: lower tuition, lower living costs, shorter travel home, a familiar climate/culture, and yet decent quality of education.
- Moderately affordable: Denmark and New Zealand, especially if you find a scholarship or study in a smaller city. Also, in Sweden, if you land a scholarship, you are okay with handling higher living costs.
- Higher cost but likely justifiable: UK and Australia. These offer strong global prestige, high employability, and extensive course options. But at a significant financial cost. To optimize, consider choosing less expensive cities, utilizing scholarships, working part-time, or pursuing a 3-year undergraduate degree (UK) or attending a cheaper state university / regional campus in Australia.
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