Warm governments, welcoming policies: The friendliest countries for international students in 2025

Now, more than ever, is the right time to take a step back and reconsider your study abroad options. 

Take a look at the US or UK, for example – visa applications are costly, and even if you have a visa, there’s no guarantee you can even stay there until you graduate.

While costs vary depending on the type of visa you’re applying for, it starts from US$185 to apply for a visa in the US, and a six-month UK visa starts from 127 British pounds (US$169).

And these applications are non-refundable, so that’s a good chunk of money you’re not getting back even if your application was unsuccessful. 

So if you’re planning to go abroad to study and/or work, it’s time to get rid of that single-track mindset that countries like the US or the UK are the sole best. Rather, the list of friendliest countries for international students are longer than you think. 

The friendliest countries for international students don’t just have welcoming smiles, but a welcoming government and policies too. Source: AFP

What does it mean to be friendly?

We’ve talked about friendly countries filled with warm and inviting people, the least racist countries for Indian students and Black students, Muslim-friendly countries, and even LGBTQ-friendly countries.

Here, we’re focusing on how friendly the governments of these countries are towards international students. 

Just a decade ago, many students were flocking to a number of attractive study abroad destinations, with most seeking out  the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. 

But since then, it has become more difficult for international students to:

• Get a study visa
• Stay on after graduation for work
• Bring along family/dependents 
• Afford rising costs of living 

A 2025 study by educational application platform Applyboard reported that interest in Big Four destinations declined by 14% in the year ending January 2025.

The reason? Australia, Canada, and the UK are enforcing new rules and policies that are dampening international student demand. Increasing visa fees, capping student numbers and limited housing fail to make these options the friendliest countries in the world for international students. 

And then there’s the US.

With President Donald Trump clamping down on migration policies, many international students and migrants in the country are anxious. Latest news reports involve plain-clothes agents appearing unannounced in universities, hauling students off to detention centres – over 1,000 international students and recent graduates have had their student visas revoked or legal statuses changed. 

Even the elite Ivy League institutions aren’t spared. The Trump administration announced another US$1 billion slash in federal grants and contracts for health research to Harvard University, on top of an existing US$2.2 billion cut. 

But it’s not all gloom and doom, though. There are still other options.

The friendliest countries for international students want both you and your family. Source: AFP

What the friendliest countries for international students offer

Other destinations are emerging as attractive alternatives, especially if their governments have proven to be actively seeking international talent.

The friendliest countries in the world for international students offer:

Lower costs

Compared to countries like the Big Four, your dollar will be worth more elsewhere. 

For example, degree programmes in Asia are more affordable, and the cost of living is mostly cheaper. Food, rent, utilities, public transport, and healthcare – it’s difficult to juggle all these costs as an international student in a country like the US or the UK. 

Internationalisation plans 

Compared to countries like the US, Canada, and Australia, which are closing their doors, other countries are rolling out the red carpet for international talent.

Countries like China, Germany, Russia, France and more are eager to welcome international students, and have active plans to increase recruitment through scholarships, exchange programmes, and streamlined visa processes to boost their economy.

Allow dependents 

Certain countries encourage international students and skilled migrants to bring their families along, with the intention to stay longer or even settle down there permanently. 

While it varies, it’s usually postgraduate students, researchers, and skilled workers who can bring their dependents along. Some countries, like France and Sweden, use this as a competitive measure to seem more attractive.

Safety from prosecution 

If recent events in the US have anything to show, not every country respects your personal freedom to express yourself, your beliefs, or even your orientation. While the friendliest countries in the world – like Canada, with its LGBTQ+ resettlement programme – offer refuge to those who need it, some countries deport international students for infringing rules. 

International students in the US had their visas revoked over claims that they spread anti-Semitism and pro-Hamas sentiment on campus, while others had minor legal infractions like a speeding ticket. 

So while attending a university in one of the Big Four might come with its prestige and glory, the other countries have tons more to offer too. 

 

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The friendliest countries in the world for international students, in no particular order

Germany

If you’d ask us to describe studying abroad in Germany in a nutshell, we have three words: no tuition fees. 

That aside, there are many English-taught programmes, career opportunities – especially in the technology, engineering, and healthcare sectors – and a rich cultural scene. An ICEF report states that the country recovers up to eight times the return on investment in international students annually. 

The same report shows that Germany has one of the highest retention rates for foreign graduates among leading study destinations, and up to 65% of current students expressed interest in staying in the country after graduation.

A future here is bright. The government introduced new labour force transition supports for foreign students within the past year in partnership with higher education institutions around the country, in hopes of smoothing the transition to work for foreign graduates. This alone makes Germany an attractive option and one of the friendliest countries for international students.

 

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Russia

The Russian government is working hard to accelerate the recruitment of international students by more than 40% over the next few years, growing from the current 355,000 to 500,000 by 2030. 

The country plans to offer grant funding packages that include tuition fees, accommodation, medical insurance, and additional allowances. It also has plans to expand foreign student quotas, establish special recruitment agencies, and offer more English programmes to attract international talent.

Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Konstantin Mogilevsky stated, “It’s important to create competitive conditions so that the most talented school graduates from other countries give preference to Russian higher education institutions.”

One of the friendliest countries for international students, New Zealand reported a 26% surge in international enrolments in 2024. Source: AFP

New Zealand

New Zealand has a bold plan – it’s aiming to achieve an economic contribution of 4.4 billion New Zealand dollars (US$2.61 billion) by 2027 through international education. 

To succeed, the country is ramping up efforts to bring in international students, such as recruiting those with degrees within the Green List, a collection of fields that are high in demand, such as healthcare, STEM, and others.

Additionally, accompanying dependents for those with roles in the Green List can apply for the Partner of Student Work Visa. This will allow dependents to work in New Zealand, and their school-aged children can be treated as domestic students under the Dependent Child Student Visa – meaning they don’t have to pay tuition fees for school.

While student visa fees have recently hiked, the trade-off is worth it. New Zealand offers one of the fastest student immigration visa policies, streamlining applications with an average of 31 days. That makes it one of the friendliest countries for international students.

France is another notable addition to the list of friendliest countries for international students, especially with their “Bienvenue en France” plan. Source: AFP

France

While the country has always been a rather popular study-abroad destination, France is aiming high – the government plans to bring in 500,000 international students by 2027 under its plan “Bienvenue en France.” Additionally, President of France Emmanuel Macron announced a new goal – to welcome 30,000 Indian students by 2030, as part of the latest Franco-Indian road map.

Compared to the Big Four, France’s offerings are relatively affordable – a bachelor’s degree costs 2,770 euros (US$3,150) per year for a non-European student, and only 170 euros (US$193) for a European student. A master’s degree costs 3,770 euros (US$4,287) for a non-European student and 243 euros (US$276) for a European.

“Bienvenue en France” also highlights three pillars to improve the recruitment of international students. Simplifying visa processes, expanding scholarships for international students, and strengthening French higher education institutes operating abroad to attract foreign talent. 

Taiwan has eight universities ranked in the top 500 of QS World University Rankings 2025, and it’s also one of the friendliest countries for international students to pursue their studies at. Source: AFP

Taiwan

Demographers expect Taiwan to be a “super-aged” society by 2025, with those aged 65 and older composing more than 20% of the population. Naturally, this poses many societal and economic challenges. The solution? International talent. 

Affordable cost of living and excellent universities aside, the country aims to attract more foreign talent through the New Southbound Policy (NSP), which prioritises close ties with other Southeast Asian nations, Australia, and New Zealand. There are student exchange programmes and large scholarship initiatives, such as the Taiwan Scholarships offered by the Ministry of Education.

While China has traditionally been a key source of international students for Taiwan, other Asian countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia are seeing its value. In 2024, 123,190 students enrolled in study abroad programmes in Taiwan, which showcases it as one of the friendliest countries for international students.

Not only is South Korea one of the most beautiful countries in the world, it’s also one of the friendliest countries for international students too. Source: AFP

South Korea

Similar to Taiwan, South Korea has one of the lowest fertility rates globally, and is looking to recruit international talent to supplement its demand for skilled workers. 

The country aims to achieve 300,000 international students by 2027, as part of its Study Korea 300K project. This would position South Korea as one of the world’s top 10 study abroad destinations by 2027, and one of the friendliest countries for international students by far.

Efforts to attract international talent – aside from the growing popularity of K-Pop culture – are an increase in part-time work allowances, easing language requirements, lowering the financial requirement for a D-2 visa, extending the job-seeking period from six months up to three years, and expanding the types of jobs for which international students can apply for.

Additionally, the government’s  Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) programme is being expanded, increasing the number of scholarships available and even doubling the amount for STEM students. If you’re a STEM student, your future is in good hands – graduates will be fast-tracked for permanent residency, and your residency requirement will be lowered from six years to three.