If you plan to study abroad, the first and most important question is where. Now, if you look up the top countries to study abroad, Canada, the US, and Australia will be in the top 5 on most lists.
Here, we put them against each other based on different parameters and see which is the best study-abroad destination between Canada, USA, and Australia:
Study Abroad: Canada vs USA vs Australia
Studying in the US has been a favorite among international students for decades. In recent years, Australia and Canada have made great strides, and even more in terms of the number of international students who want to enroll in the countries.
The graph below shows the number of international students in each country last year; however, numbers are not the only parameter and we will get to that shortly.
Where Canada has over 5,72,000 students in the year 2020, Australia has a number close to 6,90,000+. The United States leads the table with the record number in 2020, 1.09 million.
However, the numbers can be misleading as these are the students who are already enrolled in universities. The numbers are high for the US and yet they are only up 1.5% from the previous year,
Trump’s policies, stricter visa rules, and trade wars with Asian countries like China have not they are helping the US a lot. For Australia, the number of international students increased by 12%. The most notable figure here is for Canada.
With liberal visa rules, fast application processing, and permanent residency possibilities, students are increasingly choosing Canada. How much? There was a 16.25% increase in the number of international students in Canada from the previous year. Here is the comparison:
Best Study Destination USA, Canada, and Australia
As we have already mentioned, all three destinations are some of the best in the world. If we were to look at the QS world rankings for universities, 156 American universities, 26 Canadian, and 35 Australian universities are in the top 1,000 universities.
US universities are known for the quality of their teaching, their research facilities, and their curricula celebrated around the world. Universities like MIT, Stanford, and Harvard are pioneers in quality education.
On the other hand, universities in Canada may not be as famous, but they still offer quality education with the added bonus of being affordable. The comparatively lower study costs are profitable for many, as the costs of studying abroad are already high for many. However, we will come back to that later.
Of the 35 ranked universities in Australia, 26 are in the top 500. This says a lot about the quality of education in Australia. Most of them are public universities and are funded by the government.
While Australia isn’t exactly known for its affordability either, the country boasts an excellent ROI (return on investment). Here, all three are heavyweights, and the quality of education is not compromised wherever you go.
Master’s Degree in the US vs Canada vs Australia
Now, one of the most requested courses by international students is the Master of Science. It’s a title offered by all three, and there are a number of reasons to follow them. The educational system for all of them is more or less the same.
The courses available for all these countries also have a great variety. Although there is a significant difference between the tuition fees of these countries, however.
Average Tuition Fees for MS:
- USA: $10,000 to $80,000
- Australia: $17,300 to $27,700
- Canada: $12,000 to $17,000
Cost of studying in Canada vs USA vs Australia:
In terms of costs, Canada is one of the most affordable options of the three. The United States and Australia offer the best education, however, they cannot be considered accessible from any distance.
Even for living expenses, not including tuition fees, Canada is the best option for you. Keep in mind that the cost of studying and living depends a lot on where you choose to study and your lifestyle.
A subway would cost more than staying in the suburbs. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate the exact amount. Comparisons are also difficult between countries.
Work while studying in Canada vs USA vs Australia:
For Australia and Canada, the working conditions are almost the same. Students can work part-time (20 hours per week) in Canada and Australia while their semesters are in progress, and during spring breaks or semesters, students can work full-time.
Work in the study area is preferred, but not required. In the US, international students can work part-time after a year of study, for 20 hours a week. International students can work on university campuses during the first year of their studies.
Student visa for Canada, the United States, and Australia:
The visa process, as you may have already guessed, is different for each country. There are some general documents required for the student visa. This includes a valid passport, which must be valid throughout your program, your previous transcripts, grade sheets, diplomas, and certificates.
All documents must be translated into English, as all three are from English-speaking countries. The other requirements are SOP (Statement of Purpose) and LOR (Letters of Recommendation).
Last but not least, students must demonstrate that they can support themselves financially for the duration of the course, or one year. Here are the requirements:
So what is better if you are an international student? If you are looking for quality of education, you just have to choose the course and the university, and all three are good for you.
America has the best of all. If you are looking for an affordable option to study abroad, Canada is the best option out of the three.
If you are looking for a country where you can stay back and look for work, Canada and Australia are the places if you are not a STEM student. Here are our country guides for all three if you decide on one:
