Study in Asia – Complete Guide for Indian Students

Quick Facts

Global Popularity

Increasing due to affordability, safety, and regional proximity

Top Destinations

Singapore, Japan, South Korea, UAE, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong

Tuition Fees (avg.)

$2,000 – $15,000/year

Living Costs (avg.)

$3,000 – $10,000/year

Student Visa Type

Country-specific (D, Student, X1, etc.)

Work Rights

10–28 hrs/week (varies by country)

Post-Study Work Options

Limited but growing in Singapore, UAE, Japan, Korea

Scholarships

Fully/partially funded – government & institutional

Major Intakes

February, March, September, October (varies by country)

WHY STUDY IN THE ASIA?

Affordable & Quality Education

Lower tuition with globally ranked institutions.

Cultural Diversity & Safety

Rich heritage, student-friendly cities, and low crime rates.

Rapidly Growing Economies:

Huge job markets in tech, business, and healthcare.

Closer to Home:

Shorter travel time, culturally aligned environments.

Global Rankings:

Universities in Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong rank in QS Top 100.

TUITION & LIVING COST OVERVIEW

Country	Avg. Tuition (USD/year)	Avg. Living Cost (USD/year)
Singapore	$10,000 – 20,000	$8,000 – 12,000
Japan	$4,000 – 8,000	$6,000 – 10,000
South Korea	$3,500 – 7,000	$5,000 – 8,000
UAE	$10,000 – 25,000	$8,000 – 12,000
Malaysia	$2,500 – 5,000	$3,000 – 5,000
China	$3,000 – 6,000	$4,000 – 7,000
Hong Kong	$12,000 – 20,000	$10,000 – 15,000

TOP STUDY DESTINATIONS IN ASIA

Singapore

Institutions: NUS, NTU, SMU
Highly ranked globally; business & STEM hubs
Tuition: SGD 15,000 – 30,000/year
Scholarships: SINGA, ADB, university-funded
Work: 16 hrs/week (no permit required)
Stay back: 1-year job search visa (upon graduation)

Japan

Renowned for engineering, robotics, AI, and life sciences
Tuition: ¥500,000 – ¥900,000/year (~₹3–6 lakhs/year)
Living cost: ¥50,000 – ¥80,000/month
Language: English-taught & Japanese programs
Scholarships: MEXT (fully funded), JASSO, university-level
Work: 28 hrs/week (with permit)
PR Pathway: 5 years on work visa → PR

South Korea

Global leader in IT, AI, and biotechnology
Top universities: Seoul National University, KAIST, Yonsei
Tuition: KRW 4M – 8M/year (~₹2.5–5 lakhs/year)
Scholarships: GKS (Govt.), University-specific
Work: 20 hrs/week during semester
Growing stay-back options under D-10 job-seeker visa

United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)

Home to global campuses (Heriot-Watt, University of Birmingham, NYU Abu Dhabi)
Medium to high tuition: AED 40,000 – 90,000/year
Work: Part-time allowed in Free Zones or on-campus
Post-study: Job-seeker visa available
Emerging as a strong business, IT & hospitality education hub

Malaysia

Low tuition: RM 10,000 – RM 25,000/year (~₹2–5 lakhs/year)
Top universities: University of Malaya, UCSI, Monash (Malaysia campus)
Multicultural society with English as medium of instruction
Scholarships: Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)
Work: 20 hrs/week (with permit)
Pathway to jobs via industry tie-ups in tech, media, tourism

China

MBBS, Engineering, Business, and Mandarin programs are popular
Tuition: RMB 20,000 – 50,000/year (~₹2.5–6 lakhs/year)
Scholarships: CSC (Govt. Scholarship), university grants
Work: Limited part-time rights; internships allowed
Growing post-study options in select cities under work permit schemes

Hong Kong

Top universities: HKU, CUHK, HKUST
Tuition: HKD 90,000 – 150,000/year (~₹10–15 lakhs/year)
Medium of instruction: English
Scholarships: Hong Kong Fellowship, Merit awards
Stay back: 12-month visa extension for job search

POPULAR COURSES ACROSS ASIA

Business & Management
Information Technology & Computer Science
Engineering (Robotics, Civil, Electrical)
Medicine (MBBS in China, Philippines)
Biotechnology & AI
Hospitality, Culinary Arts & Tourism
Fashion, Media & Animation
International Relations & East Asian Studies

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN STUDENTS

SINGA

(Singapore International Graduate Award)

MEXT

(Japan Government Scholarship)

GKS

(Global Korea Scholarship)

CSC

(China Scholarship Council)

MIS

(Malaysia International Scholarship)

HK

Fellowship Scheme

University-level

merit-based grants

VISA & POST-STUDY WORK OPTIONS

Country	Student Visa Type	Work Rights During Study	Post-Study Work Visa
Singapore	Student Pass	16 hrs/week	1 year job search
Japan	Student Visa	28 hrs/week (with permit)	D-10 Visa or work permit
South Korea	D-2 Visa	20 hrs/week	D-10 Visa (job search)
UAE	Study Visa	Part-time in free zones	Job-seeker visa
Malaysia	Student Pass	20 hrs/week (permit)	Work visa through employer
China	X1 Visa	Limited internship rights	Work visa after job offer
Hong Kong	Student Visa	20 hrs/week	1-year stay-back option

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

SOP, Resume, Passport, Financial proof, and LORs are generally required.

PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST

Passport & Student Visa Approval
Admission Letter & Fee Receipt
Travel Insurance & Health Certificate
Flight & Accommodation Booking
Local SIM Card, Forex/Cash
Country-specific apps (e.g., subway apps, health QR codes)
Culture & language orientation (especially for Japan, Korea, China)

PERMANENT RESIDENCY PATHWAYS

Singapore: Employment Pass → PR after a few years
Japan & Korea: Work visa → Long-term residency → PR
UAE: Long-term work → Golden Visa (select profiles)
Malaysia: Long-term work permit → PR eligibility
China/HK: Limited PR options, but skilled employment routes exist