How to Study in Asia for International Students

Currently, 638,100 international students are studying in universities and colleges in Asia. This number accounts for 1.7% of the whole student population. You can be one of those students if you choose to study in Asia for a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in your preferred academic program.

When it comes to the choices that are available, Asia currently has 3295 universities, from which 1884 universities are a part of the public sector and 1411 universities are private institutions.

Suppose you’re not just looking for any school but a well-performing school. In that case, the top universities in Asia you should definitely check out are Tsinghua University, National University of Singapore, and University of Hong Kong.

Being able to study in Asia as an international student starts with planning ahead of time, as the process of researching your institution, filling out forms, and completing your paperwork can take a vast amount of time. In this article, you will find out the application process to study in Asia, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!

1. Cost of Studying in Asia

The cost of your studies is a big factor to consider when you're planning to study abroad. It can financially burden you, but here's the good thing: the public universities in Asia don't charge tuition fees to international students like you! Bataan Peninsula State University, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, and Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar are some of the tuition-free schools. You will just be required to pay some registration and other study fees, but these won't be as high.

On the other hand, if you choose to study in a private institution, expect that you'll pay higher fees. Here are some of the private universities in Asia with their tuition fees:

2. Requirements to Study in Asia for International Students

Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in Asia, it’s time to consider preparing the paperwork to apply to those universities. Academic institutions have varying admission requirements, but the ones you should always prepare in advance are your academic records, such as a transcript of records or diploma from a previous academic level, and travel documents, such as your passport and visa.

Some institutions that offer master’s programs might also ask for a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and letters of recommendation. There are also degree programs where you need to take an admissions test before you can apply. Besides these, universities might also require you to submit proof of language proficiency.

In Asia, English and Arabic are the languages of instruction. If you’re looking to study in any of the academic institutions here, you might need to prove language proficiency by taking standardized tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo for English. Depending on the institution and the language of instruction for your program, you might also have to prove your language proficiency by submitting EmSAT Arabic for Arabic.

To give you an idea, here are some universities in Asia and their required minimum scores for each program level.

Abdullah Gul University

Bachelor’s degree

• TOEFL: No Minimum Score
• Bachelor's English Language Requirements Page

Master’s degree

• TOEFL: 87
• Master's English Language Requirements Page

Abu Dhabi University

Bachelor’s degree

• IELTS: 5.0
• TOEFL: 61
• Bachelor's English Language Requirements Page

Master’s degree

• IELTS: 6.0
• TOEFL: 79
• EmSAT Arabic: 1250
• Master's English Language Requirements Page
• Master's Arabic Language Requirements Page

Acibadem University

Bachelor’s degree

• TOEFL: 72
• TYS: C1
• Bachelor's English Language Requirements Page

Typically, you can find information about language requirements on the admissions requirements page of the university. You can also check out if the university has a dedicated language requirements page for international students.

Application Procedure to Study in Asia

The specific admission process may vary depending on the university. The good news is that most institutions in Asia have online applications available on their websites, like Tsinghua University and National University of Singapore. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in Asia.

Tsinghua University

• Official Website
• International Bachelor's Admissions Page
• International Master's Admissions Page

National University of Singapore

• Official Website
• Domestic and International Bachelor's Admissions Page
• Domestic and International Master's Admissions Page

University of Hong Kong

• Official Website
• Domestic and International Bachelor's Admissions Page
• Domestic and International Master's Admissions Page

Make sure to gather all the information you need for the admission process. As you apply to these institutions, expect that they may ask for additional requirements depending on your nationality, degree, or program. So, it’s best to keep your lines active.

After completing your academic and language requirements, it’s time to apply!

The admission process in Asia differs from one university to another, so it’s best to contact your chosen school beforehand. Please note that the admission process for international students may take some time, so be sure to know the application dates and apply early.

The application process may take weeks or months, depending on your timing, nationality, degree, and other factors. To make the most of your application, make sure to completely follow the admission steps and submit the necessary requirements to ensure that you’ll be accepted to your chosen university in Asia.

The key to being admitted to your chosen school will depend on your punctuality and the quality of your application. So make sure to complete the requirements beforehand and follow the steps in applying. After this, you’ll wait for a week or a month for the results.

4. Visa Application for International Students in Asia

If you’re going to study in Asia, you will need to apply for a student visa in

In this section, let’s briefly discuss the requirements needed and how you can apply for a student visa in . If you’re going to stay here for your studies, you will need to obtain a

To start your student visa application in Asia, you will need to present the following:

Kindly take note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality. So, please expect that may ask for additional requirements. Moreover, you will be required to pay a student visa application fee. The visa application fee in is

After preparing your requirements and application fees, it’s time to apply for a student visa! The first steps in getting your student visa are:

For more information regarding the specific steps in applying for a student visa, visit or contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. They are the ones responsible for processing your student visa application.

That’s it! After getting your student visa, you can now officially study in Asia. Make sure to book a flight early, before your classes start, so that you’ll have ample time to explore and familiarize yourself in your new place!