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best countries for international students
Moving to the best countries for international students means getting equal -- if not better -- opportunities than your local peers. Source:AFP

As the saying goes, money makes the world go round.

It is no surprise that for many, a list of the best countries for international students to earn the highest salaries is one to check out.

Still, there are other things to consider. Some places are the best countries for international students who are foodies, whereas others are great if you want to bring your family and loved ones along with you.

Perhaps a good start is to consider the happiest countries in the world:

Here is the World Population Review’s list with their individual scores out of 10:

  1. Finland (7.74)
  2. Denmark (7.58)
  3. Iceland (7.53)
  4. Sweden (7.34)
  5. Israel (7.34)
  6. Netherlands (7.32)
  7. Norway (7.30)
  8. Luxembourg (7.12)
  9. Australia (7.06)
  10. Switzerland (7.06)

While this positive list is enlightening, it is perhaps necessary to consider the flipside.

The World Population Review also has the list:

  1. South Sudan (0.381)
  2. Central African Republic (0.387)
  3. Niger (0.389)
  4. Chad (0.393)
  5. Mali (0.408)
  6. Burundi (0.419)
  7. Yemen (0.425)
  8. Burkina Faso (0.445)
  9. Sierra Leone (0.456)
  10. Mozambique (0.459)

Before you clap along feeling like happiness is the only measure that makes a country “the best” for international students, hold on.

There are many other factors you must consider before deciding to move to another country.

Why move and leave everything you know and love behind?

There are many reasons for wanting to move to another country (love, work) or study abroad (better unis, wordlier experiences).

Recently, the reasons have become a little different.

Forbes reports that cite climate change as a motivator to move in 2024. The , more than a million Americans were forced from their homes for more than a month due to a weather disaster. 16% of that million never returned home after.

Then, there’s the 2024 US presidential elections.

show that interest in moving out of the US has spiked, with immigration businesses reporting a surge of inquiries since the election. The period during the election was one wrought with uncertainty for international students too, as their future in the country became seemingly unclear.

Regardless, there are many reasons why people would want to move to another country entirely.

For some, it is about stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring a new place.

While we are not encouraging frivolous gap years where you spend your parent’s money to “find yourself,” it is a great way to learn to be independent and self-reliant.

As an international student, you also have the opportunity to learn about new cultures, understand different perspectives and make friends from all over the world.

And at the end of it all, you get a degree that’ll set you up for another exciting phase in life — your first career.

best countries for international students

If you’re choosing where to go for your study abroad destination, you might want to take into account which country pays the best. Source: AFP

How much money you make would make after graduating is important. It sets the bar for what you can ask for in the future.

As you move up, you’ll keep earning more than you would have if you’d started for a smaller first salary.

Someone who starts with a US$1,000 first salary will end up with less in five years’ time versus someone who gets US$4,000 — and that gap only grows as you become older.

While we know that certain degrees lead to higher-paying jobs, which country your first job is located in also makes a difference in how much you can earn.

Companies often pay according to their country’s market value — and international students are privileged to benefit from post-graduation work visas that let them stay in their host country to work.

The rest of the world isn’t so lucky, and people have to face intense competition not only to win a job but also to secure a work visa.

If you’re planning which country to go to university and secure a high-paying first job, below is our list of the best countries for international students.

Our list is based on . Note that the figures can vary significantly depending on your various factors, including your career, experience, education level, and location within the countries.

10 best countries for international students to get paid highly

best countries for international students

Switzerland is also one of the happiest countries in the world. Source: AFP

1. Switzerland

It is no surprise that Switzerland is at the top of the list of the best countries for international students.

OECD Better Life Index notes that in paid work in the country.

This index also found that Swiss people rank their country at 7.5 for general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, higher than the OECD average of 6.7.

CEOWORLD Magazine reports that the average monthly net salary is . Some of the country’s are those in engineering, IT, medicine, and pharmaceuticals.

After you graduate from a university in Switzerland, you can remain in the country for to look for a job.

2. Luxembourg

Bordered by Germany, France, and Belgium — all magnificent countries in their own right — Luxembourg is certainly one of the most underrated for international students.

With three official languages (Luxembourgish, German, and French), Luxembourg is a place of opportunities. Here, consists of immigrant workers or cross-border commuters. It does help that the average monthly net salary is .

The country’s key business sectors include space technologies, life sciences, automotive, clean technologies, fintech, and logistics. And while there are many great higher education institutions in the country, the is a fantastic starting point as it ranks among the top 24% in the .

Students staying in Luxembourg on a student residence permit for employees or self-employed workers before their current permit expires.

To no one’s surprise, the superpower country, the US, is among the best countries for international students. Source: AFP

3. US

Depending on your chosen career, your potential average monthly net salary is .

While some can list , others highlight access to great higher education. With 25 universities on the top 100 of the , it’s no surprise why.

One of the most in-demand careers in the US is registered nurses. According to Indeed, the .

Other in-demand careers, reported by the , include:

  • Wind turbine service technicians, whose 2023 median pay was US$61,770 per year
  • Solar photovoltaic installers, US$48,800 per year
  • Data scientists, US$108,020 per year

4. Iceland

While the average monthly net salary is , Iceland’s average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is more than the a year.

After graduation, there are . The can be found in the following sectors: tourism and hospitality, geothermal power, fishing, aluminium smelting, healthcare, IT, and construction.

If you hope to forge your future here, know you’ll be in good hands. In 2017, the Icelandic government instituted the . With this, larger workplaces must prove that they pay their employees the same wage for the same job without discriminating based on sex.

To allow students to seize this opportunity, graduates who complete their university studies in Iceland may have their residence permit to look for employment in their field of expertise.

The northern lights illuminate the sky in Norway, one of the best countries for international students. Source: AFP

5. Norway

If you are from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, tuition in Norway is free, and international students from other locations .

The reason this country is sought after by international students is the .

The country has an average monthly net salary of . A revealed that Norway was grappling with a lack of workers in 193 professions, including those in cleaning, food preparation, hospitality, personal services, IT, healthcare, construction, and engineering.

If you have completed higher education or vocational training, you can as a skilled worker. You must typically already have received a job offer or have your own business.

6. Denmark

A highlight of working here — and why it’s one of the best countries for international students who want to build their careers abroad — is the .

The country’s average monthly net salary is , another great incentive to make your life here. Better yet, international students will find plenty of opportunities across various sectors.

In particular, those keen on green energy should look no further than working in Denmark. The country and is already getting 30% of all used energy from renewable sources.

Students of Danish institutions are granted a residence permit for . Some of the best universities to check out here are the vlog of Copenhagen, the Technical vlog of Denmark, and Aarhus vlog. 

best countries for international students

The Canadian government aiming to employ more foreign talent, making Canada the place to be for international students who want to built their future here. Source: AFP

7. Canada

Canada’s got much to boast about.

Their average monthly net salary is , they have among countries in North, Central, and South America, and rank fourth on the  behind Switzerland, Japan, and the US.

Completing your studies here also allows you to apply for a . This is excellent news, considering that in 2025 and 2026, the government hopes to see the economic class grow to .

Some of the include web developers, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, mechanical engineers, biomedical engineers, and welders.

8. Greenland

Greenland might not be what you expect to find on the list of best countries for international students, but let us convince you why it should.

There’s also only one university in the country, namely the vlog of Greenland, and they offer . This means, being an international student here will make you stand out.

You’ll be part of the least densely populated region in the world, and your higher education credentials will make you a gem in Greenland’s eyes, as — lower than the OECD average and considerably below the levels in other Nordic countries.

Here, the average monthly net salary is .

best countries for international students

Getting to enjoy St Patrick’s Day in the flesh might just be another reason to put Ireland on the list of best countries for international students. Source: AFP

9. Ireland

With internationally renowned universities like Trinity College Dublin, The vlog of Dublin, and vlog College Dublin (UCD), it’s little wonder why international students love Ireland.

The is another reason the country is on the list of best countries for international students. Here, those who hold an honours bachelor’s degree, higher diploma, master’s degree or postgraduate diploma from a recognised Irish awarding body can remain in Ireland for twelve months after their studies.

The average monthly net salary of is appreciated by many too.

According to UCD, some of the include data analysts, digital marketers, and jobs in green transformation and sustainable development supply chains.

best countries for international students

As a cycle-friendly city, it is very easy for students to get around the Netherlands, one of the best countries for international students seeking high first salaries. Source: AFP

10. Netherlands

Scoring an OECD 7.5 grade on average, the Netherlands has always been popular with international students.

It does help that the average monthly net salary is . The average household per capita is US$34,984 annually.

According to Randstad, . These sectors include administrative, agriculture, research and development, catering and recreation, education, and justice and security.

International students studying in the Netherlands and international scientific researchers who have carried out research in the Netherlands can .

Disclaimer: This article was last update on January 6, 2025.