Are you a student wondering where the best English speaking countries to study abroad are? Here’s a list of the top countries to check out!
The most important part of the study abroad experience is immersing yourself in a new culture, meeting new people, and living life somewhere new. Many American college students choose to study abroad somewhere like Spain or France.
Or you might even go further off the well-trodden Western European path and study abroad on a less common continent like Asia, Africa, or South America.
But what if you don’t want to study abroad somewhere that English isn’t the primary language?
That’s totally okay! I personally enjoy learning foreign languages, which is why I’ve spent time studying Spanish and French abroad. But I know it’s not for everyone.
And you can also totally study abroad in a foreign country where English is not the primary language, and still get by only speaking English. For example, if you study abroad in a city like Amsterdam or Copenhagen, where almost everyone speaks English, you won’t have any issues even if you don’t speak a word of Dutch or Danish.
However, you might still prefer a country where English is the first language.
So check out the following English speaking countries that are perfect for study abroad students!
1. England
One of the best English speaking countries to study abroad is, of course, England! This UK country is also home to some of the most prestigious universities in the whole world: Oxford, Cambridge, University College London, Imperial College London, and more.
London is an incredible and dynamic city to study abroad in, and perfect if you want to be in the center of everything. However, don’t overlook smaller cities and universities in England.
Aside from the obvious of Oxford and Cambridge, look into Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leeds, and York.
Not only is there tons to do in England, you’re also just a short and cheap flight away from any other destination in Europe. You can even take the Eurostar train from London straight to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam in just a few hours.
2. Scotland
Scotland is another country in the UK that is perfect for studying abroad. Located north of England, Scotland has its own strong and distinctive culture and is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, including the Scottish Highlands and Scottish Isles.
The capital Edinburgh is the best city to study abroad in Scotland thanks to its beautiful architecture and strong student life. Some other cities to consider include Glasgow, Aberdeen, and St. Andrews.
3. Ireland
Leaving the UK (not going too far!), the next spot to consider studying abroad is Ireland. Nicknamed the Emerald Isle, Ireland is an extremely beautiful country in Europe where the native language is English (although around one-third of the population also speak at least some Irish, a very different language!)
Ireland is one of the safest countries to study abroad in the world. You can do plenty of exploring in Ireland in your free time since it’s quite a small country, or hop on a budget airline flight to visit a new destination in Europe for the weekend!
Some of the most popular cities in Ireland for study abroad students are Dublin as well as the smaller but lively cities of Galway and Cork.
4. Australia
Moving away from Europe, you can head to the Land Down Under if you’re looking for another English speaking country to study abroad.
Australia is the perfect place to go if you love nature: incredible, pristine beaches, the unspoiled Outback, and the Great Barrier Reef are just a few places to check out while studying abroad here. Most study abroad students in Australia will live in one of the country’s major cities: Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane are among the most popular.
One thing to keep in mind is that Australia is more of an isolated destination, so you won’t have access to the cheap flights and easy weekend trips that you might have in Europe. But don’t worry, there’s plenty to explore throughout Australia!
5. New Zealand
Another English speaking country where you can study abroad is New Zealand. Like Australia, it’s pretty geographically isolated, but it’s a beautiful country with some of the most stunning nature in the world.
The North Island of New Zealand is more populated, and most students will most likely study abroad in Wellington (the capital) or Auckland (by far the largest city in New Zealand.) On the South Island, the city of Christchurch is also popular with students.
New Zealand also ranks as one of the safest countries in the world to study abroad.
6. Singapore
If you want to study abroad in Asia but don’t want to be overwhelmed by the language barrier, Singapore is a great place to go! It’s also among the safest countries in the world to study abroad in, and 95% of the population speaks English as their native language.
Singapore offers an interesting mix of cultures, making it a great place to study abroad. It also gives you easy access to the rest of Asia for exploring in your free time.
7. Canada
Okay, I’m gonna be honest here. If you’re an American college student, Canada is probably the last place I’d recommend studying abroad.
Not that there’s anything wrong with Canada, but it just doesn’t really have that true “study abroad” flair that crossing an ocean will give you. Canada has plenty of cultural differences from the United States, but it’s probably the most similar out of any other countries on this list.
If you have the chance to study abroad in college, it’s worth going somewhere further away! I’m still including it on this list since it is primarily English speaking.
That being said, Quebec is Canada’s one French-speaking province where over 70% of the population speaks French as their first language, and almost 50% only speak French. So studying abroad in Quebec is the most “foreign” place you could go in Canada.
English Speaking Countries To Study Abroad
This post showed you the best English speaking countries to study abroad.
Even if you choose an English speaking destination to study abroad in, you can still experience a totally different culture and way of life.
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