Study abroad: which country to choose? (2026 guide)

Short answer: There is no "best country", only the country that suits you. The choice depends on four things: budget (tuition and monthly living costs), language of instruction, duration of study and scholarship opportunities. Among Azerbaijani students, the United Kingdom is the most popular choice for a master's and Türkiye for a bachelor's. Germany, Hungary, Poland and Czechia suit those on a limited budget, while the UK and the USA suit those who want English-language, short-duration study.

In this article we bring together what to look at when choosing a country, a comparison of popular countries and the real statistics of Azerbaijan's State Program.

5 questions before choosing a country

1. What is your budget? Tuition and living costs differ greatly from country to country. Whether you receive a scholarship (State Program or another) also changes the choice.

2. In which language will you study? English-language programmes exist everywhere, but knowing the country's language makes life easier.

3. How long do you want to study? In the UK a bachelor's usually takes 3 years and a master's 1 year. In the USA a bachelor's takes 4 and a master's usually 2 years. Duration directly affects cost.

4. In which country is your major strong? Germany and Türkiye for engineering, the UK and the USA for finance and law, and many countries are options for IT.

5. What is your plan after graduation? Returning to Azerbaijan, working there, or gaining experience abroad. Each country's visa and work-rights rules differ and change often.

Monthly living costs: comparison by country

The State Program sets a monthly living norm for each country (including housing, food, study materials and other costs). These figures are a good guide for estimating a real budget:

These figures do not include tuition. Tuition depends heavily on the university and programme: it is low or absent at some public universities and considerably higher at private and prestigious ones. Check it on the official website of the specific university.

Popular countries: a short overview

United Kingdom

The most popular country for a master's. In the State Program admission list, the UK accounts for about 58% of 2,252 people. Advantages: a one-year master's, English language, a wide choice of universities. Disadvantages: tuition and living costs in cities such as London are high. Scholarship options: the State Program, Chevening. Among the most admitted universities in the UK are Edinburgh, UCL, Imperial College, Manchester, Glasgow and Sheffield.

Türkiye

One of the closest and most accessible options for Azerbaijanis at the bachelor's level. In the State Program's bachelor's admissions, Türkiye accounts for 178 of 528 people (about one third), and the most chosen universities are Bilkent, Koç and Sabancı. Advantages: closeness of language and culture, proximity to Baku, English-language programmes at many universities. Note: for English-language programmes in Türkiye, IELTS is usually not accepted; some universities require their own language exam or TOEFL, and this must be checked in advance for scholarships such as the State Program. Scholarship options: Türkiye Scholarships, the State Program.

Germany

At most public universities there are no tuition fees or they are low (some states charge international students), but living costs are around the European average. A strong choice for engineering and natural sciences. For programmes in German, B2-level German may be required. English-language master's programmes also exist. Scholarships: DAAD, the State Program (Germany ranks fourth among those admitted, with 74 people).

Hungary, Poland, Czechia

In terms of budget, these are the most favourable European Union countries: the State Program's monthly norm is €1,000 for Poland and Hungary and €1,200 for Czechia. There are many English-language bachelor's and master's programmes in these countries. Hungary's Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship provides a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. Note: the number of programmes in the State Program list for these countries is small (for example, Hungary 5, Poland 8), so it is more sensible to look at other programmes for scholarships.

USA

About 15% of those admitted under the State Program are in the USA (342 people), and Columbia is one of the most chosen universities. Strengths: research opportunities, wide choice, career network. Challenges: high tuition and living costs, a long admission process (SAT/ACT, essays). For a bachelor's, a high result on the SAT or ACT (above 75%) can replace the DIM requirement in the State Program. Scholarships: Fulbright, university scholarships, the State Program.

China, Korea, Singapore and other Asian countries

In the State Program's 2026/27 list, the country with the most programmes is China (730 programmes), followed by the UK (480) and Türkiye (350). China and Singapore also appear in bachelor's admissions (China 51, Singapore 16 people). Advantages: strong universities in technical majors and relatively cheap living (monthly norm for China: $1,100). Challenges: language (English-language programmes are limited) and cultural adaptation.

What do State Program statistics say about choosing a country?

In the list published on dp.edu.az for 2022–2028, 2,252 people have won the right to study:

• United Kingdom: 1,313 people (58%)
• USA: 342 people (15%)
• Türkiye: 196 people
• Germany: 74 people
• Italy: 56, Australia: 53, China: 51 people

So most people who want to study with the State Program choose the UK and the USA. But this does not mean "best"; it only shows that master's students predominate and that the UK's one-year master's programmes are convenient. You can check your own situation in our eligibility test.

Choosing by level of study

• Bachelor's: Türkiye, the UK, China and Singapore are the most admitted destinations. If your budget is limited, Türkiye, Hungary, Poland and Czechia are affordable.
• Master's: the UK (1 year), the USA, Germany and the Netherlands. For scholarships, see the list of master's scholarships.
• Doctorate: The State Program funds only universities ranked in the top 200 of the THE, QS or ARWU rankings, so ranking is an important criterion.

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the cheapest study?

According to the State Program's norms, Poland and Hungary have the lowest living costs (€1,000 a month), and China is also relatively affordable ($1,100). Tuition depends on the university.

I do not know English; which country should I choose?

In most countries, IELTS or TOEFL is required for English-language programmes. For programmes in German, B2-level German is needed in Germany. Preparation for a language course is available at EDDE Academy.

In which country is it easier to find a scholarship?

Each country has its own programme: the UK (Chevening), Germany (DAAD), Hungary (Stipendium Hungaricum), Türkiye (Türkiye Scholarships) and Azerbaijan's State Program. Competition is high in all of them, so it is advisable to prepare for several programmes in parallel.

Can I choose the country and university myself?

Yes, but the choice of country should be assessed together with the major, the university's ranking and admission requirements, not the country alone. Consultant support saves time on this.

Help with choosing a country and university

Since 2018, EDDE Global has helped students with choosing a country and university, preparing documents and admission. Taking your budget, major and plans into account, you can work out real options together with our consultant.

Book a free consultation. If you have not yet chosen a major, start with the major selection test. More on the State Program: conditions and how to apply.

*Note: EDDE Global is an independent education company and is not affiliated with the Ministry of Science and Education or the State Program Management Group. Living norms and statistics are based on open data on dp.edu.az and may change every year.*