Countries with Best Education System

Students willing to pursue their higher education abroad to seek better career opportunities and quality education,  look for countries with best education system. A solid education system should be reliable and have a qualitative structure to help students in their career growth.

Education is a very crucial factor in the development of today’s youth as they are the ones who will be leading the world tomorrow. Not only does it shapes an individual but also the society in which we live. This article will help you explore the top 5 countries with best education systems.

List of Countries with Best Education System

U.S. News, a recognized ranking provider, has given rankings for countries with the best education system based on a perception-based global survey, wherein three attributes are considered. These three attributes are: having a well-developed public education system, quality of education, and whether people would consider attending college there. The list below contains a list of the top 5 countries with best education system in 2022:

1. United States
2. United Kingdom
3. Germany
4. Canada
5. France
6. Switzerland
7. Japan
8. Australia
9. Sweden
10. Netherlands

United States

The United States is one of the most preferred countries for international students to pursue higher education. U.S. News has placed it at the 1st position among countries with the best education system for two years. US Universities usually focus on interactive and research-based learning. Students are motivated to put forward their ideas as they believe that classroom participation and regular testing is necessary for obtaining good results. These universities offer various courses in a variety of disciplines. Some of the areas of study popular among international students in the US involve engineering, computer science, law, arts, business, and management, among many others. 

The public education system in the country is financed majorly through federal and state property taxes. Thirteen cities in the United States are listed in the ‘QS Best Student Cities’ index. New York, California, and Texas are some of the famous study destinations for international students in the USA. As per U.S. News, the country boasts of having eight of the top ten Best Global Universities. With top universities like Harvard University, MIT, Yale University, etc., the USA is undoubtedly one of the topmost countries with the best education system.

Visa Requirements for Studying in the USA

International students coming to the U.S. can be issued three types of student visas. A student who is enrolled in an academic program or english language training program is granted an F-1 visa, which is valid until the end of the study program. J1 Visa is for exchange students, and 

M-1 visas are for students who are planning to attend a vocational or technical school, excluding language schools. To apply for a US student visa, you will generally need the following documents:

• Valid passport
• Recent passport size photograph
• Confirmation page of DS-160
• Form I -20
• Payment of application fees for SEVIS
• Application as a non-immigrant
• Academic transcripts from previously attended schools
• Proof of financial sufficiency
• English language proficiency proof

United Kingdom

The UK is home to more than 442,000 international students. Well-known for its arts, literature, and design courses, the country ranks second amongst the countries with best education system in the world. According to U.S. News, 2 of the universities in the UK are ranked among the top 10 best universities across the world. In addition, around 76 universities in the UK were featured in the ‘QS World University Rankings 2019’. 

Being a popular study destination among students worldwide, the country spent 4.2% of its GDP on education in 2019. The University of Oxford is known for its excellent alumni network. Many notable personalities, including 26 Nobel prize winners, C26 British prime ministers, and 120 Olympic medalists who completed their education at this renowned university.

Visa Requirements for Studying in the UK

There are 2 types of visas that can issued for studying in the UK. A short-term study visa is for students who wish to pursue shorter duration courses of 6 or 11 months. For programs like Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD, a tier 4 general student visa is required. Students from abroad can apply for either of these visas to study in the UK, based on the duration of their course. Following documents are required for a UK student visa:

• Completed visa application form
• Valid passport
• English language proficiency proof
• Passport-sized photographs
• Evidence of financial support
• Proof of parental consent to study in the UK (if you are under 18 years)
• Tuberculosis test results (if applicable)
• Proof of payment of the visa application fee of 348 GBP
• Immigration Health Surcharge: 150 GBP per academic year

Germany

After the US and the UK, Germany holds the third position among the top countries with best education system. All the major cities of Germany boast of having at least one reputed university. The country is also considered a popular study destination for non-English speakers of the globe.

German universities are famous for offering various courses in subject areas like engineering, design, business studies, tourism and hotel management, etc. Moreover, students want to pursue their higher education from Germany due to factors like low tuition fees, high standard of living, quality education, and availability of different scholarships in the country. It is also known to be a center of innovation and world-class inventions. 

It has been found that the country spends approximately 5% of its GDP on education. Founded in 1472, LMU Munich is known to have produced 34 Nobel laureates and scientists. In addition, Heidelberg University, which is the oldest university in Germany, provides UG and PG courses in more than 100 fields of study. The university produced 56 Nobel laureates and a number of scientists, politicians, and philosophers.

Visa Requirements for Studying in Germany

It is recommended for international students to apply for a German student visa as soon as possible, at least three months in advance of moving to the country. Students will have to contact the local German embassies in their home countries in order to apply for a visa. Listed below are some important documents for obtaining a German student visa.

• Completed application form
• Valid passport
• Two photographs
• Acceptance letter from a German university
• Academic transcripts
• Certificate of German language proficiency 
• Proof of financial sufficiency
• Health insurance certificate

Canada

Factors like quality of education, the easy application process, living conditions, cultural diversity, affordable study options, growth potential, etc., make Canada a preferred study destination for international students. In Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2018 and QS World University Rankings 2019, 26 Canadian universities were listed, out of which 3 of them are added to the top 50 global universities. 

The universities in Canada are known for their research work and have produced renowned academicians. The University of Toronto has been the alma mater of 5 Canadian Prime Ministers and 10 Nobel laureates. In addition, the University of British Columbia has produced seven noble prize winners and 65 Olympic medalists.

Visa Requirements for Studying in Canada

International students can apply for a Canadian student visa after receiving an acceptance letter from their university/college. The following documents are required to apply for the student visa:

• Valid Passport
• Academic Transcripts
• Statement of Purpose
• Letter of Recommendation
• Proof of financial funds
• Immigration Medical Examination results
• English language proficiency proof
• Study Permit

France

The French education system is one of the most successful educational systems globally as the country is famous for its high standard of education. Most of the schools and universities in France are public institutions having highly centralized administration. In France, education is one of the most fundamental rights, made mandatory from the age of 6 to 16. In addition to this, more than half of 18-21 year age groups have enrolled themselves in full-time education or vocational training programs. 

Many cities in France have appeared in the list of top 100 cities for international students. Moreover, Paris has been recognized as the most student-friendly city five times in a row. Some of the popular courses among international students in France include business studies, engineering, art, and history, among others. 

Visa Requirements for Studying in France

France offers different types of student visas. Visa de court séjour pour etudes is a short-term student visa which is suitable for those students who intend to pursue language courses or short-programs of up to 3 months. Visa de long séjour temporaire pour etudes is a non-renewable visa that allows students to study in France for a time period between 3-6 months. The third type of visa is Visa de long séjour etudes, which permits international students to pursue long-term courses (more than 6 months) in France. Students who wish to study in France must provide the following documents:

• Completed visa application form
• Two passport size photographs 
• Academic Transcripts
• Valid passport 
• Letter of registration from the university
• CV/Resume
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Proof of medical insurance 
• OFII form 
• Proof of residency in France

Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the countries with best education system ranked at #6 in the Education Rankings by US News. Home to some of the best universities in the world, Switzerland’s education system is known to be one of the best in the world. This is reflected in the fact that several Nobel prizes have been earned by the Swiss over the past century in the areas of physics, chemistry and physiology.

With a nearly 40% international student population, Switzerland has several top-ranked universities offering students the opportunity to take their education and future careers further. Several Swiss universities such as ETH Zurich, EPFL, the University of Zurich and the University of Geneva are included in the world’s top 100 ranked universities.

Visa Requirements for Studying in Switzerland

Students coming from non-EU/EFTA countries need to apply for a visa to enter Switzerland. One can apply for a Swiss visa at the local Swiss embassy or consulate in their home country. There are 2 types of visas that can be issued for studying in Switzerland. The short-term visa also called the Schengen visa is for students who wish to study a short course or a language program. This visa is valid for 90 days and the application can be submitted online. The other visa is the National visa which has a validity of over 90 days. This visa is for students who plan to study for a full-time degree. The long-term visa application needs to be submitted only in person, at a local Swiss embassy or consulate in your country. The following documents are required for a Swiss visa:

• 2 passport-sized photographs
• National passport
• Copies of previous visas
• Schengen travel visa insurance
• Round-trip Flight Itinerary
• Proof of accommodation and civil status
• Proof of financial support
• Proof of enrollment
• No-objection certificate from school or university

Japan

Japan is ranked as one of the safest places to study abroad with low crime rates and some of the safest urban centres in the world. Being one of the countries with best education system, Japan has one of the world's best-educated populations with 100% enrollment in compulsory grades and zero illiteracy.

International students get to experience the culture galore that is firmly rooted in East Asian culture and also has hints of the Western and American cultures. Japanese universities offer 4-year undergraduate programs, 2-years graduate programs, and 3-4 years of doctoral programs in the English medium for international students. The highest-ranking universities are Tohoku University, Kyoto University, and the University of Tokyo with popular disciplines being International Studies, Social Science, Global Business, and more.

Visa Requirements for Studying in Japan

International students willing to study in Japan can apply for the Japanese Student Visa which is a type of long-term visa accepted by educational institutions in Japan. Only students who have received the Certificate of Eligibility can apply for a student visa for Japan. Find below the documents needed to apply for a Japanese student visa:

• Valid passport along with photocopies
• Passport size photographs
• Certificate of eligibility
• Letter of admission into the Japanese educational institution mentioning the duration and details of the course
• Previous academic/ professional qualifications
• Proof of financial support

Australia

More international students opt for Australia to study abroad for its world-class education, post-study work opportunities and excellent quality of life. Home to 7 of the top 100 universities in the world, students get to live, grow, and learn in a young, friendly country full of opportunities.

Apart from the unparalleled quality of education, internationally-recognised qualification and immense employment prospects, Australia is renowned for its research and training methodologies which makes it one of the countries with best education system in the world. Top-ranked universities such as the University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Queensland, etc offer academic programs in the fields of accounting, computer science and information technology, architecture, and more.

Visa Requirements for Studying in Australia

An Australian Student Visa also called Subclass 500 is required for international students willing to study in Australia. A Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) is used to process the Australian Student Visa. A visa application fee of AU$620 (~US$420) is charged per application. The duration of the visa is 5 years and can also be extended. Given below are the visa requirements for Australia:

• Proof of enrolment (electronic confirmation of enrolment)
• A valid passport
• Proof of payment of visa application fee
• Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement 
• Academic and work experience documents 
• Evidence of English proficiency skills (such as IELTS test scores) 
• Evidence of financial ability (tuition fees, living expenses, expenses for dependents, return airfare)
• Health insurance policy (Overseas Student Health Cover) 
• Statement of purpose
• Passport-sized photographs

Sweden

Sweden is a great destination for international students offering a wide variety of English-taught study programmes and disciplines. It is one of the countries with best education system that places more emphasis on group and independent study rather than lectures. The Swedish educational system is decentralized and is steered by goals and learning outcomes defined at the central level.

The tuition fees for students from non-EU/ EEA countries range between 7,500 - 25,500 EUR/year along with a university application fee of 90 Euros. Business and Architecture are some of the most expensive courses. Popular universities for international students are Jönköping University, University of Boras, Karolinska Institute, etc.

Visa Requirements for Studying in Sweden

Students who are not from the EU/EEA have to apply for a student visa or a residence permit to be able to study in Sweden. Students who only plan to stay and study in Sweden for less than 90 days can apply for a student visa. Students who will stay more than 90 days for their studies in Sweden can apply for a residence permit. The documents required for applying for a student visa for Sweden are as follows:

• Copy of passport
• Proof of admission from a higher education institution in Sweden
• Copies of documents showing that you have health insurance in Sweden
• Bank statements

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a great study destination for international students looking for quality education in Europe. Several English-taught programmes are available with affordable fees for international students. Dutch universities are considered among the best universities in the world with some examples being the University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, Wageningen University & Research, and more.

The Netherlands is one of the countries with best education system and is ranked as the third-most educated country in the world by the World Economic Forum. The Dutch education system enriches the youth and offers higher education that is research-oriented and profession-oriented.

Visa Requirements for Studying in the Netherlands

A short-stay visa also called a Schengen visa is required for students who plan to study in the Netherlands for 90 days or less. Students willing to study in the Netherlands for more than 90 days can apply for an entry visa (MVV) and a residence permit (VVR). Find below some of the visa requirements for a student visa for the Netherlands:

• Valid passport
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Letter from the university you have chosen confirming your admission or enrollment
• Proof of payment for all required fees
• Health insurance
• Two photographs meeting the officially specified conditions
• Birth certificate
• Academic transcripts