For most families, the first question isn't "Which country is best?" but "Which can we actually afford?" This guide ranks the cheapest countries to study abroad for Bangladeshi students among the seven destinations we counsel for — Malaysia, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, Australia and the USA — using tuition, living costs and the money each visa asks you to show, converted into lakh taka. It also explains where the sticker price misleads.
Quick answer: Malaysia is the cheapest by a wide margin — a whole bachelor's can cost less than one year's tuition in the UK. Ireland and New Zealand come next, helped by lower visa funds and short master's degrees. The UK's one-year master's keeps it competitive, while Canada, Australia and the USA cost the most for self-funded students.
How we compared the costs
A fair comparison looks at four things, not just tuition:
- Tuition — per year, or for the whole programme where that is how it is charged.
- Living costs the visa asks you to show — the minimum you must prove before you go. Real costs in big cities are often higher.
- Visa and health charges — small in some countries, several lakh taka in others.
- Course length — a one-year master's in the UK or Ireland can cost less overall than a cheaper-per-year two-year master's elsewhere.
Figures come from our destination guides, checked against official government pages in September 2026. Taka amounts are rounded and use rough planning rates: about ৳160 to the pound, ৳140 to the euro, ৳122 to the US dollar, ৳88 to the Canadian dollar, ৳80 to the Australian dollar, ৳72 to the New Zealand dollar and ৳28 to the ringgit. Exchange rates move, so treat the taka figures as a guide, not a quote.
Countries such as Germany are often mentioned as low-cost too. They exist, but Khan Eduway counsels for these seven destinations, so that is where we can give you reliable, current advice.
Study abroad cost from Bangladesh: comparison table
The last column is a rough first-year total for a master's: tuition plus the living-cost funds the visa asks for. It leaves out flights, insurance and visa fees. Figures are correct at the time of writing (November 2026).
| Country | Typical tuition | Living-cost funds for the visa | Visa fee | Rough first-year total (master's) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | Bachelor's RM 35,000–60,000 for the whole degree (৳10–17 lakh); master's RM 25,000–50,000 for the programme (৳7–14 lakh) | No fixed figure; living about RM 1,500–2,500 a month (৳5–8.5 lakh a year) | EMGS RM 1,600 (about ৳45,000), plus other charges | About ৳12–22 lakh |
| Ireland | Undergraduate €10,300–29,000 a year (৳14–41 lakh); postgraduate €12,000–40,000 (৳17–56 lakh) | At least €10,000 a year (৳14 lakh) | €60–100 | About ৳31–70 lakh, for a one-year master's |
| New Zealand | Bachelor's NZD 22,000–32,000 a year (৳16–23 lakh); master's NZD 26,000–37,000 (৳19–27 lakh) | NZD 20,000 a year (৳14.4 lakh) | From NZD 850 (about ৳61,000) | About ৳33–41 lakh |
| UK | Bachelor's £12,000–26,000 a year (৳19–42 lakh); master's £12,000–30,000+ (৳19–48 lakh) | £1,171 a month outside London, £1,529 in London, for up to 9 months (৳17–22 lakh) | £558, plus the health surcharge of £776 a year | About ৳36–70 lakh, for a one-year master's |
| Canada | Bachelor's average about CAD 41,700 a year (৳37 lakh); master's average about CAD 24,000 (৳21 lakh) | CAD 23,448 (৳20.6 lakh) | CAD 150 plus CAD 85 biometrics (about ৳21,000) | About ৳42 lakh at the average fee |
| Australia | Bachelor's AUD 20,000–45,000 a year (৳16–36 lakh); master's AUD 22,000–50,000 (৳18–40 lakh) | AUD 29,710 a year (৳23.8 lakh) | AUD 2,500 (about ৳2 lakh) | About ৳41–64 lakh |
| USA | Bachelor's USD 20,000–40,000 a year (৳24–49 lakh), top private USD 60,000+; master's USD 20,000–45,000 (৳24–55 lakh) | The first-year cost on your I-20; living about USD 10,000–25,000 (৳12–30 lakh) | USD 185 plus USD 350 SEVIS fee (about ৳65,000) | About ৳37–85 lakh |
For the full breakdown of any country, including work rights and intakes, see our study destinations guides.
1. Malaysia: the cheapest country to study abroad for Bangladeshi students
Malaysia wins on cost by a long way. A whole bachelor's in business or IT costs about RM 35,000–60,000 — roughly ৳10–17 lakh for the entire degree — and living costs of RM 1,500–2,500 a month are modest. The flight from Dhaka is short, halal food is everywhere, and there is a large Bangladeshi community. Branch campuses of UK and Australian universities award the same degree as the home campus, at Malaysian prices.
There is no fixed government funds figure, though your university may ask for bank statements. The EMGS processing fee is RM 1,600 for new students, plus eVAL, iKad, medical screening and insurance — your university gives you an itemised quote.
Be aware: Bangladeshi nationals are not currently eligible for Malaysia's Graduate Pass, and you can only work during semester breaks, with approval. Plan Malaysia as a place to study, not to stay — and be wary of anyone who promises otherwise.
Read more in our study in Malaysia guide.
2 and 3. Ireland and New Zealand: affordable with post-study work
If you want the option of working after you graduate, Ireland and New Zealand are the most affordable of the remaining six.
Ireland: low visa funds and a one-year master's
Ireland asks you to show at least €10,000 a year for living costs — with New Zealand, one of the lowest figures of any destination here — and the visa costs only €60–100. Most taught master's degrees take twelve months, so you pay one year of fees and living costs, and Level 9 graduates can stay up to 24 months on Stamp 1G to find work. The catch is housing: Dublin rents often push real costs well above the €10,000 minimum.
New Zealand: cheaper than Australia, similar lifestyle
Tuition of NZD 22,000–37,000 a year and visa funds of NZD 20,000 make New Zealand noticeably cheaper than Australia. You can work 25 hours a week during term, and a bachelor's or higher studied in New Zealand can lead to an open Post Study Work Visa of up to three years. Many master's degrees take 12–18 months. See our study in New Zealand guide.
4. UK: higher fees, shorter degrees
UK tuition looks expensive at £12,000–30,000 or more for a master's, but most taught master's degrees take just one year, and a bachelor's takes three. The visa asks for living-cost funds for up to nine months only — £1,171 a month outside London, £1,529 in London. Add the £558 visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year of your visa. Studying outside London is one of the easiest ways to cut the total. Our study in the UK guide explains the 28-day funds rule in detail.
5–7. Canada, Australia and the USA: the most expensive for self-funded students
Canada
Average master's tuition of about CAD 24,000 a year is reasonable, but bachelor's fees average about CAD 41,700, and you must show CAD 23,448 for living costs plus first-year tuition. Up to three years of post-graduation work is the main reason families accept the cost.
Australia
Australia asks for the highest living-cost funds here — AUD 29,710 a year — and charges AUD 2,500 for the visa. Master's degrees often run 1.5–2 years, so the total adds up. Regional campuses can help: the Destination Australia scholarship gives AUD 15,000 a year for study at a regional campus.
USA
On sticker price, the USA is usually the most expensive, especially at private universities. But it is also the destination where the price can fall furthest: teaching and research assistantships often waive tuition and pay a stipend, and many PhDs are fully funded. For a strong STEM graduate, the USA can end up one of the cheapest options.
How to make study abroad affordable
Low cost study abroad is often about choices, not just the country. These make the biggest difference:
- Apply early for scholarships. University merit scholarships are the most common award by far, and earlier applicants often get more. Search our scholarship finder, or read our guide to scholarships for Bangladeshi students.
- Choose a shorter programme. A one-year master's saves a whole year of living costs.
- Look beyond the capital. Living costs in a regional city can be lower than in London, Sydney or Dublin — sometimes by a third.
- Consider affordable universities abroad, not just famous ones. Course content, accreditation and graduate outcomes matter more than the name for most careers.
- Don't count on part-time work to pay fees. It helps with living costs, but visa officers want to see the money before you go.
- Plan any loan carefully. Borrow only the gap and model repayments in taka. Our education loan guide explains the options.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the cheapest country to study abroad for Bangladeshi students?
Among the seven destinations we counsel for, Malaysia is the cheapest. A whole bachelor's costs about ৳10–17 lakh in tuition, and living costs are about ৳5–8.5 lakh a year. Remember that there is no post-study work pass for Bangladeshi graduates.
Which is the best country to study abroad for Bangladeshi students?
There is no single best country. The right choice depends on your course, budget, results and what you want after graduating. A student who wants low cost and to return home may choose Malaysia; one who wants post-study work on a tight budget may prefer Ireland or New Zealand.
How much does it cost to study abroad from Bangladesh?
For a first year of master's study, roughly ৳12–22 lakh in Malaysia and about ৳31–85 lakh in the other six countries, before flights, insurance and visa fees. Your actual cost depends on the university and city.
Can I study abroad with 20 lakh taka?
In Malaysia, yes — ৳20 lakh can cover a master's programme and a year of living costs at many universities. Elsewhere it usually needs a substantial scholarship or assistantship, so talk to us about which options are realistic for your profile.
Is the UK cheaper than Canada or Australia?
For a master's, often yes, because a UK taught master's takes one year and the visa asks for living funds for nine months at most. For a bachelor's, the gap is smaller.
Get a cost sheet built around your budget
We build a side-by-side cost sheet in taka for every student, including tuition, living costs and the visa funds rule, so your family can see the real numbers before you apply anywhere. Whether you are in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Dinajpur or Pabna, you can start the conversation on WhatsApp today. Counselling is free at our office in Lalmatia, Dhaka, or by phone and WhatsApp from anywhere in Bangladesh.
Book your free counselling session and tell us your budget — we will tell you honestly what it can do.
