20 Cheapest Universities in Asia for International Students

1. University of Tokyo

Founded: 1877
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Tuition fee: 525,800 yen
Ranking: 1st in Japan, 23rd in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
Accreditation: The University of Tokyo is accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Financial aid: The University of Tokyo offers financial aid to students who demonstrate financial need. This may include scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: Some of the most popular courses include law, medicine, engineering, and economics.

The University of Tokyo is a public research university located in Tokyo, Japan. It is the oldest and most prestigious university in Japan and is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world.

2. Kyoto University

Founded: 1897
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Tuition fee: 535,800 yen per year for international students
Ranking: 11th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
Accreditation: Accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Financial aid: Financial aid is available for international students, but the amount of aid you receive will depend on your individual circumstances.
Courses: Kyoto University offers a wide range of courses, including engineering, science, humanities, and medicine.

Kyoto University is a public research university located in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in 1897 and is one of the most prestigious universities in Asia.

3. Osaka University

Founded: 1868
Location: Osaka, Japan
Tuition fee: Tuition fees at Osaka University are equal for locals and foreigners and start from 3,627 USD per year.
Ranking: 175th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
Accreditation: Osaka University is accredited by the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation (NIAD-UE) and the Japan Accreditation Board for Engineering Education (JABEE).
Financial aid: Osaka University offers a variety of financial aid programs for international students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: Osaka University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, including engineering, science, medicine, humanities, and social sciences.

Osaka University is a public research university located in Osaka, Japan. It was founded in 1868 and is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan.

4. Tel Aviv University

Founded: 1953
Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Tuition fee: Minimum of 10,497 USD per year (international students)
Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings: 151-200
Accreditation: TAU is accredited by the Council for Higher Education in Israel, which is the national accrediting body for universities in Israel.
Financial aid: TAU offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: TAU offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, including business, engineering, law, medicine, and the humanities.

Tel Aviv University (TAU) is a public research university in Tel Aviv, Israel. It is the largest and most comprehensive university in Israel, with over 30,000 students. TAU is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world.

5. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Founded: 1896
Location: Shanghai, China
Tuition fee: from 4,427 USD per year.
Ranking: SJTU is ranked 15th in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023.
Accreditation: SJTU is accredited by the Ministry of Education of China.
Financial aid: SJTU offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: SJTU offers over 300 undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields. Some of its most popular programs include engineering, science, business, economics, and humanities.

SJTU is a public research university located in Shanghai, China. It was founded in 1896 and is one of the most prestigious universities in China. SJTU is known for its engineering and science programs, but it also offers programs in a variety of other fields, including business, economics, and humanities.

Here are some additional details about SJTU:

The university has a student body of over 40,000 students, including over 10,000 international students.
SJTU has a strong research focus and its faculty members have published over 100,000 papers in top academic journals.
The university has a number of notable alumni, including former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan.

6. Tohoku University

Founded: 1907
Location: Sendai, Japan.
Tuition fee: Tuition fees at Tohoku University are equal for locals and foreigners, and start from 3,627 USD per year.
Ranking: Tohoku University is ranked 111th in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2023.
Accreditation: Tohoku University is accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Financial aid: Tohoku University offers a variety of financial aid options for international students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: Tohoku University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses in a variety of fields, including engineering, science, medicine, humanities, and social sciences.

Tohoku University is a public research university located in Sendai, Japan. It is one of Japan’s most prestigious universities and is ranked among the top universities in the world.

Here are some additional details about Tohoku University:

Tohoku University has a total of 10 faculties and 18 graduate schools.
The university has over 16,000 students, including over 2,000 international students.
Tohoku University has a strong research focus and is home to over 100 research institutes.

7. National Taiwan University

Founded: 1928
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Tuition fee: The tuition fee for international students at NTU is NT$45,000 per year. This is equivalent to around $1,500 USD.
Ranking: 101-150 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
Accreditation: The University of California, Berkeley
Financial aid: Available for international students, including need-based scholarships and merit-based awards
Courses: NTU offers a wide range of courses, including engineering, science, humanities, and social sciences.

NTU is a public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. It was founded in 1928 and is one of the most prestigious universities in Asia. NTU is known for its strong academics, and its alumni include many notable figures in government, business, and academia.

8. Seoul National University

Founded: 1946.
Location: SNU is located in Gwanak District, Seoul, South Korea.
Tuition fee: 3,800 USD to 7,800 USD per year
Ranking: SNU is ranked 36th in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2023.
Accreditation: SNU is accredited by the Ministry of Education of South Korea.
Financial aid: SNU offers financial aid to international students in the form of scholarships and grants.
Courses: SNU offers a wide range of courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and medicine.

SNU is a national research university located in Seoul, South Korea. It is the highest-ranked university in South Korea and one of the most prestigious universities in Asia.

9. Keio University

Founded: 1858
Location: Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Tuition fee: At Keio, tuition fees are equal for everyone — from 5,687 USD per year.
Ranking: #146(2023 QS World University Rankings)
Accreditation: Keio University is accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Financial aid: Keio University offers a variety of financial aid options for international students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: Some of the most popular courses include business, economics, law, medicine, and engineering.

Keio University is a private research university located in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan and is ranked among the top universities in the world.

Keio was founded in 1858 and is the oldest private university in Japan.

10. Hokkaido University

Founded: 1876
Location: Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Tuition fee: 4,100 USD per year (international students)
Ranking: 201-250 (Times Higher Education World University Rankings)
Accreditation: Hokkaido University is accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Financial aid: Hokkaido University offers a variety of financial aid programs for international students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: Hokkaido University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and medicine.

11. Kyushu University

Founded: 1903
Location: Fukuoka, Japan
Tuition fee: 4,100 USD per year (international students)
Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 (301-350)
Accreditation: Kyushu University is accredited by the Japan University Accreditation Association
Financial aid: Kyushu University offers a variety of financial aid options for international students.
Courses: Kyushu University offers a wide range of courses in the arts, sciences, engineering, medicine, and other fields.

Kyushu University is a public research university located in Fukuoka, Japan. It is one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and is considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in the country.

12. University of Science and Technology of China

Founded: 1958
Location: Hefei
Tuition fee: Locals and foreigners’ study at USTC for the same price, which is from 4,046 USD per year.
Ranking: USTC is ranked 1st in China and 15th in the world by the QS World University Rankings.
Accreditation: USTC is accredited by the Ministry of Education of China.
Financial aid: USTC offers financial aid to students who need it. This includes scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: USTC offers a wide range of courses in engineering, science, and technology. It also offers courses in the humanities and social sciences.

USTC is a national key university located in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. It was founded in 1958 and is one of the most prestigious universities in China. USTC is known for its strong research programs in engineering, science, and technology.

13. Nagoya University

Founded: 1871
Location: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Tuition fee: From 3,627 USD per year (international students)
Ranking: 151-200th in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023)
Accreditation: Nagoya University is accredited by the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation (NIAD-UE) and the Association of Accredited Colleges and Universities in Japan (AACJ).
Financial aid: Nagoya University offers a variety of financial aid programs for international students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: Nagoya University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, including engineering, science, humanities, and social sciences.

Nagoya University is a public research university located in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It was founded in 1871 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Japan.

14. Nanjing University

Founded: 1902
Location: Nanjing, China
Tuition fee: RMB 21,000 to RMB 24,000 (international students)
Ranking: 121st in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
Accreditation: Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China
Financial aid: Available for international students

Nanjing University is a public research university located in Nanjing, China. It was founded in 1902 and is one of the most prestigious universities in China. The university has over 40,000 students and offers a wide range of courses in the arts, sciences, engineering, business, and humanities.

Courses

Nanjing University offers a wide range of courses, including:

Engineering
Science
Business
Humanities
Social sciences
Medicine
Law
Education
International studies
Chinese language and culture

15. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Founded: 1952
Location: Wuhan, China.
Tuition fee: From RMB 30,000 (International students)
Ranking: HUST is ranked 12th in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023. It is also ranked 2nd in China by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
Accreditation: HUST is accredited by the Ministry of Education of China.
Financial aid: HUST offers a variety of financial aid opportunities for international students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: HUST offers a wide range of courses in engineering, science, technology, medicine, business, and humanities.

HUST is a public research university located in Wuhan, China. It is one of the most prestigious universities in China and is ranked 12th in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023.

16. Wuhan University

Founded: 1893
Location: Wuhan University is located in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, China.
Tuition fee: 20,000 RMB to 28,000 RMB per year.
Ranking: Wuhan University is ranked 65th in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023.
Accreditation: Wuhan University is accredited by the Ministry of Education of China.
Financial aid: Wuhan University offers financial aid to international students in the form of scholarships and grants.

Wuhan University is a public research university located in Wuhan, China. It is one of the most prestigious universities in China and is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world.

Courses

Wuhan University offers a wide range of courses in the arts, sciences, engineering, medicine, and business.

Some of the most popular courses include:

Computer science
Electrical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Business administration
Economics
International relations

17. University of Tsukuba

Founded: 1973
Location: Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Tuition fee: The bachelor’s tuition fees for international students at University of Tsukuba is 4,100 USD per year.
Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings (201-250)
Accreditation: The University of Tsukuba is accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Financial aid: The University of Tsukuba offers a variety of financial aid options for international students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: Some of the most popular courses include engineering, science, medicine, and humanities.

The University of Tsukuba is a public research university located in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It was founded in 1973 and is one of the leading universities in Japan.

Here are some additional details about the University of Tsukuba:

The university has a total of 10 faculties and 13 graduate schools.
It has over 30,000 students, including over 3,000 international students.
The university has a strong research focus and is home to over 70 research institutes.

18. Sun Yat-Sen University

Founded: 1924
Location: Guangzhou, China
Tuition fee: 3,144 USD per year (International students)
Ranking: In the 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, SYSU is ranked 151-200.
Accreditation: Sun Yat-Sen University is accredited by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China.
Financial aid: SYSU offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: SYSU offers a wide range of courses in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, and law.

Sun Yat-Sen University is a public research university located in Guangzhou, China. It was founded in 1924 by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China. SYSU is one of the most prestigious universities in China and is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world.

19. Sichuan University

Founded: 1896
Location: Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Tuition fee: The tuition fee at SCU for foreign students varies depending on the program and starts from 3,383 USD per year.
Ranking: Sichuan University is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Accreditation: Sichuan University is accredited by the Ministry of Education of China and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
Financial aid: Sichuan University offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.

Sichuan University is a public research university located in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China, and is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world.

Courses

Sichuan University offers a wide range of courses at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

Some of the most popular courses include:

Engineering
Science
Business
Medicine
Arts
Humanities

20. Waseda University

Founded: 1882
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Tuition fee: from 4,694 USD per year.
Ranking: Waseda University is ranked 104th in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023.
Accreditation: Waseda University is accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Financial aid: Waseda University offers a variety of financial aid programs to students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses: Waseda University offers a wide range of courses in a variety of fields, including arts and humanities, business, engineering, law, medicine, and science.

Waseda University is a private research university in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan and is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world.

FAQs on the Cheapest Universities in Asia for International Students

What are the living costs like for international students in Asia?

The cost of living varies depending on the university's location, but generally, Asian countries are known for their affordable living expenses compared to many Western countries.

Do these universities offer programs in English for international students?

Yes, many universities in Asia offer programs in English to cater to international students. Language requirements and options for English-taught programs are usually mentioned on their websites.

How can international students apply to these universities?

The application process may vary by university, so it's recommended to visit the university's official website and follow their admission guidelines. Typically, you'll need to submit academic transcripts, standardized test scores (if required), and other necessary documents.

How can I get more information about each university on the list?

The article provides a brief description of each university, but for more detailed information, including admission procedures and specific programs, it's advisable to visit the official websites of the universities listed.

Conclusion

As you prepare to take the next step in your educational journey, remember all the benefits Asia offers. We wish you success in your pursuit of knowledge, wherever it may lead you.

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