Southeast Asian countries have become one of the largest exporters of students studying abroad, with students mostly choosing destinations like the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
But what about the reverse? How many international students actually choose Southeast Asia as their study abroad destination? With their unique characteristics, here are the top three Southeast Asian countries that attract the most international students.
Malaysia Leads the Way in Study Abroad Choices
Malaysia stands out as the leading study abroad destination in Southeast Asia, with approximately 150,000 international students and aiming for 250,000 by 2025, according to Study Malaysia. Data from Education Malaysia Global Services reveals that the students mostly come from China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India.
Several factors make Malaysia such an attractive choice for study abroad. Here, the tuition fees are considered lower than other top universities like in the United Kingdom. And most importantly, Malaysia’s campuses have widely used English as the medium of instruction, making it easier for international students to learn.
Beyond affordability and language, Malaysia is known for its welcoming, multicultural environment. The country is especially popular among Muslim students, thus attracting many students from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and many other countries with a majority of Muslims.
Moreover, Malaysia has also long been in partnerships with prestigious universities in the UK and other countries, providing students with broader opportunities. And that explains why this country holds a high demanded place as a destination for higher education.
Singapore and Its Global Approach to Education
Singapore joins Malaysia as the second highest in-demand country in Southeast Asia for study abroad destination. According to data from the Ministry of Education and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the country hosted around 79,300 international students in January 2023, which reveals an increase of 25% from 2022.
The country focuses more on the quality over quantity, thus, the admission is highly competitive. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Singapore has a very good result, with the National University of Singapore (NUS) ranking 8 and the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore ranking 12 worldwide.
A major factor for Singapore becoming one of the top choices to study abroad is its internationalized education system. Their classes are conducted in a more global approach with an international curriculum, as well as using English as the language for communication.
What else did we miss? Singapore also has such a multicultural society where people are respectful to each other coming from different races and cultures, making it a perfect consideration to live and study here.
Thailand as the Double Destination for Study and Travel
Not only a top tourist destination in Southeast Asia, Thailand also shines in its educational sector for study abroad choice. According to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, in 2022, there were more than 30,000 international students in Thailand, 60% were dominated by Chinese students.
One of the reasons why Thailand attracts many international students is because of its affordability. Tuition fees are generally lower, even than Malaysia’s, and what’s more is that its living costs are also relatively low, except for big cities like Bangkok.
Thailand could be an ideal pick for students who want a rich blend of culture and education. Universities offer special classes for international students taught in English, while also providing them with a Thai language class as an elective to immerse in the culture.
The budget-friendly studies that Thailand offers could be the perfect option for those who also wish to explore the country's travel destinations. Thailand, which has a very diverse cultural environment, will give students new insights and a unique experience alongside their studies in classes.
Southeast Asia, famous as a tourism destination, also plays a significant role in global education, like Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, which rank among the region’s top destinations for international students. So, among the list, which country attracts you the most to study abroad in Southeast Asia?
