Are there better country options than UAE or UK for studying abroad, such as Australia for a Master's?

You have several strong options besides the UK for a master's in Mechanical Engineering.

- Australia: Offers globally recognized programs and post-study work visas (subject to change). Tuition is typically AUD 28,000 - 45,000/year.
- UAE: Has growing universities and English-taught programs, but post-study work options are more limited than in Australia or the UK.
- Italy: Known for affordable tuition at public universities and a strong engineering tradition. Some programs are in English, and post-study work options are available (subject to change).

Each country varies in tuition, work visa length, and language requirements. Your choice should align with your career goals and preferred study environment. If you need help comparing your options, connect with your LeapScholar counsellor.

Once the UAE is off the table, the countries worth comparing split along two different priorities: the length of post-study work you get, and how much the degree itself costs before you even start job-hunting. Very few countries win on both at once.

Canada vs Germany: What Actually Decides This

• Canada's PGWP: master's graduates are exempt from the field-of-study restriction that applies to some other program types, which makes eligibility comparatively straightforward if you pick a qualifying institution and program.
• Germany's cost advantage: most public universities outside Baden-Wurttemberg do not charge general tuition to international students, only a modest semester contribution.
• UK's shorter timeline: a one-year master's plus an 18-month Graduate visa (for applications from January 2027 onward) can get you into the job market faster than a two-year Canadian or German program.

Where the UK and Ireland Fit If English-Only Matters Most

If you want to avoid learning a second language entirely, the UK and Ireland are the more natural fits: Ireland's Third Level Graduate Programme and the UK's Graduate visa both operate entirely in English-language job markets, whereas meaningful career progress in Germany, outside a narrow set of multinational employers, tends to require at least conversational German over time.

This Information Is Also Available On

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on the PGWP; the UK government's Graduate visa guidance at gov.uk; and Make it in Germany, the official German government portal for skilled migration.

My Advice

In my experience, students fixate on the headline post-study work number and skip the harder question of whether jobs are actually available in their specific field once that visa is granted. Before choosing a country, check graduate employment outcomes for your intended program, not just the visa length; a 3-year PGWP is only valuable if the local job market in your field can actually use it.