Have you been trying to decide what subject and degree you’d like to study? Maybe you’re unsure of your options. Don’t worry, we can help by providing some inspiration. We’ve looked at the interests and research of millions of students using Hotcourses Abroad. We’ll take you through the most popular subjects and destinations for prospective international students for 2024. We’ll explain what each subject involves, where you can study, the top institutions, and what your career prospects could look like.
Medicine
Topping the list of most popular subjects in 2024 is medicine. Offering a clear and secure career trajectory, the potential for good salaries, and a mission-oriented subject, medicine continues to attract international students. Studying an accredited medical degree abroad further enhances your professional profile and opens you up to new knowledge, practice, and cultures.
The structure and scope of a degree in medicine will differ depending on the destination you choose to study in. For example, in the USA and Canada, medicine is only available as a graduate degree, meaning you must complete a related undergraduate degree for entry. While in the UK, Australia, and Ireland medicine can be pursued from an undergraduate level to the completion of the degree as the equivalent of a postgraduate level.
On average, a medical degree will take between five and seven years to complete, with a further two to three years for a medical specialisation. While the curriculum and modules for medical qualifications will vary between institutions, there are some core areas you will likely cover during your degree. These include:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Pathology
- Disease
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Molecular science
- Medical ethics
- Patient care
The top three destinations for international students wanting to study medicine are the UK, Canada and the USA. All have some highly ranked institutions for the subject. Some notable universities from these destinations offering medical degrees on the QS World University Rankings by Subject:
- Harvard University (USA) ranked number one globally
- University of Oxford (UK) ranked number two globally
- Johns Hopkins University (USA) ranked number four globally
- University College London (UK) ranked number seven globally
- University of Toronto (Canada) ranked 15th globally
You’re probably aware that studying medicine is not cheap. The average yearly fees you can expect to pay in the above-mentioned three most popular destinations are:
- UK – Between GBP 40,000 and GBP 75,000 per year
- USA – Between USD 55,000 and USD 80,000 per year
- Canada – Between CAD 50,000 and CAD 90,000 per year
With the requirement for making a significant investment, you’re probably wondering what the average salaries for graduate medical professionals are in these destinations. Let’s take a closer look:
- UK - Between GBP 40,000 and GBP 62,000 per year
- USA - Between USD 55,000 and USD 70,000 per year
- Canada - Between CAD 50,000 and CAD 65,000 per year
Remember that as you gain more experience or specialize, the potential for higher earnings increases significantly. If you’re concerned about the cost of studying for a medical degree, why not explore some of the scholarship options and opportunities?
Nursing
Another healthcare-related degree which continues to appeal to international students is nursing. The demand for qualified nurses continues to grow globally, and the profession can be extremely rewarding. You learn specialist and transferable skills that are valued by employers and provide you with the potential for global mobility.
A degree in nursing usually takes between three and five years to complete. This includes a professional placement where you will learn in a clinical setting. Additionally, you are generally required to gain certification and register with the professional body of the country you intend to work in. For example, in the UK, this is the Nursing and Midwifery Council and in Australia the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. While the curricula and modules can vary between institutions, some of the key areas you’ll study during a nursing qualification include:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Pharmacology
- Medical ethics
- Advanced patient care
- Epidemiology
- Public health
The three most popular study destinations for prospective nursing students are Australia, Canada and the UK. These countries have some of the top universities for the subject and particular nursing specialisations. Top-ranked universities for nursing in these countries, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject, include:
- King’s College London (UK) ranked 2nd globally
- University of Southampton (UK) ranked 6th globally
- University of Sydney (Australia) ranked 13th globally
- Monash University (Australia) ranked 15th globally
- McMaster University (Canada) ranked 24th globally
Let’s look at the average tuition fees for a nursing degree in these popular destinations. Remember graduate degrees are usually less expensive than undergraduate degrees.
- UK – Between GBP 25,000 and GBP 45,000 per year
- Australia – Between AUD 30,000 and AUD 35,000 per year
- Canada – Between CAD 25,000 and CAD 40,000 per year
The graduate employment for nursing students is favourable, with almost 80 per cent of graduates finding work in the UK within six months. This is also the case for Australia and about 82 per cent in Canada. In terms of what you can expect to earn as a graduate, average salaries for nurses in each destination are approximately:
- UK – Between GBP 30,000 and GBP 36,000 per year
- Australia – Between AUD 55,000 and AUD 65,000 per year
- Canada – Between CAD 60,000 and CAD 65,000 per year
Discover more about the benefits of studying abroad.
Dentistry
Another healthcare discipline that consistently attracts the attention of international students is dentistry. While it is a challenging degree, the reward of a varied and well-paid career is a positive deciding factor for many students. Additionally, numerous lines of specialisation can be pursued and studied, infusing dynamism into the field.
The time it takes you to qualify will depend on your chosen destination. The three most popular places to study dentistry are Canada, the UK and the USA. Studying in Canada and the USA requires a four-year undergraduate bachelor’s degree in a related subject before admission to a graduate dental school, which is a further four years of study. You will also need to pass a professional qualification examination from the American Dental Association or the National Dental Examining Board of Canada to receive a license to practice. In the UK, you will study a four-year undergraduate degree, followed by two to three years of graduate training before you can practice.
The structure of your course in dentistry is likely to be divided into two distinct phases, the first being largely theoretical and the second focused on the practical application of knowledge. You can expect to cover some of the following topics during your degree:
- Oral health
- Dental disease
- Clinical practice and skills
- Patient care
- Treatment theory
- Treatment simulation
This will develop into patient demonstrations, clinical activity and clinical procedures. There is also the potential to specialise in a particular area of dentistry, including orthodontics, periodontics, oral/maxillofacial surgery, and oral pathology.
If you’re wondering what the top universities for dentistry in the top destinations are, we can help by taking a closer look at the QS World University Rankings by Subject:
- University of Michigan Ann Arbor (USA) 1st globally
- University of California San Francisco (USA) 6th globally
- King’s College London (UK) 9th globally
- Queen Mary University of London (UK) 15th globally
- University of Toronto (Canada) 43rd globally
If you want to do some budget calculations to work out what finance you’ll need to study dentistry, the average annual tuition fees in the aforementioned countries are:
- UK – Between GBP 25,000 and GBP 35,000 per year
- USA – Between USD 60,000 and USD 90,000 per year
- Canada – Between CAD 70,000 and CAD 90,000 per year
Remember that the costs will also depend on the institution you choose to study at.
If you’re wondering about the graduate prospects for students with a dental degree, between 76 and 80 per cent of students in the UK find employment within six months. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a growth of 7.6 per cent in the sector, which equates to an additional 10,000 jobs by 2028.
- UK – Between GBP 35,000 and GBP 50,000 per year
- USA – Between USD 100,000 and USD 120,000 per year
- Canada – Between CAD 90,000 and CAD 120,000 per year
Get more information about professional degrees like dentistry.
Computer science
A perennially popular STEM discipline, computer science remains at the top of many international students' priority lists. With the continual development and advance of technology, the demand for graduates with technical skills and specialisations continues to grow. With many sub-disciplines and the transferability of skills, a degree in computer science can be an excellent foundation for a career in many industries.
Computer science is usually offered as a BSc qualification over three to four years, with the option of progressing to an MSc if you wish to specialise. While you may not initially think it, computer science can be a creative degree as you’re designing new solutions and technology to improve efficiency and make people’s lives a little easier. You’ll need to be a problem solver and be able to apply logic when evaluating various scenarios. This is something that you will also learn and acquire throughout your degree. Other modules and areas of focus for a computer science degree include:
- Programming languages
- UX and UI design
- Software engineering
- Mathematics for computer science
- Network and system architecture
- AI and machine learning
- Algorithms
- Applications
Some of the more popular destinations for studying computer science abroad include the UK, the USA and Ireland. Ireland has a rapidly developing technology sector and is home to the headquarters of some of the biggest tech companies on the planet. Institutions that often feature high up on global rankings (QS) for the subject include:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) 1st globally
- Carnegie Mellon University (USA) 2nd globally
- Imperial College London (UK) 15th globally
- The University of Edinburgh (UK) 20th globally
- Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) 91st globally
The annual tuition fees for computer science qualifications will vary, but on average you can expect to pay:
- UK - Between GBP 25,000 and GBP 40,000 per year
- USA - Between USD 35,000 and USD 65,000 per year
- Ireland - Between EUR 23,000 and EUR 35,000 per year
In terms of starting in your career, the graduate employment rate for students in the UK is approximately 76 per cent, while in the USA, this is just over 90 per cent. How much you can earn will depend on the role you undertake and your area of specialisation. On average, you can expect to receive a salary of:
- UK - Between GBP 27,000 and GBP 35,000
- Ireland - Between EUR 30,000 and EUR 35,000
- USA - Between USD 35,000 and USD 50,000
There you have it. The most popular subjects for international students in 2024. Remember that these are just a few choices you have available. If you’re unsure what to study, why not read our guide to dealing with study abroad option overload? There’s also a guide to how to compare universities and choosing a student lifestyle that will suit you best.
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