The UK, Canada and Australia are the top three destinations for Bangladeshi students. Every family wants to know: which one costs the least? This guide compares all three on tuition, living costs, visa expenses, work rights and total BDT investment — with honest numbers, not agent promises.
1. Quick Answer
For a 1-year Master's, ranked cheapest to most expensive:
- 🇬🇧 UK — ৳35–53 lakh total (cheapest because it's only 1 year)
- 🇨🇦 Canada — ৳35–45 lakh Year 1 (but 2 years total = ৳55–70 lakh)
- 🇦🇺 Australia — ৳40–55 lakh Year 1 (1.5–2 years total = ৳55–80 lakh)
But cost alone isn't the full story — work rights, PR pathway and earning potential flip the ranking. Read on.
2. Tuition Comparison
| Programme | 🇬🇧 UK | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇦🇺 Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Diploma | N/A | CAD 14,000–20,000 (৳12–17 lakh) | AUD 15,000–22,000 (৳11–16 lakh) |
| Bachelor's (per year) | £14,000–24,000 (৳23–40 lakh) | CAD 20,000–35,000 (৳17–30 lakh) | AUD 25,000–45,000 (৳18–33 lakh) |
| Master's (total) | £15,000–30,000 (৳25–50 lakh) 1 year | CAD 18,000–45,000 (৳15–38 lakh) per year, 2 years | AUD 25,000–50,000 (৳18–36 lakh) per year, 1.5–2 years |
3. Monthly Living Costs
| Item | 🇬🇧 Outside London | 🇨🇦 Edmonton | 🇦🇺 Adelaide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (shared) | £400–650 (৳66k–1.07 lakh) | CAD 550–850 (৳47k–72k) | AUD 600–950 (৳44k–69k) |
| Groceries | £150–220 | CAD 280–420 | AUD 300–450 |
| Transport | £50–80 | CAD 75–105 | AUD 50–100 |
| Total/month | £760–1,220 (৳1.25–2 lakh) | CAD 1,100–1,700 (৳93k–1.44 lakh) | AUD 1,100–1,700 (৳80k–1.24 lakh) |
Canada and Australia are cheaper monthly — but you're there longer, so total living cost is higher.
4. Visa & Upfront Costs
| Cost | 🇬🇧 UK | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇦🇺 Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa fee | £558 (৳92k), from 8 Apr 2026 | CAD 150 + CAD 85 biometrics (৳20k) | AUD 2,500 (৳1.8 lakh), from 1 Jul 2026 |
| Health cover | IHS £776 per year of permission granted (৳1.28 lakh) | Included in provincial plan | OSHC mandatory — priced by the insurer, no official figure |
| Financial proof | Tuition + £1,171/month outside London or £1,529/month in London, max 9 months, held 28 days | CAD 23,448 living costs + tuition (from 1 Sep 2026). No required GIC amount | AUD 29,710 living + tuition |
5. Total Cost — The Real BDT Numbers
| Scenario | 🇬🇧 UK (1yr Master's) | 🇨🇦 Canada (2yr Master's) | 🇦🇺 Australia (2yr Master's) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (total) | ৳25–40 lakh | ৳30–60 lakh | ৳36–72 lakh |
| Living (total) | ৳15–24 lakh | ৳22–35 lakh | ৳19–30 lakh |
| Visa + fees | ৳3 lakh | ৳2 lakh | ৳2.5 lakh |
| TOTAL | ৳43–67 lakh | ৳54–97 lakh | ৳57.5–104.5 lakh |
| 🏆 Rank | #1 Cheapest | #2 | #3 |
6. But Who Pays You Back More?
| Factor | 🇬🇧 UK | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇦🇺 Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work during study | 20 hrs/week | 24 hrs/week | 48 hrs/fortnight |
| Post-study work | 2 years on the Graduate Route (18 months for applications from 1 Jan 2027; PhD keeps 3 years) | Up to 3 years PGWP — but non-degree graduates also need an eligible field of study, and every applicant needs CLB 7 (university) or CLB 5 (college) English | 485 visa, usually 2–3 years; a second, regional 485 can add 1–2 years |
| Minimum wage | £12.71/hr, 21+ (from 1 Apr 2026) | Set by each province — the federal $18.15 rate covers only federally regulated employers, almost never a student job | AUD 26.44/hr (from 1 Jul 2026) |
| PR pathway clarity | Medium (Skilled Worker, £41,700 or the going rate, then 5 years to ILR) | High (Express Entry) — but CEC needs a year of skilled work after graduating; work done as a student does not count | High (Skilled Migration, points-tested) |
7. The Verdict — Which Should You Choose?
Choose UK if: You want the cheapest total cost, the fastest degree (1 year), and are confident about finding a Skilled Worker sponsor during the Graduate Route — 2 years today, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027.
Choose Canada if: You want the clearest PR pathway (Express Entry), up to 3 years of post-study work, and are willing to invest more upfront for long-term settlement. Check the PGWP field-of-study and English conditions before you pick a college programme — a long diploma in an ineligible field earns no PGWP at all.
Choose Australia if: You want the highest part-time earnings, strong post-study work rights, and are targeting skilled migration in healthcare, engineering or IT.
Choose Germany if: Your budget is tight — most public universities charge no tuition, only a semester contribution. The exceptions are Baden-Württemberg (€1,500 per semester for non-EU students) and TUM, which has charged non-EU students since winter semester 2024/25.
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