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Are you planning to study abroad in China, Korea, or Japan? We have all the answers to help you decide!
China, Korea, and Japan are the top choices of most international learners. Aside from having the best universities in the region, the three countries are equally pleasant to live in.
Let us guide you on your decision! We will provide an overview of international students’ cost of living, available programs, and tuition fees when you study abroad in China, Korea, or Japan.
Moreover, we will introduce leisure activities during school breaks, available modes of transportation, safety, and language differences once you study abroad in China, Korea, or Japan.
Country Overview
Aside from being in first-world countries, you are surely guaranteed the best learning experience when you study abroad in China, Korea, or Japan. Below are interesting facts about the three countries courtesy of Statista.com.
| China | South Korea | Japan | |
| Population | 1.4 billion | 51.74 million | 125.38 million |
| Government | Republic, Communist state | Unitary state, Presidential system, Constitutional republic | Democracy, Parliamentary system, Unitary state, Constitutional monarchy |
| Languages | Mandarin or Standard Chinese | Korean | Japanese |
| Literacy rate | 96.8% | 98.80% | 99% |
| Public spending on education as a share of GDP | 4.2% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
Study Abroad in China, Korea, or Japan: Basic Necessities for International Students
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing to study abroad in China, Korea, or Japan is the cost of living. If you are on a budget, refer to the table, courtesy of MyLifeElseWhere.com, to check if it suits your monthly allowance. Note that all prices are in US Dollars.
| China | South Korea | Japan | |
| Bread | $1.68 | $2.74 | $1.58 |
| Local cheese | $6.22 | $8.12 | $6.69 |
| Milk | $1.96 | $1.90 | $1.46 |
| A dozen of eggs | $1.75 | $2.73 | $1.87 |
| 1 kg of boneless chicken breast | $3.96 | $7.90 | $6.93 |
| 1 kg of apple | $1.94 | $6.39 | $5.62 |
| 1 kg of banana | $1.38 | $3.33 | $2.96 |
| 1 kg of orange | $1.63 | $5.87 | $4.56 |
| Monthly public transit pass | $21.41 | $43.73 | $77.51 |
| Taxi trip per 8kms | $4.14 | $9.34 | $26.34 |
| Basic meal at an affordable restaurant | $3.33 | $6.13 | $6.87 |
| Fastfood meal | $5.25 | $5.18 | $5.20 |
For a detailed list of various expenses, click here: China, South Korea, and Japan.
Available Programs and Tuition Fee
Here are the educational programs available when you study abroad in China, Korea, or Japan, with tuition fees per semester:
China
Shanghai
Bachelor in Chinese Language, Culture, Economics, and International Trade
2,490 EUR/ semester
South Korea
Seoul
Bachelor and Master in Business, Economics, Engineering, Social Sciences, and more.
1,7900 EUR to 2,490 EUR/semester
Busan
Bachelor in Business and Management
1,990 EUR/semester
Japan
Tokyo
Bachelor and Gap year in Economics, Marketing, Politics, and Social Sciences
1,990 EUR/ semester
Read more:
Study Abroad in China, Korea, or Japan: Leisure activities during school breaks
If you decide to study abroad in China, Korea, or Japan, you must consider fun and memorable activities during school breaks to generally help you relax!
China offers the following activities:
- Be amazed and hike at the Floating Mountains in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Shop cool finds at Kashgar’s Sunday Market
- Have a boating trip at the Li River
- Learn more about dinosaurs at the Shanghai Natural History Museum
- See cute Pandas at the Chengdu Panda base
Things you can do in South Korea during school breaks:
- Explore the beautiful and serene Geoje Island
- Have an adventure at the Everland Theme Park
- Enjoy the magnificent scenery at the Gangchon Rail Bike Park
- Glide at the Vivaldi Park Ski World during winter
- Stroll and relax at the Bukhasan National Park
Finally, here are memorable moments to experience in Japan:
- Enjoy cooking classes at Machiya Townhouse
- Level up your sushi-making skills and visit fresh seafood at the Tsukiji Market
- Learn the skillful arts of Samurai sword dance
- Go to Kyoto and appreciate 2,000 Buddhist temples plus palaces and museums
- Ride a canoe, snowboard, fish, mountain climb, and more at Hokkaido
Study Abroad in China, Korea, or Japan: Safety
China’s crime rate specifically dropped from 1995 to the present. Violent crimes such as robbery and kidnapping were generally at the lowest in almost 20 years. The country now enjoys one of the lowest crime rates worldwide, benefiting international learners.
South Korea is also a generally safe country for international students. It has a low crime rate, specifically at 23.85%.
Lastly, Japan is consistently one of the safest Asian countries. Though there was a slight increase in 2022, it is generally low.
Study Abroad in China, Korea, or Japan: Modes of transportation
Modes of transportation are specifically essential in choosing where to study abroad in China, Korea, or Japan, as you need to be on time for your classes.
China offers an efficient public transportation system such as buses, trains, and subways.
Moreover, bikes are generally available for rent if you are on a budget.
South Korea also has extensive transportation consisting of public trains, subways, and buses.
Additionally, several cities in South Korea offer bike-sharing systems allowing you to rent a bike for months.
Lastly, Japan has one of the best and most on-time global public transportation systems. Though pricey, you can always expect comfort and the utmost efficiency.
Furthermore, bike riding is also popular in Japan as dedicated bike lanes and rentals are available throughout the city.
Study Abroad in China, Korea, or Japan: Differences in language
It is generally normal to get intimated with the language when you study abroad in China, Korea, or Japan. To get over your apprehension, let us briefly introduce each below:
Chinese is specifically tonal, and its writing system is based on Hanzi. The grammar is relatively straightforward, and its vocabulary has many loanwords from English and other languages.
On the other hand, Korean is agglutinative, which means words are expressed by connecting morphemes. Hangul is their writing system, and its vocabulary has many loanwords from English and Chinese.
With this, we offer the best Korean language program guaranteed to help you equally write and comprehend this exciting dialect. To learn more about Asia Exchange’s Korean Language, Culture, and Business Immersion Program, click here.
Lastly, Japanese is a non-tonal dialect with a Kanji writing system. It is also quite complex and has a system of honorifics like Korean and Chinese explicitly.
Read more:
In a nutshell
Despite their contrasts, the three countries have equally contributed to the development of East Asia and the world. From automobiles to entertainment and more, the three Asian juggernauts will undoubtedly continue to enhance our lives with the latest technology and upgrades.
Experience those developments and stay inspired when you study abroad in China, Korea, and Japan!
Visit our Student Stories to read about inspiring tales written by our students worldwide.
Schedule a free counseling today and have a memorable and life-changing experience when you study abroad in China, Korea, and Japan.
You may also visit our virtual exhibit for updated information about the best places to study abroad!
About the writer
Mark has been a professional content writer for four years. He specializes in writing articles regarding education and studying abroad. His writings intend to elicit emotional responses from readers and provide information.
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