Should you study your bachelor's or master's abroad?

Should you study your bachelor's or master's abroad?

Which one should you study abroad: your bachelor’s or master’s?

If you're weighing up going abroad to study a degree, one of the big questions is when. Do you leave home straight after high school for an undergraduate degree, or wait until you’re ready to move internationally for a master's or postgraduate degree?

There's no single right answer, but there is a right way to think about it.  By looking at what your specific field actually requires, what stage of specialisation you're at, and what combination of "at home" and "abroad" study gets you to your career goal most efficiently. 

The right choice depends on your field of study, your finances, and where you want to end up.

Main differences between studying a bachelor's and a master's degree abroad

A bachelor's degree is an undergraduate degree that you study after high school, while a master's degree is a postgraduate degree you typically study after completing your bachelor’s. Studying these abroad aren't the same decision at different stages - they each provide a different experience and skillsets. 

A bachelor's degree is where you build foundational knowledge and figure out your career direction. A master's degree serves a different purpose, depending on why you're doing it. For some, it's a chance to specialise further in a field they're already familiar with, whereas for others, it's the entry point into a different industry, using a master's to pivot rather than deepen. 

Factors to consider when making your decision

Factor to consider Bachelor's degree Master's degree
Purpose/objective Build broad foundational knowledge in a field; explore before committing to a specialisation. Deepen expertise in a chosen specialisation; often a deliberate career or research move.
Duration Usually 3–4 years. Usually 1–2 years.
Tuition fees (and cost of studying abroad) Typically the larger total tuition investment, spread over a longer program. For example, the cost to study a bachelor's degree in Australia can range roughly from AU$36,000–AU$50,000 per year. Lower total cost due to shorter duration, though per-year tuition can be similar or higher. For example, the cost to study a master's degree in Australia can cost anywhere between AU$35,000–AU$60,000 total. 
Specialisation Broad and general. You study core subjects plus some electives. Narrow and focused. You choose a specific discipline or research area.
Scholarship access Wide range of undergraduate scholarships, often merit- or need-based, and generally more competitive given larger applicant pools. Scholarships can vary across institutions, such as RMIT’s Future Leaders Scholarship. Masters by coursework scholarships are available for international students based on their background, study area or hardships. For example, students from Mexico applying for a masters by coursework at RMIT may be eligible for the FUNED Scholarship.
Career impact Longer time abroad to build a local network and gain work experience. Concentrated, field-specific networking with some peers already working in the industry; can fast-track recognition in certain fields. 
Foundational knowledge required This is where your subject knowledge is built. For some courses, you may need to complete a Foundation Studies course before commencing your bachelor's degree. Substantial prior knowledge from a bachelor's degree is expected, most programs assume you already have the basic required knowledge. Check if your prior education is recognised by your institution’s pathway and credit transfer options.
Age and maturity You're often adapting to independent living, a new education system, and a new country all at once, while also starting a degree. You're typically more independent already, which can make settling into a new country logistically easier, and you already have experience studying at a university level.
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Careers with regulations and licensing

For some fields, choosing a bachelor’s or master’s abroad isn’t just a personal preference – it depends on the rules of your profession. Regulated professions like engineering, law, medicine, nursing, and teaching are governed by licensing bodies, not just universities, and these bodies set requirements around how and where you’re trained. This matters when you’re comparing study destinations: a degree from one country doesn’t automatically meet another country’s professional requirements. 

Accreditation requirements in Australia

In Australia, for example, some fields with specific accreditation work like this:  

  • Engineering – Registration runs through Engineers Australia and state bodies (e.g. in Victoria and Queensland). Degrees from accredited institutions are recognised against these standards.
  • Law – Admission requires a law degree recognised by the relevant Australian state or territory, plus Practical Legal Training.
  • Medicine and nursing – Registration goes through AHPRA (the Medical Board of Australia and Nursing and Midwifery Board), which sets the standards Australian-trained degrees are assessed against.
  • Teaching – Registration is state-based (e.g. the Victorian Institute of Teaching) and tied to AITSL accreditation standards. 

Accreditation in your destination country

If you're going into one of these fields, it’s worth understanding how your destination’s accreditation system works before you decide where to study. It can affect whether it makes more sense to do your bachelor’s or master’s abroad.

Comparing study abroad routes

When thinking about a bachelor’s vs master’s abroad, there are three common ways to approach it:

Bachelors at home, master's abroad

You build your foundation in a familiar system, then go abroad once you've settled on a specialisation. When applying to a degree overseas, check to see if you are eligible for international student pathways or credit transfer points.

Both degrees abroad

You commit early and stay in the same system (or move between two international ones) for your entire higher education. This gives you the time to build local networks, industry contacts, and familiarity with how your field operates internationally. It's also the biggest financial and personal commitment, made early on in your study journey.

Bachelor's abroad, master's at home

You start your degree abroad, then complete your postgraduate study at home once you’ve decided on a specialisation. 

The combination that helps most isn't about where each degree was done, it's about what each stage adds to your experience overall. Regardless of the combination you choose, employers are evaluating your transferrable skills, credentials, and practical experience you've built, not only that you have studied abroad.

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How to decide between a bachelor's or master's abroad

Which path fits you?

Career progresion or pivot

Do you already know your specialisation, or are you pivoting careers and already have a bachelor’s? A master’s abroad tends to be the more direct route. It lets you straight to building the specific expertise and industry-facing experience your future career needs, without spreading years across a broad curriculum first or rebuilding foundational knowledge you already have. This is increasingly the case in fields such as data science and cybersecurity, where a master’s is becoming a more direct route into specialised roles – though requirements still vary by employer and role. 

Early career considerations

Are you still exploring your career path, or fresh out of high school? A bachelor's abroad gives you room to figure that out with an international perspective baked in from the start, rather than committing to a narrow specialisation before you've tested a few. At this stage, you probably don't know your exact specialisation yet — studying abroad early can give you a wider view before you narrow down.

Upskilling in your current field

Are you upskilling within your current field? Ask yourself two questions: is a master's the standard qualification for the role you want? And will that master's be recognised in the industry you want to work in? If yes to both, a master's abroad is a good choice.

Timing and financial investment

How long you're prepared to spend abroad is a real constraint, not just a preference. If you're not ready to commit to the longer stretch of time a bachelor’s abroad requires, doing a master's abroad after a bachelor's at home is a lower-commitment way to get the same international exposure.

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Costs of studying abroad

Costs of studying abroad vary significantly depending on the degree, destination, and institution, so it's worth mapping out the full financial picture including tuition, living costs, and visa costs.
Learn about the costs of studying in Australia
International student scholarships

International student scholarships

Consider what financial assistance is available to you. Look into international scholarships to see what could offset the cost of either pathway before you rule one out on price alone.
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Why study at RMIT?

Global reputation

RMIT is a QS five-star-rated institution, with a strong research record and state-of-the-art facilities.

Tailored learning

Choose your own direction, focusing on the topics and skill development that support your personal career path.

Industry-relevant

Our courses are designed in consultation and collaboration with industry experts to ensure your learning is up to date.

In summary

The right path is personal – the one that fits your circumstances, not someone else’s. Consider where you are currently in your study journey, what qualifications your desired profession actually requires, and how much time and money you're able to commit to your studies at this stage. From there, you’ll have a clearer sense of which option is right for you. 

Next steps

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