A Comparative Cost Analysis of Undergraduate Business Degrees for International Students in Selected Countries

Abstract

International student enrolments are an increasingly important part of global higher education. Researchindicates that the cost of education is an important factor which influences the students’ choice of studydestination. Given the rising cost of education, a comparative analysis of the cost of education is likely to givecertain countries a competitive edge. The primary focus of this paper is to compare the cost of undergraduatebusiness education in countries competing for a share in the international student market. Data for this paper wasdrawn from a range of published secondary sources and includes tuition fees, living costs and visa expenses asthese components are considered unavoidable for international students. Findings from this study suggest thatMalaysia and the UAE have an advantage over the other competing countries in terms of cost. The paperconcludes with implications for universities and policy makers and directions for further research.