English-Taught Programs in Asia: Where to Study Without Speaking the Language

The myth that keeps smart students home

"I would love to study in Asia, but I do not speak Korean, Japanese, or Mandarin."

This is the single most common reason students rule out Asia, and it is based on a misconception. Asia has hundreds of English-taught programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, across every major field. You can earn a full degree from a top global university without speaking a word of the local language.

That said, there is a difference between what is possible and what is optimal. English-taught programs are a real path to a world-class education in Asia, but they come with trade-offs that most guides skip. This guide lists the main programs by country and level, then gives an honest assessment of what you gain and what you miss by studying in English.

A quick note on tuition: the figures below are approximate 2026 ranges to help you compare. Tuition changes yearly and varies by program, so confirm the current number on each university's admissions page before you budget.

If you are still choosing a destination, start with our country guides for South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China.

South Korea: English options are everywhere

South Korea has invested heavily in internationalization over the past decade, and the result is a growing number of fully English-taught programs at every level. It is also where Asia Pathway places many of its students, so rather than send you to approach schools cold, here are English-taught degrees we work with directly, most of them carrying substantial scholarships and housing support for international students.

A note on cost: the tuition figures below are approximate starting points per semester. The scholarships attached to each program often bring the real cost down sharply, sometimes close to zero, so confirm the current terms on each program page.

Undergraduate programs

Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence, Kyungdong University Global (KDU Global)

• Location: South Korea
• Format: a four-year, 100% English-taught degree spanning computer vision, healthcare and bioinformatics, natural language processing, smart farming, and machine learning
• Tuition and aid: from about $4,000 a semester, with scholarships up to 100% plus a dormitory fee waiver
• Why it matters: a hands-on, project-based AI degree in the heart of Asia's tech sector, with Korean language and culture courses built in

Bachelor of AI Healthcare, Catholic Kwandong University (CKU)

• Location: Gangneung, South Korea
• Format: a four-year English-taught degree that combines artificial intelligence with healthcare
• Tuition and aid: from about $2,900 a semester, with scholarships up to 80%, a $1,000 freshman award, free Korean classes, a regional visa option, and about $850 housing per six months
• Why it matters: pairs a fast-growing field with strong student support and one of the most affordable routes to an English-taught degree in Korea

Bachelor of AI Human Service Convergence, KBU (Seoul)

• Location: Seoul
• Format: an English-track bachelor's blending AI with human and social services
• Tuition and aid: from about $2,800 a semester, with a 50% first-semester tuition scholarship for international freshmen
• Why it matters: an applied, people-centered take on AI, right in the middle of Seoul

Bachelor of Culinary and Food Service Management, Catholic Kwandong University (CKU)

• Location: Gangneung, South Korea
• Format: a four-year English-taught degree in culinary arts and food-service management
• Tuition and aid: from about $2,900 a semester, with scholarships up to 80%, free Korean classes, a regional visa option, and about $850 housing
• Why it matters: a rare English-taught culinary degree, with the same generous CKU scholarship and housing support

Graduate programs

Master of Engineering in AI and Data Science, Kyungdong University Global (KDU Global)

• Format: a fully English-taught MEng with classes just one day a week
• Tuition and aid: from about $5,000 a semester, with a 100% scholarship and a dormitory fee waiver
• Why it matters: a flexible schedule that lets you work or research alongside your degree, with the strongest funding of the group

Master's in Artificial Intelligence, KBU (Seoul)

• Format: an English-track master's in artificial intelligence
• Tuition and aid: from about $3,072 a semester, with a 40% first-semester tuition scholarship for international freshmen
• Why it matters: a focused, affordable AI master's in the center of Seoul

Master's in Sports Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University (CKU)

• Location: Gangneung, South Korea
• Format: an English-taught master's in sports and health science
• Tuition and aid: from about $3,413 a semester, with scholarships up to 80%, a $1,000 first-semester award, and about $850 housing
• Why it matters: a specialized health-science master's with CKU's signature scholarship and housing support

Many students stack these program scholarships with Korea's national awards too. See our scholarships for South Korea guide for the government options, and our guide to studying in South Korea for the full picture.

Japan: the English track is well established

Japan's "Global 30" initiative, launched in 2009, created English-taught degree programs at 13 major universities. It has since expanded, and English options now exist at dozens of institutions.

Typical tuition: national universities such as the University of Tokyo charge the standard 535,800 yen a year (about $3,400). Private universities such as Waseda, Sophia, APU, and Meiji run roughly 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 yen a year (about $6,500 to $9,500).

Undergraduate programs

University of Tokyo, PEAK Program

• Location: Tokyo
• Programs: Japan in East Asia (humanities) and the International Program on Science and Engineering
• Requirements: TOEFL iBT 90+ or IELTS 6.5+, SAT/ACT, a strong academic record
• Why it matters: the University of Tokyo is Japan's top university and ranks among the world's top 30 to 40. PEAK is highly selective but offers an extraordinary education at a low cost.

Waseda University, School of International Liberal Studies (SILS)

• Location: Tokyo
• Programs: liberal arts degree with all courses available in English
• Requirements: TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 6.0+
• Why it matters: SILS is one of Japan's largest English-taught programs, with more than 1,000 international students and a genuinely rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum.

Sophia University, Faculty of Liberal Arts

• Location: Tokyo
• Programs: liberal arts degree fully in English
• Requirements: TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 6.0+
• Why it matters: Sophia has one of the highest shares of international students among Japanese universities, and its Jesuit tradition emphasizes critical thinking and global perspectives.

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)

• Location: Beppu (southern Japan)
• Programs: Asia Pacific Studies and International Management, with full English tracks
• Requirements: TOEFL iBT 70+ or IELTS 5.5+
• Why it matters: APU is purpose-built for international students, who make up about half the student body, giving it one of the most diverse campuses in Japan.

Meiji University, International Japan Studies

• Location: Tokyo
• Programs: English-taught program in Japanese studies
• Requirements: TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 6.0+

Graduate programs

Japan's graduate-level English programs are extensive, especially in STEM:

• University of Tokyo: multiple English-track graduate programs across all faculties
• Kyoto University: graduate programs in science, engineering, and area studies in English
• Osaka University: English-track graduate programs in engineering, science, and medicine
• Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Tech): graduate programs available in English
• Keio University: graduate programs in business, media, and policy in English
• Nagoya University: graduate programs in engineering and science in English
• Tohoku University: multiple English-track graduate programs, especially in science and engineering

For the full picture, see our guide to studying in Japan.

Taiwan: affordable English programs

Taiwan's English-taught options are smaller in number but excellent in quality, and dramatically cheaper than Korea or Japan.

Typical tuition: undergraduate programs run roughly $1,600 to $2,200 a semester, and English-taught graduate and IMBA programs roughly $3,000 to $6,000 a year, the lowest of the four countries here.

Undergraduate programs

National Taiwan University (NTU)

• Location: Taipei
• Programs: English-track options in engineering and science, plus a range of courses and seminars in English across departments
• Requirements: TOEFL iBT 75+ or IELTS 5.5+
• Why it matters: NTU is Taiwan's top university, at a fraction of Korean or Japanese costs.

National Chengchi University (NCCU)

• Location: Taipei
• Programs: International MBA and international-studies courses in English
• Requirements: TOEFL iBT 75+ or IELTS 5.5+

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST)

• Location: Taipei
• Programs: engineering and technology programs with English tracks
• Requirements: TOEFL iBT 70+ or IELTS 5.5+

Graduate programs

Taiwan's graduate-level English programs are its strongest offering:

• NTU International MBA: taught entirely in English, AACSB-accredited, with strong industry connections
• NCCU International MBA: English-taught, with a smaller and more personalized cohort
• National Tsing Hua University (NTHU): engineering and science graduate programs in English, in the tech hub of Hsinchu
• National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU, formerly NCTU): graduate programs in engineering, computer science, and technology in English, also in Hsinchu
• National Cheng Kung University (NCKU): engineering and science graduate programs in English, in Tainan

For the full picture, see our guide to studying in Taiwan.

China: selective but strong

China's English-taught programs are concentrated at the top universities and in specific fields: mainly business, engineering, and international relations.

Typical tuition: most English-taught degrees at leading universities (Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan, Zhejiang) run roughly 26,000 to 40,000 yuan a year (about $3,600 to $5,600). Flagship international MBAs, such as the Tsinghua-MIT and Peking Guanghua programs, cost far more, often well above $30,000 a year.

Undergraduate programs

Tsinghua University (Beijing): limited English-taught undergraduate options, since most English programs sit at the graduate level. Requirements: TOEFL iBT 90+ or IELTS 6.5+.

Peking University (Beijing): the Yenching Academy (a master's in China studies taught in English) plus select undergraduate courses in English. Requirements: TOEFL iBT 90+ or IELTS 6.5+.

Zhejiang University (Hangzhou): some undergraduate engineering and science programs in English. Requirements: TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 6.0+.

Graduate programs

• Tsinghua-MIT Global MBA: a joint program with MIT Sloan, taught in English
• Peking University Guanghua MBA: English-taught MBA
• Fudan University: graduate programs in international relations, business, and public policy in English
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University: MBA and engineering graduate programs in English
• Renmin University: graduate programs in international relations and China studies in English

For the full picture, see our guide to studying in China.

The honest pros and cons of English-taught programs

Before you commit, here is what to know about studying in English in a country where it is not the main language.

The pros

A world-class education at a fraction of the cost. A master's at NTU in Taiwan can run roughly $3,000 to $6,000 a year, while a comparable US program often costs $30,000 to $60,000. The degree comes from the same institution, with the same faculty, facilities, and credential.

An international environment. English-taught programs draw students from around the world, so your classmates come from 20-plus countries. That network is valuable for your career.

You can still learn the local language. Most universities offer free or heavily subsidized language courses for international students, so you can take intensive Korean, Japanese, or Mandarin alongside your degree and graduate with real proficiency.

Broader career prospects. An English-taught degree from an Asian university signals that you can operate across cultures, adapt quickly, and draw on an international network.

The cons

Your local-language skills stay limited if you rely only on English. This is the big one. Take every class in English, socialize mostly with other international students, and handle daily life in English, and you will leave with little of the local language, which limits both job prospects and cultural integration.

You miss some academic depth. In graduate programs especially, some of the most interesting research and specialized courses run only in the local language.

The social bubble is real. English-taught programs tend to form international-student bubbles, and building deep friendships with local students takes deliberate effort.

You still need the local language for employment. Most employers in these countries expect at least intermediate proficiency, so English-only graduates who want to stay and work are at a disadvantage.

The takeaway: English-taught programs work best as a starting point, not the whole experience. Enroll in the degree, but also take language classes, join local clubs, find a language-exchange partner, and push past the international-student bubble. The students who get the most out of these programs use the English curriculum as a foundation while actively engaging with the local language and culture.

English-taught versus learning the local language first

Some students consider a language program first, then a local-language degree. Here is how the two paths compare:

Factor	English-taught program	Language first, then local-language degree
Time to degree	Standard (2 to 4 years)	Add 6 to 12 months for language study
Academic depth	Full access to English courses	Full access to all courses, including local-language seminars
Language at graduation	Basic to intermediate (if you study alongside)	Advanced to professional
Career prospects in country	Limited without local language	Strong
Cost	Lower (shorter total time)	Higher (extra language study)
Cultural integration	Moderate (requires effort)	Deep
Best for	Speed and cost	A long-term career in Asia

If your goal is to work in Asia long-term, learning the local language is worth the extra time. If your goal is a credential and international experience on a faster timeline, an English-taught program is the right call. A short language term is an easy way to test the waters first: browse options on our programs page.

Find the right program for you

English-taught programs in Asia are a legitimate, high-quality path to a world-class education. The universities are excellent, the costs are low, and the experience can be transformative if you approach it with the right mindset.

If you want help matching programs to your background, goals, and budget, book a free consultation and we will build a shortlist that fits your situation.

Sources: university admissions pages for program and requirement details; tuition figures are approximate 2026 ranges (Japanese national tuition set at 535,800 yen a year by MEXT) and should be confirmed with each university. Currency converted at about 157 yen, 7.2 yuan, and 32 Taiwan dollars to the US dollar.