Top 10 Muslim Countries That Offer Great Study Abroad Options

When it comes to choose a study abroad destination, Pakistani students tend to be more interested in western countries. Undoubtedly, the west has excelled in education field with inclusive research and has wide ranging courses and degree specializations. The Muslim world is not far behind either at academic front in fact it has equally progressed and advanced in academic field and have made remarkable breakthroughs in science and technology when in reality the Muslim scientists are pioneers of many prime scientific notions and theories. But still Muslim countries are less explored by Pakistani students for studying in abroad purpose despite their brilliance in performance and exceptional academic standards. Here is the list of top 10 Muslim countries which are not only best study abroad options but also offer plethora of courses at different academic levels:

1. Malaysia:

Malaysia is one of the best and highly sought after study abroad destinations for Pakistani students. It has few of the world’s highest ranking universities offering broad based curriculum at all academic fields, internationally accepted degree courses, state of the art facilities in universities and research based education system. Malaysia has branch campuses of many international universities such as University of Nottingham, Curtin University, University of South Hampton and Heriot-Watt University that offer dual degree programmes to exchange university in similar tuition fee. Moreover, higher education in Malaysia is affordable and there are many scholarship opportunities for students with exceptional academic records to study abroad in Malaysia totally free of cost. Since it is a Muslim country, Pakistani students immerse in Malay culture quiet easily without facing religious and ethnic conflicts.

2. Turkey:

Turkey has strong bilateral and cultural ties with Pakistan and it has proven to be one of the loyalist allies of Pakistan in political front over the years. Turkish education system has international acclamation and recognition as it follows the bologna process for quality assurance and curriculum design in its universities. Geographically, Turkey happens to be located at cross roads between Europe and Asia, it possesses cultural diversity and European living standards but it is a Muslim state. Turkish universities are renowned for their career focused and innovative teaching methodologies offering students an inclusive theoretical and practical curriculum design to make them ready to enter their respective professional fields with utter perfection through academic brilliance. The tuition fee and living costs are affordable for Pakistani students, the travel cost from Pakistan to Turkey is reasonable because of geographical proximity and more importantly Turkey is a Muslim state, Pakistani students will find quiet relaxing to gel in the new atmosphere because of similarities in cultures.

3. Egypt:

Egypt is most popularly known for pyramids and ancient archeological reserves but rarely mentioned for its education quality. Among all Muslim countries, Egypt has oldest education system which was introduced in 1800s during tenure of Ottoman Pasha Muhammad Ali who started dual education system of Madrasas and Mansourya and laid basis of modern education in Islamic world. Egypt’s higher education system is state handled; it is very extensive and offers a wide variety of courses and degree specializations, it is better than many Middle Eastern countries and incredibly affordable for Pakistani students. Particularly for research based education at doctorate level, Egyptian universities are commendable for their quality of education, innovative and advanced curriculum structure with technical and theoretical assistance from experienced faculty members. There are separate academic institutes for technical and vocational education and established and renowned private and public universities for diverse academic fields.

4. Kuwait:

Kuwait is economically well heeled country and it has improved its education system enormously at all academic levels in past few decades by investments and initiating international academic partnerships with other countries. With dedication and continuous striving by the Kuwaiti Government, public and private universities of Kuwait have elevated their rankings internationally, have increased numbers of enrollments and have gained respectable reputation for high quality of education globally. Kuwait is home to many high ranking international universities such as Australian College of Kuwait (ACK), American University of Kuwait (AUK), Kuwait-Maastricht Business School (KMBS), Box Hill College Kuwait (BHCK) and American University of the Middle East (AUM). Pakistani students can have opportunity to experience and explore the mix of ancient and modern Arab culture in Kuwait, taste its delicious cosines and live among one of the most professional nations of the Islamic world.

5. Jordon:

Jordon has intensively developed its higher education system and improved it at all levels. In 1920, Jordon’s education system was in ruins and was considered one of the lowest quality academic infrastructures in the Arab world, but at present it has 19 universities which are offering comprehensive and high quality research based courses at diverse fields with degree recognition globally. Due to untiring efforts and enormous financial investments, Jordon has eradicated its illiteracy gap from 33% and elevated its literacy rate to 85% at present. The Jordanian Universities have elite standards of education, wide range of degree courses, effective research departments and state of the art facilities. Pakistani students will be astounded by extravagant lifestyle of Jordanian people, their warm hospitality and generosity and deep cultural roots while studying abroad in Jordon.

6. Lebanon:

As per TIMSS tests which are US-based academic tests, Lebanon ranks at 58th position in maths and sciences fields of education. Lebanon has literacy rate of 93% and has a well established and all encompassing education system which is globally acclaimed. The universities in Lebanon follow American standards of curriculum design and accept SAT-I and SAT-II tests as admissions requirements for post graduate levels. There are branch campuses of many international universities in Lebanon including: the Lebanese American University (LAU), the Université Saint-Joseph (USJ), the University of Balamand (UOB) and Notre Dame University - Louaize (NDU) which have high rankings in QS list. Pakistani students can get international exposure by studying abroad in Lebanon and at the same time stay grounded with their Islamic roots and traditional values while completing their degree course in Lebanon.

7. Morocco:

The adult illiteracy rate in Morocco is quite high and the Government has been taking many measures to improve its education quality. There are many international organizations functional in Morocco that are working with the government for improvement of its education system and increasing enrollment rates in universities. Mohammed V University in Rabat and Al-Karaouine University, Fes are Morocco’s oldest and highest ranking public universities which are renowned for their high quality of education and top notch academic facilities. The higher education system of Morocco is although on its growing stage and yet not reached at its highest potential but it has promising future and offers degrees courses of diverse scientific and arts fields at under graduate and post graduate level that will be affordable for Pakistani students.

8. Dubai:

Dubai might be popularly known for being the international business and political hub but it has an extensive and well established education system that attracts international students from around the globe including Pakistan. Through initiating international partnerships and collaborations, establishing branch campuses of top universities in Dubai and by improving the education quality of Dubai’s existing universities, Dubai can be safely referred as a top favorite study abroad destination for Pakistani students. While studying abroad in Dubai, Pakistani students have opportunity to attain career focused degree courses that are designed exclusively according to the demands of job markets, career exposure, learning from professional and experienced faculty members, gaining internationally accepted certificates and degrees and studying among international community of students.

9. Saudi Arabia:

The Saudi Universities are gaining prominence because of their remarkable academic quality and continuous growth in the past decade. The Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia has taken concrete steps to remove shortcomings and include required facilities and enhance academic quality by increasing investments and developing international cooperation. The engineering, technology and research departments of universities of Saudi Arab have progressed greatly and are gaining high rankings in QS lists. Pakistani students have opportunity to study under graduate and post graduate degrees at Saudi Universities in English language without going through demanding admission requirements and paying high cost tuition fees. The student visa process for Pakistani students to study abroad in Saudi Arabia is smooth and easily accessible.

10. Tunisia:

Tunisia is a North African country and a Muslim State. It is a popular study abroad destination for foreign students because of widely accepted degree courses and affordable tuition fee structure at its universities and colleges. Tunisia has geographical proximity to Europe which attracts a large number of Asian students to study there. For Pakistani students, studying abroad in Tunisia is a great opportunity to explore its diverse culture, enjoy its temperate climate, attain internationally accredited degrees and live among international student community and get to know about their ethnicity and traditions.