English-Taught Degrees in East & Southeast Asia

English-taught degrees are more common than many expect

A widespread myth is that studying in East or Southeast Asia means learning Japanese, Korean or Mandarin first. In reality, a large and growing number of degrees across the region are taught entirely in English, especially at postgraduate level and at internationally focused universities.

The picture varies by country. Some systems are English-medium by default for international students; others have deliberately built English-taught "tracks" to attract global applicants while the mainstream curriculum stays in the local language. Knowing which is which saves you months of planning.

Where English-medium is the norm

In Singapore, English is the medium of instruction across the public universities, so most undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are taught in English. In Hong Kong, the major universities also teach predominantly in English. In Malaysia, many private universities and international branch campuses run English-taught degrees, and English is widely used in higher education.

For an Indian student who has studied in English, these destinations remove the local-language barrier for coursework — though you will still meet the local language in daily life, and universities still ask for a formal English-proficiency score.

• Singapore — public universities teach mainly in English.
• Hong Kong — leading universities teach predominantly in English.
• Malaysia — many private universities and branch campuses offer English-taught degrees.

Where English tracks are expanding

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China have all invested in English-taught degree programmes to internationalise their campuses. In Japan, government-backed initiatives such as the "Global 30" (G30) and the Top Global University Project (often called SGU) supported degrees you can complete in English. In Korea and Taiwan, many universities now offer English-taught tracks, and in China a range of institutions run English-medium programmes, including at postgraduate level.

These programmes exist alongside — not instead of — the local-language mainstream, so they can be competitive and limited in number. Read each programme page carefully to confirm the language of instruction, because a department may teach some courses in English and others in the local language.

How to find English-taught programmes

The most reliable place to search is each country's official "study in [country]" portal and the university's own international-admissions pages, which usually let you filter by language of instruction. Government databases are more trustworthy than agent sites, which may overstate what is available.

When you find a promising programme, verify three things on the official page: that the whole degree (not just part of it) is in English, the specific English-test requirement, and the intake and deadline. If anything is unclear, email the university's international office directly.

• Start from the official national "study in [country]" website.
• Filter by "language of instruction: English" where the portal allows.
• Confirm the entire programme — not just some modules — is English-taught.
• Check the exact English-test requirement and intake on the official page.

You still need an English test — even for English-taught degrees

This surprises many applicants: even when a degree is taught in English, universities usually still require an English-proficiency score such as IELTS or TOEFL. Some may waive it if your prior education was in English, but a waiver is never automatic — it is decided by each university, and many do not offer one.

Do not assume an Indian English-medium background exempts you. Check the specific programme's requirement, and if a test is needed, book it early so your score is valid and reported before the deadline.

Learning the local language still helps

Choosing an English-taught degree does not mean you can skip the local language entirely. Basic proficiency in Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Malay or Thai makes daily life, part-time work and internships far easier, and some universities offer free or subsidised language classes to international students.

For most Indian students, an English-taught degree plus steady, informal local-language learning is a practical combination — full academic study in English, with enough of the local language to live comfortably.