5 mins|
Short on time? Click to read: |
Do you know that more than 1.3 million students from India are currently studying abroad? If you have just completed your 10th or 12th standard and are trying to decide whether you should consider studying abroad, these numbers may be surprising. For many, the cost of studying overseas is a roadblock in deciding to leave India. However, the fact is that studying abroad can be a great decision if you view this as an investment and lay the groundwork so you get the best returns.
Not convinced? Here are a few reasons why studying overseas is a great idea:
- World-class education can train you to be the best in your chosen field. This can translate into great career progression. Some universities and colleges offering the best academics in several key fields are outside India. Studying there means you set yourself on the fast track to a great career.
- The international exposure you get from a study abroad stint enhances your CV significantly and improves your chance of being picked up by the best global brands as soon as you complete your studies.
- The exposure to diverse cultures helps you understand how the rest of the world lives, thinks and approaches problems. It enables you to gain a broad perspective and to learn how to work seamlessly with multi-ethnicity teams. This also boosts your chances of being recruited by global companies that work with employees drawn from all over the world.
- While India does have a plethora of study options to offer, there are some majors and specializations that are available only abroad. By studying overseas, you can choose the higher education qualifications that suit you.
- Hands-on experience, skills development and holistic training are all aspects that universities overseas take very seriously. When you study abroad, you develop many skill sets that you can use while also gaining world-class training.
- Research opportunities, funding and incentives are far more abundant and easily accessible abroad than in India. Studying abroad opens up these avenues for you in a way that studying in India cannot.
Factors to consider while choosing the country to study abroad
Studying abroad is a valuable experience, far more than making up for the expense involved. However, like with any big life decision, research helps you take the right steps. Here are some factors to consider when you decide the study destination:
Programme choice: The most important factor is to check if the country has the programmes you want, the major or specializations that you are interested in and plenty of options for you to choose from.
Language: Studying in a country where the most commonly spoken language is not one that you know can be a challenge. It’s not impossible to learn a new language, but if teaching and communicating in an unfamiliar language, you may not get the best value. Thankfully, English is spoken, understood and used for communication in most countries abroad.
Culture: Cultural differences can make a big difference in how easily you can blend in with a country’s population, how freely you can interact there and how much change you must bring about in your lifestyle and mindset.
Cost: What will you spend on your education abroad? What kind of returns can you expect from it? These are two of the biggest factors to consider when choosing a study abroad destination. Calculate if you can afford the average study costs for your chosen destination and factor in the living expenses you will incur there. Does the value of your degree help you bag a job that will pay highly enough to justify the costs incurred while studying?
Living expenses: Apart from tuition fees and associated programme costs, you will also have living expenses to consider. All study destinations are not equal in this respect, and if you end up in a top-tier city, you will spend more than average. This varies from country to country. A great way to reduce costs is by choosing a destination with lower living expenses.
| Explore different ways of managing the expenses involved in studying abroad. |
Steps to find the right study abroad destinations
Here’s how you begin your research on identifying the perfect study destination:
- Understanding your career goals and preferences: The first step is to lay down your requirements. Exactly what career line do you want to go into? What courses will take you there? Do you need or want to study specializations that can help?
- Researching potential destinations: Now you know what you want. The next step is to identify countries known for the best and most reputed programmes that tick all these boxes. University rankings like the QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings can help here.
- Evaluating universities, university rankings and course offerings: The QS and Times Now Rankings will help you here. Shortlist universities by country/ state to decide which destinations offer the best academic quality, expert faculty, employment rate, tuition fee and industry-integrated projects.
- Understanding visa and immigration processes: it may be easy or difficult to get your visa for different overseas locations when applying to a university. Do your groundwork. Ask friends who have recently applied or gone there for information on your chances of getting a visa easily. The next step is to understand how the processes work and to address the eligibility requirements outlined.
- Post-study work rules and opportunities: Most Indian students like to explore work options during study and after course completion. Generally, there are restrictions on how many work hours and what kind of work you can do while studying. Some countries may restrict how long you can work after your course completion or whether you can work. Others make it easy for you to work post-study. Familiarise yourself with these rules before you head over for your study programme.
- Student support services offered by these countries: You will live in a new place, surrounded by unfamiliar sights, sounds and people. If your chosen destination has a substantial international student body, it helps because there is a likelihood of student support groups being active and easily accessible.
|
Get comprehensive details about studying in the UK and what education in Canada entails. |
How to make the final decision
A simple way is to allocate value to each factor for each potential destination. Shortlist the destination countries based on the total value that they have earned. This ensures that the factors that are most critical for you are covered. Remember that what is important to you may not be important to others.
Popular study abroad destinations for Indian students
These are five destinations that are very popular with Indian students, along with some top reasons why:
The USA:
- Home to some of the world’s best universities
- Great program options
- A wide variety of majors
Explore universities in the USA.
Germany:
- Excellent location for research opportunities
- More affordable than many others
- Safe and beautiful location
Canada:
- Diverse community that is friendly and helpful
- Quality academics and hands-on training
- Priority is given to research and innovation
Explore universities in Canada.
The UK:
- Presence of leading universities
- Home to global brands and good career opportunities
- Varied program options with flexible study format
Explore universities in the UK.
Australia:
- A large Indian population makes it familiar and easy to adapt
- Quality academics combined with good research opportunities
- Safe location that is also one of the most naturally beautiful regions in the world.
Explore universities in Australia.
Studying abroad is a great decision that helps you get an edge over your peers in a highly competitive world. The experience exposes you to a different culture and new problem-solving techniques that can be invaluable in your professional life. Laying down some groundwork to identify the destination that suits your needs, and potential can make this the best life decision. Costs can often be covered with scholarships and aid available from Indian organisations, the government, and the university itself. Start your research today so that you are well in time to apply to the best universities in your study destination of choice.
Editor's note: This article was originally published in August 2015 by our content writer, Kavitha Vijeyavelan. We have since revised it to include up-to-date information and ensure its comprehensiveness.
Hi there! I'm Navi, your AI assistant on WhatsApp.
