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Traditionally, students from India choose to study their undergraduate programme in India, work for a couple of years, gain experience and then go abroad for a postgraduate degree. This trend has changed in recent years, as easy access to education loans has prompted a rise in the number of students opting to study abroad after 12th. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about planning your undergraduate studies abroad.
10 steps to study abroad after 12th grade
The basic steps for studying abroad are:
- Based on your interests and career plans, decide on the subject you want to study.
- Explore universities offering courses in these subjects and shortlist courses.
- Go through the entry criteria and application requirements for each course.
- Make plans for the competitive exams and language tests that you may have to take.
- Get your academic transcripts, certificates, SOPs and LORs ready.
- Plan your finances.
- Submit your applications to the universities.
- Once you receive your offer letters, pick the one that matches your interests and accept the offer.
- Apply for visa
- Have a plan for accommodation before travelling to your dream destination!
Expand your understanding of the wide variety of unique courses that are available abroad, apart from the popular ones. Feel free to speak to our experts if you need assistance in sending applications to different institutions abroad.
Some more points to remember:
- IELTS score requirements will vary based on universities and courses. An overall IELTS score of 6.0 to 7.0 is accepted by most universities. Top-ranking universities might require a higher score. Source: ielts.idp.com
- Most study-abroad destinations require proof of finances. You should have enough money to support yourself for up to 9 months and to pay your course fee for the first year of your study in the UK.
- Use the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) to apply to undergraduate courses in the UK.
- Different destinations may have additional requirements, like the TB test for UK visas and visa interviews for the USA.
Prepare for the U.S. interview questions beforehand.
What are the eligibility requirements to study abroad after 12th grade?
- Grade 12 completion, preferably with good scores
- English language proficiency (It is necessary in countries like the UK, the USA, Australia and Canada).
- Clearing standardised tests if required by your course (For example, LSAT for Law courses)
- A valid passport (working on a passport after getting the offer letter from the university will be difficult)
- Meeting the age requirements
- Finances to support your education abroad. (Check out the ways to fund your studies abroad).
- Meeting the course and university-specific requirements.
- Having the SOPs, LORs and other documents ready
What are the documents required for studying abroad after 12th grade?
The documents required for studying abroad can vary based on the destination, university and course you opt for. However, the general requirements include:
- Academic transcripts
- English language proficiency test scores – you should have the test results of IELTS, TOEFL or any other language test accepted by your institution to submit as proof of your proficiency.
- Proof of finances – You should be able to submit proof that you will be able to manage your study and living expenses in a foreign land. These include bank statements, scholarship documents, a letter from a sponsor etc.
- Standardised test scores – If you have to take any competitive exam to be eligible for admission at the university, you have to keep this ready.
- LOR or Letter of Recommendation – Most institutions ask for 2 Recommendation Letters from the candidates. Go through our article for more tips for getting an LOR ready.
- Statement of Purpose – Also known as a personal statement, it should talk about your goals and reasons for applying for the particular course and university.
- CV – Your Curriculum Vitae should be submitted along with your application.
- Passport with visa
Please check with our counsellors or the institution for any course-specific requirements that you might have to meet.
Which exams are required to study abroad?
Let’s split the tests into language tests and other standardised tests. Note that you won’t have to take all these tests. It depends upon your preferences and course requirements.
- Language tests:
- IELTS: International English Language Testing System
- TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
- PTE: Pearson Test of English
- DET: Duolingo English Test
- CAE: Cambridge English: Advanced
Standardized tests:
- SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test
- LSAT: Law School Admission Test
- MSAT: Medical College Admission Test
For details about these tests, please check out our article on the Competitive Exams to Study Abroad.
Which are the top universities to study abroad after 12th?
The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are invariably some of the top universities to study abroad. Here’s a list of the best universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.
|
Rank |
University |
|
1 |
The University of Oxford (UK) |
|
2 |
Stanford University (USA) |
|
3 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) |
|
4 |
Harvard University (USA) |
|
5 |
The University of Cambridge (UK) |
|
6 |
Princeton University (USA) |
|
7 |
California Institute of Technology (USA) |
|
8 |
Imperial College London (USA) |
|
9 |
The University of California, Berkeley (USA) |
|
10 |
Yale University (USA) |
Check out the complete list of universities in the UK and the list of institutions in the U.S. that are popular among your peers in India.
What is the cost of studying abroad after 12th?
The cost of studying abroad varies based on the destination and even the city you choose. For example, if you pick the UK, the cost of studying in London is higher than the cost of studying in Sheffield. There are destinations where you can study for free or at a very low cost. Do check out our most popular article on studying abroad for free or with less money.
The cost of studying also varies on the course you choose. For example, medicine and related courses are more expensive than arts and language courses.
Here’s the approximate cost of studying at popular foreign destinations:
- Cost of studying in the USA: the minimum tuition fee for undergraduate courses in the USA is around 15 lakhs per year.
- Cost of studying in the UK: Undergraduate courses would cost between INR 13 lakhs and INR 25 lakhs on average.
- Cost of studying in Canada: Per year, the cost would be between INR 5.5 lakhs and INR 28 lakhs for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Canada.
- Cost of studying in Australia: You will have to set aside an average of INR 15 lakhs per year towards your studies. If you intend to enrol in the top 8 universities, this will come up to INR 25 lakhs per year.
For more details about these destinations and the cost of living, check out our article on the minimum budget required to study abroad.
Scholarships for Indian students to study abroad after 12th
Foreign universities offer multiple scholarships for Indian students pursuing undergraduate courses. A majority of these university scholarships are offered as tuition fee waivers and students are selected based on their academic excellence. Apart from these, the Indian government and foreign governments also offer scholarships to deserving candidates.
Hotcourses India lists thousands of scholarships which you can filter based on your study level, subject, destination and more. Explore 2300+ university scholarships for undergraduate students.
Which are the best courses to study abroad after 12th?
Business and Management courses |
BA (Hons) Business Management BA (Hons) Global Business Management Bachelor of Business Diploma in Business Management Bachelor of Business Analytics |
Engineering and related courses |
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering |
Computer Science and IT-related |
Bachelor of Computer Science Bachelor of Information Technology Diploma in Computer Systems Technician – Networking BSc (Hons) Cybersecurity |
Arts and related courses |
Bachelor of Arts Associate of Arts Diploma in Culinary Management |
Health Science and related courses |
Bachelor of Nursing Bachelor of Biomedical Science Bachelor of Health Science BSc (Hons) Psychology |
FAQs on studying abroad after 12th grade
Is it good to study abroad after 12th?
Yes, studying abroad after 12th has several benefits. Exposing yourself to a cosmopolitan experience at a young age will help you broaden your perspectives. Having an international degree will also improve your career prospects.
Which country is best for studying abroad after 12th?
Some of the popular countries picked by Indian students include the USA, the UK and Canada. Countries like Germany, Australia and New Zealand are also some other preferred destinations.
Do 12th grade marks matter while planning to study abroad?
Yes, your academic scores do matter as it is one of the criteria for selecting students at several universities abroad. However, that doesn’t mean you cannot study abroad just because you have low scores. Check with our counsellors to understand the requirements set by different universities.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in March 2016. We have included up-to-date information and made it comprehensive.
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