As globalisation expands opportunities across borders, an increasing number of Indian students are choosing to study abroad to gain international exposure and expand their career prospects. Why is this happening?
Beyond just enhancing academic knowledge, studying overseas helps you develop a global perspective, understand new cultures, learn foreign languages, build an international network and explore exotic destinations.
With so many benefits to gaining an international education, selecting the right study-abroad destination is extremely important to maximise opportunities. To accelerate your review process, this article evaluates some of the best countries to study abroad for Indian students.
Important factors in selecting an overseas study destination
Here are the major factors you should consider while choosing a study-abroad destination:
1. Academic suitability: Evaluating academic suitability requires understanding the programs and specialisations offered by your shortlisted universities. Check if your core subject interests are covered. Analyse the course curriculum, teaching methodologies used and practical training facilities provided to students. Another important consideration is the student-faculty ratio which gives a sense of the academic mentoring and individual attention students receive from professors and advisors.
2. University rankings and accreditation: Selecting reputed universities recognised globally for their education standards and research is key. Refer to annual academic rankings published by agencies like QS or Times Higher Education which review infrastructure, faculty credentials, employability rates and other markers of institutional excellence.
3. Cost implications: Making your study abroad choice aligned with budgets requires understanding all costs related to overseas education. Additionally, look for health insurance charges, financial support needed for student/work visas, and travel and accommodation expenses. Computing total study abroad costs will allow financial planning through education loans if required.
4. Location and environment: The city and campus environment also impact learning enriching your study abroad experience. Evaluate if urban locations provide essential amenities, and part-time work opportunities to support living costs along with vibrant cultural, arts and entertainment scenes. Apart from reviewing the affordability of the destination, also focus on safety standards as an indicator of how student-friendly the location is.
Best countries to study abroad for Indian students
Choosing the best country to study abroad for Indian students can be challenging. Below is a list of top destinations for studying abroad and their benefits:
#1 USA
With Ivy League universities like Harvard, Stanford and MIT leading global education rankings annually, the USA remains one of the best countries to study abroad for Indian students. Other big advantages include:
1. With the latest infrastructure and well-funded research, campuses facilitate advanced experimentation in fields like Engineering, Digital Technologies and Business.
2. The flexible credit system allows students to choose electives and tailor their curriculum.
3. Conferences, discipline-specific clubs and events provide rich interaction platforms.
4. The option to extend post-study work permits improves job prospects.
#2 Canada
With a lower cost of attaining foreign degrees, flexible post-study work and immigration norms, Canada has emerged as a popular overseas education choice for Indian students in recent years. Key advantages include:
1. Opportunities for on-campus employment to self-finance part of the tuition costs.
2. Graduates can get up to 3-year post-study work permits to gain Canadian work experience required for immigration.
3. Emerging focus on AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, and Energy Technologies across campuses.
Being among the best countries to study abroad for Indian students, Canadian university choices are centred in big cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Waterloo. Some popular choices include the University of Toronto, McGill University and University of British Columbia.
#3 Australia
Australia with a global reputation for quality teaching and research partnerships with industry, is one of the best countries to study abroad for Indian students. Beyond academics, advantages include:
1. The ability to work part-time allows for managing costs better.
2. It is an excellent choice to study Mining, Veterinary Science, Environment, Agriculture and allied sectors.
3. It offers long post-study work visas that enable international graduates to acquire local work experience.
Leading Australian education hubs for Indian students are located in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth across public and private institutions.
#4 United Kingdom
With Ivy League or Russell Group universities, the UK is the best country to study abroad for Indian students. As pioneers of world-class education for over 1000 years, here is what it offers:
1. Universities like Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College deliver exceptional learning credentials.
2. One-year Master’s degrees enable faster entry into the workforce.
3. Cities like London and Edinburgh provide rich campus interaction through events, societies and conferences on emerging disciplines.
However, living in one of the best countries to study abroad for Indian students, like the UK can be expensive, with average costs of ₤15,000 annually.
#5 Germany
In recent years, Germany has become one of the best countries to study abroad for Indian students, specifically in STEM programs. These benefits have driven Germany to become one of the best countries to study abroad for Indian students:
1. Over 900 English-taught UG and PG programs across public universities come at negligible tuition fees for international students.
2. Degrees in high-demand fields like Engineering, IT, and Artificial Intelligence open doors for global tech careers, making it the best country for Master's for Indian students.
3. Graduates can stay back up to 18 months for a job search and easily transition into work permits.
4. EU Blue Card schemes offer simpler PR and citizenship pathways for highly skilled individuals.
Wrapping up
Gaining international exposure through studying abroad opens up a world of exciting opportunities for students to excel professionally and individually. Through careful evaluation, select an overseas education destination that matches your academic interests. Also take into account, the best foreign universities for Indian students after 12th grade, to make an informed decision.
However, studying in the best universities abroad for Indian students can be expensive. This is where Tata Capital's education loans come in as a reliable funding solution. With competitive interest rates and flexible repayment options, we ensure that financial constraints don't hinder your pursuit of academic excellence. Apply now for an education loan with Tata Capital!
19 February 2024
5 mins read
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