Studying abroad is one of the most significant decisions in a student’s life. It’s a life-changing decision that improves a student’s academic progress and opens global career opportunities. The first step is to understand the top study destinations. The choice of destination should then be narrowed down to choose the institute and program. One common thread among all three choices is to understand that all these efforts should empower the student to realize his academic goals and make him a well-rounded professional.
Overseas education consultants such as MSM Unify often begin counseling with a quiz or questionnaire to understand a student’s academic goals and study style. Such in-depth questions and answers help them understand how the student will adjust and perform in the top study destinations.
For Indian students, the top study destination for the 2024 intake are:
The US: The United States’ popularity has soared in the past few years. Though higher education in the US is expensive (largely owing to the currency exchange value) its degrees carry a mighty weight in the job market.
The UK: Like the US, higher education in the UK - particularly London colleges - is most sought after. Home to the most legacy colleges, the UK boasts a wide variety of program choices mostly in Business, Arts, Languages, and others.
Canada: Canada slipped from the top popularity spot in 2024 owing to the frequently changing visa norms for students, a two-year cap on foreign students for 2024 & 2025, increasing the minimum financial requirement for students, and many other such decisions. These will make getting to study in Canada very tough. These have rekindled the interest of students in the US, UK, and Europe at large.
Australia: Like Canada, Australia also increased the minimum financial limit for students to A$29,710 (about INR 16,29,964) in savings along with a few new visa norms. Students prefer Australia for high-quality education, plenty of work options, and a chance to settle in a multicultural society.
Germany: Germany is riding high on the popularity charts because it offers free higher education at public universities. Most programs are now offered in English, thus attracting students from India.
France: Quality education, plenty of scholarships, free education in public universities and a chance to explore jobs in Europe are driving students to consider studying in France.
Other destinations: New Zealand, Ireland, Dubai and Singapore are among the other top study destinations for Indian students.
The big question is, how should one choose a study destination? Overseas education consultants suggest that any Indian student keen on studying abroad should see these aspects:
Geo-political situation: While this may sound unrelated to education but the political stability of a country can alter the study plans and even force students to leave the country in a jiffy. Political turmoils in Ukraine and Russia are prime examples where students had to leave the country overnight. Students are advised to consider countries that have political stability.
Inter-country relations with India: Again a leaf of the above, but it’s advisable to consider destinations where India has a good understanding. A recent example here is the recent diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, where frequent visa regulations and policies are changing, impacting the travel and stay for students.
Quality education with placements: While many countries such as the UK, US and, Canada provide high-quality education, students should also be aware that most Western countries are grappling with economic slowdown. For students, it means that after completing studies they may not get placed and jobs may not be waiting for them. In such scenarios, it’s wise to consider other destinations where slowdown may not be that prevalent.
Not just study, but what after study: In the ever-changing economic scenario, students must keep their second and third options also open. In case the job scene remains grim after education, then can you find a job in a nearby country, or consider internships, voluntary work, or apprenticeship to cover up the unemployment phase? Answer all such questions even before thinking about a program and its outcomes.
Total education costs: When considering tuition fees, many students often ignore the fringe costs associated with education. Aspects such as tools/equipment for research/learning, extra books, extra classes for new subjects, extra tuition to cope with things not covered in an institute, expenses for field work, insurance of gadgets, etc are often overlooked. These can make up a substantial amount, increasing the education costs.
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