Education is one of the most important parts of life and due to more and more people realizing its value, its scope has widened over the years. People now give a lot of importance to their education, this has resulted in people finding more and more options for improving their quality of education. And one of these options which has gained a lot of popularity is going abroad for studies.
Now, going abroad is not a simple process and involves a series of tasks. First of them would be choosing a course which you want to pursue like business management, computer science, media etc. These courses go by different names in different countries and might involve difference in content and emphasis on theory and practical’s, but it is widely believed that quality of education is better than India, some courses are generally preferred in some countries over others. Also, countries abroad generally have more diverse courses than India, thus allowing people to have more freedom of choosing the course they like. Moving on, the value and quality of courses also varies a lot from one college to another. A course from a reputed college as compared to a regular one might give you a far better pay as these colleges have earned goodwill over the years and people who study here are considered to be one of the best in their field, for example if you have done your MBA from harvard university you will definitely be better off than any other regular university/ college. Thus, not only does it matter which course you are doing but also the college where you are doing it.
Now, while selecting a course or college, an important question is the amount of investment it requires, Also this investment varies a lot by not only the college/ course you choose but also by the country you decide to choose for your studies as this not only involves the tuition fees but also the living expenses like hostel/ accommodation, food, travelling expenses etc. For example, the average annual cost for tuition fees and living expenses are around 25 lakh INR and 9 lakh INR respectively in the US , whereas average annual cost for tuition fees and living expenses are around 13 lakh INR and 7 lakh INR respectively in Canada. The total cost can go up to 15 lakhs if you choose to get Australian study visa, of course depending upon the program you take and area you choose to live in.
Also it will vary whether you are doing your undergraduate course or postgraduate course from abroad, as undergraduate course is believed to be costlier in terms of return, etc. Although it may vary with different countries.
Now one doesn’t get admission in a foreign university just like that, there is some exams to be cleared. Some of the most popular, and most important, international entrance exams for abroad studies include the SAT, MCAT, GMAT, LSAT, GRE, IELTS and the TOEFL. These exams require coaching institutes to crack the exam, you can choose best coaching on Standyou for your foreign exam preparation. These are required for admission to universities and colleges in various countries across the globe; at times, the need may be a combination of one or more of these as per the requirement of the country and its education system. Each of these tests measure your level according to a particular standard like For example IELTS/ TOEFL determine your English level by assessing you reading , writing , speaking and listening skills, although the two tests differ in format , scoring and more , SAT taken by US colleges for admissions and measures literacy, numeracy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in college, GMAT/GRE is used in admission in graduate management programs of business schools and measures quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning , integrated reasoning, analytical writing etc.
Also after getting a confirmation from your choice of university, you will need a visa, Now the exact name and type of visa you require will vary from country to country but it is likely you will need a non-immigrant student/ study visa, which means that your stay is for temporary study, however to find out the exact type of visa you need you will have to consult embassy/consulate of your intended study destination in your home country. After knowing the type of visa you are going to need you can apply for the same with all the necessary documentation. After some time, which depends on the country you are in, your visa will arrive. But along with visa there are some other things also that you are going to need. Every university/ college has some eligibility criteria which at least includes having completed with at least a passing grade, having good academic record, active in co- curricular activities, sports , music etc. Thus not only do they look at your academic record but your personality overall. Thus it is difficult to get into universities like Harvard as these have high eligibility criterion like excellent academic record and a well-built CV.
Now after knowing all the requirements for going abroad, one might think is it worth putting so much efforts for going abroad.
Well it depends, below are some advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad to help you out:
ADVANTAGES:
- Level of education- The world- class education, that any well reputed foreign university upholds, helps the students attain a wholesome understanding of their field and encourages them to excel with innovation.
- Practical experience- Universities abroad focus more on practical work experience than in India thus providing much more real knowledge than just theoretical knowledge.
- Cultural Growth and exposure- once you travel abroad you gain experience, which is the key for all kinds of success. Just being a part of such culture, working and studying in it, enhances one’s talents and learnings, broadens perspectives and better prepares students for the real world.
- Quality of life- Foreign countries generally have a lot better facilities than India, there are a lot more beneficial facilities for general public than India.
DISADVANTAGES:
- Expensive- As mentioned earlier, the cost of studying abroad is not a small burden to bear especially for countries like USA etc.
- Living on your own- Generally people in India give a lot of importance to the family as they are used to the atmosphere in a family but if you want to study abroad you have to stay away, completely on your own.
- Cultural differences- Different countries have different cultures so one might find it difficult to adjust to these changes.
So there is no as such answer whether it is worth going abroad for studies but it depends from person to person and on what are they expecting from moving abroad, a person who wants to settle abroad might find it okay to move abroad whereas who wants to stay in India might not feel the same. Thus, it is relative .
About The Author
Michelle Joe
Michelle Joe is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences, and express herself through her blogs. You can find her on twitter
