A total of 9,709 student visas were approved for studying abroad for the year 2013 and approximately 764,495 students in the U.S. were from India. This shows the huge number of students that are travelling to foreign countries for their higher studies in the hope of acquiring a better degree and building a better career.
What to Look Out While Planning
Students need to plan out every step of the journey in order to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation needed to get the student visa. Students going for long term full time studies should apply for study VISA and are advised not to travel on any other VISA which was stamped earlier on their passport. The embassy should also be aware of the purpose of the visit.
Financial coverage is also very important. Students need to pay a huge amount which is not feasible for everyone. If a student has applied for an education loan then one should ensure that the necessary paperwork for the applied loan is complete and not left for the 11th hour. With the RBI decreasing the dollar limit, students should also be careful with their expenditures in the foreign nation as the rupee value is dropping and dollar value is rising. Students should consult financial institutions that specialize in education loans to help them make the right decision. Some financial institutions of help are HDFC, SBI, Apnapaisa and Credila among others.
Places and Courses
The U.S. is one of the most preferred country for Indian students to pursue their studies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related subjects and business disciplines. Although Australia is one of the most expensive places for students to pursue their higher studies in streams such as Engineering, Business and Arts; the country still attracts a large number of Indian students. New Zealand and Canada have also become extremely popular study destinations for Indian students who want to pursue their higher education abroad. Students also tend to target many of the institutes in South East Asian countries; also termed as ‘Pathway’ countries. Upon joining the Indian branch of these foreign institutes students are transferred to the main campus in the final year of their course. Germany is also a popular country among students who want to specialize in areas of Engineering (Mechanical and Process Engineering), Information Technology (IT), Sciences (Biology and Chemistry) and Economics. It has recently become the best destination for students who want to do their Masters in Engineering as institutes in the country offer the course free of cost. In the recent years there has been an increase in the number of Indian students opting to do their studies in healthcare, English and linguistics. Vocational training has also become quite popular.
Plan to Repay the Loan
A big concern for students planning to study abroad is to pay back the education loans. In order to repay the loans faster, most students take up part time jobs in their host country. Doing so, students can cover 75 percent of their tuition fees As per the norms, most international students are allowed to work part-time for up to 40 hours per fortnight in Australia and 20 hours per week in New Zealand, United Kingdom and Canada. Students studying abroad can complete their course in a lesser duration by taking up subject credits during the vacation period notified by the University. Most international students do not take breaks during their course of study and strive to complete the required credits fasters as it helps them reduce the course duration and can also save on the travel costs. Almost all universities abroad provide this flexibility for students’ benefit.
Despite, the rupee value depreciating and the country's economy suffering, a lot of Indian students still aspire to go abroad and pursue their higher studies. Students should choose their destinations very judiciously and keep an eye on whether the institute they are applying is genuine. The permanent residencies, higher visa success rates, more flexible immigration and visa policies have made these foreign countries a paradise for Indian students looking to study and settle abroad. All that they require is in depth research and proper planning to make their journey easy.
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