Best Countries to Study Abroad besides UK and USA
Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Canada and Australia are emerging as popular destinations for Indian students seeking to pursue higher studies abroad. Find out all you need to know about these higher education destinations and what they have to offer.
The UK and the USA have long been popular destinations for higher education among Indian students. But recently many other avenues have opened up in Asia and Australia. Students are being drawn by more cost-effective education than UK and USA, and exciting new cultures. While studying in the USA and the UK which have many premier universities with long heritages, educational institutions in these newly rising destinations often provide comparable quality at far less cost. Here is a look at some of the more popular study abroad alternative destinations for Indian students.
Higher education in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is highly cosmopolitan, ultra-modern, and home to top international banks, technology, and pharmaceutical companies, slowly emerging as a top destination for Indian students as a study abroad country. The island-country has a large Indian community, and university accommodation is also very cost-effective.
It has some of the best educational infrastructures in the world. The three top institutions are –
These universities rank among the top 50 global universities of the QS World Rankings. Some of the best courses in mathematics, accounting, and finance, modern languages and statistics are offered in Hong Kong.
High-quality education can cost an average of only 7 lakhs per year with guaranteed work visas after graduation. Student visa norms to Hong Kong are also not as strict as US and UK norms – students can stay up to 12 months after graduation to seek work. Several international scholarships are available for Indian students. Becoming proficient in Mandarin, while in Hong Kong, greatly increases the chances of employment in the country. Is Singapore a good choice to pursue academics
Singapore is another economic powerhouse and a cosmopolitan Asian city, with high chances of employment in the country after graduation for international students. Several Singapore universities rank among the highest in QS World Rankings. Top universities include:
Besides technological and arts courses, Singapore is also popular for students wishing to study law, combined PG courses in engineering and management, design, animation and game development. Many Singapore institutions also offer scholarships for international students with a 'work in Singapore' clause.
While Singapore has a high cost of living, tuition is far less than that in the US and the UK. The Singapore Ministry of Education website lists the many scholarships available to students. Financial aids are specifically also offered by NTU, NUS, and SMU.
Post-study work visa norms are strict. Students can only stay for two to three months after course completion to seek a job. Those who wish to stay on have to apply for work permits. Easy work-permit for students graduating from Canadian universities
Canada is a popular destination for 180,000 international students each year, among which more and more Indian students are being included. Canada offers plenty of tourist attractions, cosmopolitan cities like Montreal, low crime rates, and cutting edge culture. Canada is also considered the world's most educated country and is among the top three spenders per capita on post-secondary education. As many as 12 Canadian universities feature in the Times Higher Education Supplement Top 200.
Courses include one-year certificate programs, 1 or 2-year diplomas, 4-year bachelor degrees, 1 or 2 year Masters degrees and PhDs. Popular courses include Bachelor of Engineering & Bachelor of Administrative Studies, and PGD in management, MS, MBA and LLB degrees.
The Canadian Post-Graduation Work Permit allows students who graduate from any of a list of Canadian post-secondary institutions gain Canadian work experience and qualify for permanent residence eventually. In Canada, costs of education and living are roughly half that of US and UK destinations. Students can avail of scholarship and funding options offered to international students. Australia offers world-class education
Australia's leading universities in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne are popular with Indian students for their business, humanities, tourism, engineering, medicine and other courses. Course levels include associate degrees, bachelor's, masters and PhD. Tuition is very affordable, with bachelor's degrees costing as low as AUD 10,000 (around 5 lakhs). Plenty of scholarships offered by the Australian government and new visa application rules that relax assessment levels for Indians have made it easier for Indian students to study Down Under.
When it comes to post-study work, there is a post-study work visa available that allows candidates to seek work after completing their Masters, Bachelors or Doctoral degrees. New Zealand an emerging destination for Indian students
Universities in New Zealand, while less common with international students than Australia, also draws many Indian students among its 90,000 yearly student influx because of its beautiful landscapes and desirable lifestyle. Unlike Singapore, New Zealand allows full-time international students to work part-time for at most 20 hours a week. The NZ government also allows students to stay on for 12 months after completion of their studies to seek work in the country.
NZ universities have a strong research-centric curriculum and its higher education institutions are highly regarded all over the world. Scholarships are also offered for talented students. Courses range from traditional academic courses to hospitality and even scuba diving, at diploma, degree, polytechnic and vocational levels.
Explore the best countries to study abroad.