Studying abroad is predominantly the most popular choice amongst Indian students if they have the resources to allocate. Children and parents popularly find themselves pitting Indian education against Foreign education. Here’s a crisp list of why children and parents consider studying abroad.
Higher quality of Education and a plethora of research opportunities:
Hands-on practical training combined with lots of research facilities. Indian education places a disproportionate amount of importance on “learning for the exam’’ this leaves out creative-minded students who want to apply theoretical knowledge practically and have a more hands-on approach to their studies. Universities abroad have a balanced approach towards imparting education. Students are given equal opportunity academically focused with theory subjects as well as gain practical knowledge through self-directed projects.
Universities in the US in particular the Ivy League Universities such as Harvard, Stanford etc have worldwide recognition and prestige. The rich alumni network, infrastructure for research, and the one of a kind student experience make it a popular choice for academically bright Indian students.
Flexibility and Internships/ Paid part-time work:
Due to the emphasis on gaining hands-on skills most universities abroad have flexible class hours and course structure so that students can pursue paid part-time work and internships. In India, most universities have a rigid class structure with a lot of theoretical course work due to which students are unable to take up part-time work or internships and study along while they are working. Interning while studying gives you a massive leg up in comparison to your peers because you learn practical business skills and real-life application of the knowledge you learn along with gaining the necessary industry experience making it easy to gain employment after graduation. Apart from this, pursuing paid part-time work while studying is a great way to contribute to your education expenses and create extra income for yourself on the side as a student.
Students particularly interested in pursuing STEM fields choose to study in America because of the better research opportunities in companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple.
Also read: Alternatives to studying in America
A wide variety of career options and course options:
.A major deciding factor for most aspiring students who opt to study abroad is the lack of availability of courses they want to pursue in India or the course does not have the same depth and structure as it is offered abroad. Top institutes in India such as IIT, NIT, and other institutes are limited in scale and scope. There are a few seats available in these institutes and a very high volume of applicants. This results in high cut off marks and cut-throat competition amongst students. For example, a student with 90 percent marks in his final board examinations may still not be able to qualify for IIT because of the high cut off marks. This creates a lot of pressure and anxiety amongst students. A holistic evaluation system in countries abroad ensures that students are not only evaluated on the basis of academic merit but also on their extracurricular activities, personal statements, interviews etc giving students of all academic calibers a fair chance.
Highly specialized fields of study such as life sciences – microbiology, biochemistry. Clinical psychology, aeronautical engineering, etc do not have much-earning capacity or career scope within India due to the lack of adequate infrastructure and funds for research and development. Individuals with such highly specialized degrees find more scope in countries abroad rather than within India and opt to study abroad from the get-go.
For example, a student who wants to pursue makeup artistry as a career will find more course options in the UK and countries abroad in comparison to India that only has unaccredited institutes that offer short diploma courses to students. On the other hand, The London College of Fashion offers a three year, BA Hons Degree course in hair & makeup.
Emigration and a high standard of living/payscale:
Lastly, one of the routes to getting a permanent residency and eventually citizenship in countries abroad could be through studying abroad. Without alumni contacts and a network, it is difficult for individuals from India to gain employment abroad without these crucial tools that students studying in Universities abroad gain. The cultural integration makes it easier to gain employment abroad and in obtaining a Permanent residency. Due to the higher currency exchange rate earning in foreign currency in comparison to Indian currency gives you double the income you would have earned in India. Countries abroad have better healthcare, infrastructure, safety, and a higher standard of living making it a popular choice amongst students to study and eventually settle abroad.
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