Higher Education Abroad: Things to Ponder
Why Do You Wish to Study Abroad?
First you should ask yourself this question and find an authentic answer. Most of those who go abroad for education wish to pursue their careers abroad as well, and the education is thought of only as a means to that end. But without keeping in mind this crucial intent, youngsters often seek advice about which course would be the best, and that leads to a bunch of issues. This is because education in a foreign land does not equate with a job there. For instance, Sweden may have the finest programs in sustainable development. But you may not find a job there once you have finished the course. With your degree from Sweden, there will be many hurdles to overcome before you land a job in another developed nation that has avenues in the same sector. If a job is what is important to you, then you should not necessarily choose the best university in a certain subject; you may not even want to pursue the specific subject. Once you figure out whether your focus is studying per se or getting a job, we can move to the next step.
How Much Are You Willing to Spend on Education?
Studying abroad is a costly affair. Travel, accommodation, food, insurance, and university fees are all, in general, far more expensive in comparison to India. In the US, which is the education destination for the greatest number of students in the world, a degree program will cost at least one crore rupees currently. For post-graduation, depending on subjects, this may be lesser. European countries that have lesser tuition fees necessarily have far steeper cost of living. Therefore, before you embark on planning your education abroad, it is of paramount importance to discuss with your parents and thoroughly evaluate your domestic financial situation. You also must decide on what the source of the finance will be. The amount each student spends for education depends upon the financial status of every individual. The advice that we give in this regard is this: In case you study abroad and return without getting a job, if your parent's retirement plans will be unaffected, then that is a reasonable expense. If you have an acre of land and you sell half of it to spend for an education abroad, it is sensible. If you have been saving up to spend on your daughter's grand wedding with four thousand guests, then have no qualms about allocating that fund for her higher education. However, expending the pension amount of your parents for the foreign education of children is an extremely risky problem. We must be truly clear of these things.
School Education, Graduation or Post-graduation?
We are often asked as to when the right time is to send their children abroad for higher studies. The answer depends on the emotional intelligence of the child and the financial security of the family. In general, we don't agree with the idea of sending children abroad for school education. The reason is, of course, that the children are not emotionally prepared for it. In many foreign countries, there may not be hostels with supervision of teachers. If the students are incapable of focussing on studies, lack self-discipline and discernment to use the boundless freedom appropriately, then the consequence will be counterproductive. But those who grew up outside Kerala, girls and differently abled children will benefit from pursuing their graduation onwards outside the country. It is remarkable that girls who get the opportunity to pursue their education internationally fare far better than boys. This is due to the sad reality that in India, the society dictates limits on their thoughts and dreams. There is greater freedom of mobility and consideration abroad for the differently abled in the Western world. This enables them to acquire greater independence and skill to lead their lives more fully. One could say that our children are fully ready for an overseas stint in education once they have graduated from their degrees here.
Which Country to Choose?
Whereas majority of us Indians pursue their higher education in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and, in recent times, in Germany and Nordic countries, there are at least 25 countries where Indian students have their presence. The answer to the question "which country to choose?" is intertwined with the responses to the two initial queries: "why study abroad?" and "how much can you spend for a foreign degree?". There are extensive avenues for those with good financial foothold; when neither the expense nor the urgency in a job placement looms large ominously in the vicinity. How large is the economy and per capita in the country of your choice? How long, after your studies, can you stay back in the country in search of a job? These are important questions to ask. The job opportunities in a country are proportionate to the size of the economy. The higher the per capita income, the greater the benefit for you. If after your degree, you don't have permission to apply for a job there, then how does it help you! Another thing you must pay heed to is the climate of the country of your choice. Canada, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and parts of the US are geographic regions with incredibly low temperatures. The pristine snowy terrains are picturesque, no doubt, but living in near and sub zero temperatures is not half as enjoyable. Each country has a different medical service system and therefore your health conditions will also affect the choice of your country. It is also critical to look at the crime rate, disaster probability and attitude towards foreigners and women of the region.
Which Institution Do You Want to Study in?
These days, even an average university can create the impression of an excellent institution with the help of beautifully designed websites. This is where you must be cautious. Therefore, it is important for you to know the international ranking of the institution you wish to be associated with. As mentioned earlier, the ranking from an independent international agency would suffice. The higher the ranking, the greater the job opportunities. Developed nations also have many universities with poor standards. With some degree from such an institution, there is no guarantee for even a local job. Educational consultants in India very often give deceptive images and assurances in this regard. Before you make investments in overseas education based on such fraudulent claims, you must personally verify the details.
Which Subject Should You Study?
As mentioned earlier, there are various possibilities for post graduate studies. What you must factor in here is how internationally relevant is the subject of your choice and what the portability of the subject is. Degrees in subjects such as geography, literature and chemistry are globally portable as against many others; for instance, the medical degree you obtain from one country is not directly valid in many other countries. If you return to India with a medical degree from abroad, there are many hurdles to overcome before you can commence your practice. Law degrees, pilot training, accounting, agricultural qualifications, and many other arenas have similar challenges. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to determine the portability of the degree before you decide to go abroad for higher education.
A Degree, a Diploma, or a Certificate Course?
Many consultancies advise youngsters to pursue diploma or certificate courses instead of graduate, postgraduate or PhD courses. Most of these are short term courses for durations of six months or one year. Earning a degree is definitely better than a certificate or diploma. For one, certificate or diploma courses are not recognised globally for either job or higher education. Then the duration of the course is inadequate for you to build a career, be it developing the necessary proficiency in the relevant language or establishing a relevant professional network.
What is the Expected Expenditure for Foreign Education?
Estimating the expense for higher education abroad is correlated to your choice of the country, the university, the course, and the duration of the program. A two-year MBA program from Harvard may cost over one lakh US dollars, whereas an MBA from a community college in the US may cost only less than twenty thousand USD. If you pursue the MBA of a reputed US university in one of their offshore campuses, say in Dubai or Malaysia, it may cost you only about one/fourth of the original fee. Germany and some Nordic countries may charge only nominal fees or may even not charge any fee at all. Apart from the fees, the cost of living in each country differs as well. The cost of living of a country is in proportion to the per capita income of the country. So, the fee in Germany may be lesser than that of Hungary but the cost of living in Germany may be far higher. These details are always available on the websites of the educational institutions. There are also many online discussion forums to garner relevant information.
What are the Preconditions to Apply for a Course Abroad?
Generally, there are four essentials to apply for education abroad. First, the transcripts - your mark in the qualifying examination. Second, the statement of purpose - a carefully drafter letter that states the reason why you wish to pursue the course abroad. Third, a standard test score that vouches for your proficiency in language: with regards to English the two popular ones are Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing Services (IELTS). Universities in Germany and France require that the candidate knows the fundamentals of German and French. Many universities also seek scores of SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and GRE (Graduate Record Examination) to assess talent and skill. American universities ask for GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) scores for admission to MBA programs. Now clearing NEET seems to be mandatory for those who get their medical degrees outside India and wish to register back home once they return. Figuring out such intricacies in requirement is the first hurdle towards the application process.
Stakeholders: Children or Parents?
There is this trend of children persuading their parents to send them abroad for studies because their peers and friends and neighbours are doing so. And very often the parents succumb to such pressure and end up making the wrong decision. This must be carefully avoided. The parents must take all precautions and do their own research. All the necessary information regarding overseas higher education is available online now. Following the guidelines discussed above itself will help you arrive at a correct decision. But it is fair that you want to consult knowledgeable sources before making a huge investment like foreign education. But the task is simplified greatly if you meet the prerequisites of basic research and introspection.
