Which is Better – Higher Studies in Abroad or India?

India is the second largest market after China that sends students to study abroad every year. The trend is on the upswing as more than 50% of India’s current population of 1.32 billion is below 25 years.

Why are more students increasingly making the crossover to the International colleges and universities?

1. Global Ranking

No Indian university including the IITs and IIMs has a global ranking in the Top 200. The Indian Institute of Science (IISC) figures in the 250-300 rank.

The competition for admission to Indian institutes is much higher than even a top 20 universities in the world.

Also, the cost of seats under the management quota for professional colleges in India is unregulated in India and highly costly. Sometimes, it is less expensive to study in the top ranking universities abroad than in much less reputed colleges in India.

When it comes to costs and return on your education investment, unfortunately in India, even in popular streams like science and engineering (specifically research), the pay in after doing Masters is meager.

You can safely trust most of the universities abroad as they have an excellent standard of education, maintained by the educational, regulatory bodies of the country.

2. Admission Process

Getting admission to India’s premier institutes like the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) or Indian Institute of Technology ( IITs) are highly competitive and stressful.

It is indeed a dog or rat race from start to finish when studying in the Indian education system. The rat race gets even more intense in the popular streams of study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Note this – On an average, an Indian student has lower than one in 50% chance in gaining admission to a highly reputed institute of technology and business.

The high cut-off marks for national level exams such as the Joint Entrance Exams (JEE mains) for engineering colleges, National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) for medical colleges and Common Aptitude Tests (CAT) for management colleges can demotivate even the brightest students to give up hope on securing admission to a course and college of their choice.

Studying abroad is a much easier and streamlined process which brings hope and lots of career opportunities for Indian students. Admission to a highly-ranked college or university abroad is comparatively easier right from the undergraduate level.

No wonder, an increasing number of Indian students are choosing to take the big leap and make the crossover for their undergraduate studies.

While there are exams like GRE, TOEFL/IELTS, and GMAT, the syllabus for these exams is relatively simple. Also, it is only one exam that you have to give, unlike Indian national level exams. The admission requirement for selecting the students is also different for each university abroad raising your chances of making to a college of high reputation and standing.

3. Quality of Education

While it is true that the standard of Indian education is evolving, there is still a lot of development that needs to be done.

One of the most significant grey areas is the lack of opportunities for the practical application of theoretical knowledge and skills gained through conceptual understanding. Little wonder that lakhs of Indian students are unemployable struggling to get job placements after graduation.

The problem is not with the student but the Indian education system where the emphasis is on rote learning to remember concepts rather than understanding them. Classroom experience is limited to classroom lectures with little to no class participation. Maintain a good attendance record is the top concern for both faculty and students with little or no interest in either teaching or learning.

Students interested in pursuing research do not receive enough support from Indian institutes in terms of finance, infrastructure, and resources.

The student’s natural curiosity is crushed under the high academic pressure from Indian schools and colleges, leaving no room for innovative thinking and development.

In contrast, there is a lot of focus on student-driven learning, engaging them in the active learning process via class participation, discussions, case studies, and practical off- and on-campus experiences that make learning a fun, productive and meaningful experience.

Universities abroad provide abundant resources such as sophisticated technology, equipment, and infrastructure which encourage and motivate students to conduct in-depth research.

There is a lot of focus on creative thinking and innovation in the education system abroad which organically builds a student’s self-esteem and confidence levels. Studying abroad polishes your soft skills, and allows you to focus on your hobbies ranging from mountaineering to painting which isn’t given as much importance in India.

4. Flexible Curriculum

In India, the focus is only on the popular STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) courses. Very few options are available for students who are interested in pursuing other streams of education. Even if their desired course is available, the school does not have the expertise and accreditation to prepare its students for a more prosperous career path.

The sheer range and variety of courses available to students abroad in countries like USA, UK, Canada or Australia are mind-boggling. You are sure to find a course of your interest in a reputed college and universities abroad in the most unconventional and contemporary subjects like sports, baking, psychology, filmmaking or entertainment with greater scope and structure. You may end up with a diploma if you study these courses in India. But abroad, you will study in-depth and have a fully accredited Bachelor’s Degree which holds a lot of value in your field of interest.

As a student studying abroad, you can opt for ‘dual major’, ‘minor’ and ‘free electives’ when choosing a course and allowing you to specialize in diverse subjects. You could be doing your masters in engineering with few credits in accounting and marketing as well. It throws open more career doors for you in various streams in the global markets.

Apart from flexibility in courses, universities abroad gives you the freedom to work on a part-time basis while pursuing your education. Many universities abroad allow international students to work on campus, and off-campus.

5. Emigration

When you study and work in India, emigrating to a country of your choice becomes tougher.

But if emigration is one of your goals for better prospects for your career and family, then it makes sense to start early and look to study abroad at the graduate level. Many countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia offer attractive job prospects after graduation, and their flexible immigration rules allow students to look for employment after completing their studies.

80% of students from India and other Asian countries choose to remain in the USA after completing their graduate and doctoral studies according to the latest US National Science Foundation’s Survey.

Obtaining permanent residence abroad becomes easier once a job is secured, helps gain access to higher salaries leading to a better lifestyle and facilities.

Conclusion

Studying abroad is the clear winner here as there is a vast difference in the quality of education between the Indian and International institutions. It is the better option out of the two.

Today, you have various funding and scholarship opportunities available for your benefit. The benefits of an international education help you build a stable and secure career and future.

If you need more assistance with career planning, you can contact our career experts for help. Our career experts can help you decide what you want to do. They might be able to give you many ideas for careers and the right training for it.

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