Summary
- After winding up a busy day at the office or completing strenuous classes at college, you might not feel like peering at your laptop for hours to compare international universities.
- If you harbor a dream of studying abroad, you have to find the right program and secure an affordable education loan.
- It is an Indian ed-tech and finance platform founded in 2019 so students and professionals can study abroad more easily and affordably.
After winding up a busy day at the office or completing strenuous classes at college, you might not feel like peering at your laptop for hours to compare international universities. Yet, this is an unpleasant reality for many Indian students and professionals. If you harbor a dream of studying abroad, you have to find the right program and secure an affordable education loan. But how?
You will naturally Google “best study abroad websites”. And Google will throw out 10 different results at you. But how will you decide which uni-comparison website is actually the best for you? To ease that process, we have curated a feature comparison between two major education platforms: GradRight and Shiksha.
How GradRight’s university selection process works
GradRight is a pioneering study abroad solution.
It is an Indian ed-tech and finance platform founded in 2019 so students and professionals can study abroad more easily and affordably. The platform offers everything from choosing the right program to finding financial solutions. With this tool, busy people like you can forget all stress and focus solely on goals.
GradRight has created a one-of-a-kind AI-powered college search tool to help aspiring international students.
You can explore over 40,000 master’s programs worldwide from the comfort of your home. The tool would shortlist universities that match your criteria. Here is how it works:
- Create a profile. Sign up on the platform with your academic background, test scores, foreign university preferences, work background (if any), and financial details.
- Use college search tool. Choose your target programs and evaluate your chances of admission to your dream universities. Get personalized program recommendations from international programs that are right for you.
- Get your profile validated. The programs you shortlist will be further refined and reviewed by experts. They mainly consider academic fit and financial feasibility.
- Directly access university stakeholders. If you have any questions or doubts, you can contact the faculty, alumni, or admissions officers. This can give you clarity regarding the quality of education and career prospects, as well as the student life at your dream university.
- Receive expert help. GradRight can ease the load by teaching you how to craft compelling Statements of Purpose (SOPs) and application essays. With everything that is already on your plate, this can be a great help.
- Start financial planning. Once the university selection is finalized, you can secure the best education loans through FundRight. It is GradRight’s state-of-the-art financing tool that can help you make sustainable choices.
GradRight’s motto is simple: find the university that best fits your needs so you can make strides in your career without worrying about finances.
How Shiksha helps students with university selection
Shiksha is a college comparison website trusted by millions of Indians. It has been helping students since 2008. On this education platform, you can find undergraduate and postgraduate courses from both India and abroad. Their database is massive. It gives you detailed info on over 22,000 colleges, 170,000 courses, and 450+ entrance exams. The platform also makes it easy to compare courses, understand admission requirements, and apply to international programs. This is how you can go about it:
- Compare universities. You can explore over 22,000 colleges and 170,000 courses. The platform lets you filter by country, course type, tuition fees, and admission requirements. Then you can compare universities side by side.
- Check reviews. On the Shiksha platform, you can read about past students’ experiences with various universities. These student reviews and ratings can speed up the college research process for you.
- Get expert counselling. You can get guidance from Shiksha’s counsellors. There are both free and paid options. They will help you shortlist colleges, navigate the applications, and process visas.
- Learn about entrance exams. Access study materials for IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, GRE, GMAT, and more. Make the most of the exam overviews, syllabus details, registration processes, preparation materials, and sample papers that Shiksha offers. It can get the ball rolling for your entrance exams.
However, Shiksha’s university selection is not tailored for students who want to study abroad. It rather serves as a one-stop resource for any and all of an Indian student’s education needs.
Comparison of key features: GradRight vs. Shiksha
Now that you have learned a bit about GradRight and Shiksha, it is time to decide which is the best platform for university search. As you might have understood, these college search tools do not serve the same function for all students. GradRight is made just for international students, while Shiksha serves all kinds of Indian students.
As such, the former is not suitable for students who want to study within India, and the latter is not exactly an exclusive study-abroad platform. You need to choose based on which category you fit. To make the choice easier, here are some feature comparisons of both sites.
University Search and Filter Options
There are thousands of universities and programs out there. Finding the right one can feel overwhelming. That is why filters are useful. They let you narrow down your search based on what matters most—location, tuition fees, course specializations, rankings, and eligibility. This way, you can focus only on options that match your plans. You do not want to miss out on amazing opportunities or make half-baked decisions, after all.
While both GradRight and Shiksha are websites with college comparison features, they function a little differently. Here is a table to illustrate the difference in the search and filter capabilities of GradRight vs. Shiksha:
| Feature | GradRight (SelectRight) | Shiksha |
| Database Size | ✅ 40,000+ programs from global universities | 🟡 22,000+ colleges and 170,000 courses (India and abroad) |
| Search Filters | ✅ Personalized short-listing based on academic profile, career goals, and financial capacity | 🟡 Manual filters based on country, course, duration, fees, exam scores, and more |
| Personalization | ✅ Highly personalized suggestions on best-fit universities using AI | 🔴 Users manually browse and compare universities |
| Affordability | ✅ Integrates financial factors to recommend universities within budget | 🔴 Displays tuition fees but provides no financial aid-based filtering |
| User Control | ✅ AI suggests options, and users refine choices with expert support | 🟡 Users fully control their search and shortlist universities by themselves |
| University Comparisons | ✅ Data-driven comparison based on affordability, ROI, and career outcomes | 🟡 Allows side-by-side comparison of rankings, fees, and eligibility |
| Interaction with Universities | ✅ Direct access to university stakeholders (faculty, alumni, admissions officers) | 🔴 Limited access, since only some universities provide consultation services |
If you are short on time and patience, you want to have the college selection process made simpler. You want to get into the best program without moving a finger, and GradRight understands that. It does not just filter courses based on your background and preferences but also takes affordability into account. On the other hand, if you like to take your time to compare universities manually, no matter how hectic it gets, Shiksha would be a better choice.
Financial Tools and Loan Assistance
Higher education can be expensive. Between tuition fees, living costs, and extras like travel and study materials, the expenses add up quickly. That is why financial planning is a big part of choosing the right university. Platforms that offer such financial tools are lifesavers. They let you compare loan options and find low interest rates. It is the best way to avoid unnecessary debt.
This makes for the biggest difference between GradRight and Shiksha. GradRight has a free, cutting-edge study abroad financing tool. It helps you secure loans at affordable interest rates. Without this tool, you might face the unwanted stress of queuing up at banks and applying for loans. Here is a breakdown of how Shiksha compares to GradRight in this aspect:
| Feature | GradRight (FundRight) | Shiksha |
| Loan Assistance | ✅ Connects students with 15+ banks and NBFCs to find the best loan | 🟡 Limited loan assistance through partnered lenders |
| Eligibility Check | ✅ Personalized loan recommendations based on student profile and financial background | 🔴 Basic info on loan providers, no personalization |
| Loan Comparison | ✅ Multiple loan bids with comparisons on interest, repayment, collateral & more | 🔴 No dedicated loan comparison tool |
| Transparency | ✅ Interest rates, terms, processing fees, and insurance charges shown upfront | 🔴 Users must inquire with providers individually |
| No Collateral | ✅ Offers loans without collateral or co-applicants | 🔴 No such option available |
| Fast Processing | ✅ Fully online, secure, and loans approved in as little as 10 days | 🔴 Standard, slower process with less convenience |
| Scholarship Insights | ✅ Recommends scholarships based on profile and program | 🟡 Lists scholarships but not integrated with selection |
| Financial Consultation | ✅ Free expert guidance to choose and negotiate loan terms | 🔴 Only basic guidance, no personalized support |
When it comes to selecting a university for studying abroad, funds are the number one concern. It does not matter if you have found the best course at the best school if you cannot afford it. That is why GradRight’s loan search and comparison tool (which you can use free of cost) comes in handy. It helps you plan your education without taking on financial risks. The Shiksha platform cannot compete here.
Which platform offers better support for international students?
A detailed comparison of GradRight vs Shiksha shows that Gra4dRight is undoubtedly the best platform for international university search. Shiksha offers a broad list of colleges, which you have to shortlist manually. But GradRight does the hard work for you. It smartly filters programs based on your academic profile, career aspirations, and spending capacity. So you get to go to the best international school without spending weeks on research.
More importantly, GradRight takes care of your finances in a way Shiksha does not. Its financial integration tool compares loan offers from multiple lenders. GradRight stands by you until the loan is disbursed. In comparison, Shiksha leaves you to fend for yourself when it comes to finances. So if securing funds and matching with the right school is a priority for you, GradRight is the best study abroad website you will find.
