What is ShiftED and Who Is It For?

If you’re in a hurry, here are the most important details you need to know:

Just heard about ShiftED and want to know more? You’re in the right place. 

This guide will explain everything about ShiftED , a groundbreaking event in the international higher education space. We’ll cover what ShiftED Hyderabad 2024 is, who it’s for, and why it’s such a special event.

What is ShiftED ?

ShiftED is a one-of-a-kind event powered by GradRight. 

It is a 2-day event held every year in Hyderabad, in the months of November or December. 

ShiftED serves as a platform where all key stakeholders in the higher education ecosystem come together to collaborate with full transparency and a shared goal: making the benefits of higher education more accessible and affordable to all students.

When the first edition of ShiftED 2023 took place in Hyderabad in December 2023, it was heralded as the first event of its kind. 

No one had previously tried to bring together all international education stakeholders in such an open and constructive way. 

Watch the highlights from ShiftED 2023

ShiftED quickly grew beyond the confines of a typical conference. It became a unique platform where universities, students, banks, and other stakeholders could interact under one roof. 

In fact, the success of ShiftED 2023 told us one thing loud and clear–this could not just be a one-time event; it had to happen every year. 

So, whether you’re exploring higher education opportunities, seeking loans, or simply interested in the future of education, ShiftED is the place to be.
Come, be a part of ShiftED 2024. 

Who is the ShiftED Event For?

Let’s take a step back here. 

The study abroad journey is complex, with numerous stakeholders involved. Even as an industry, it has many moving parts. 

So our goal was to create an event where everyone could come together. The purpose was very clear–enable better collaboration and understanding, because the entire industry benefits when stakeholders cooperate.

ShiftED was designed to bring all these groups together, to be a platform where everyone has access to one another. 

At its core, ShiftED is for anyone who believes that international higher education should be accessible to all students. It is for everyone who wants to see the industry grow and thrive through better collaboration and shared understanding.

Here’s a breakdown of all stakeholders ShiftED is for:

• Students
• International universities
• Indian universities
• Lenders offering education loans
• Higher education experts and advisors
• Media organizations
• Online content creators and influencers

ShiftED is a platform for those who understand that the future of higher education depends on cooperation and innovation—and that everyone benefits when the industry evolves as a whole.

Of course, each of these stakeholders has their own priorities and ShiftED acknowledged this. That is why over the two days of the event, there is enough for everyone to stay fully engaged. 

So let’s understand what sort of activities and events take place at a typical ShiftED.

Find out the events and activities lined up for ShiftED 2024 in Hyderabad and enrol for the event today. 

What happens at ShiftED?

ShiftED fosters direct, face-to-face, organic, and transparent conversations among its diverse audiences and user groups. This two-day event offers a wide array of activities designed to inform and empower students on their study abroad journey.

Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect at a ShiftED event:

University Booths

University booths provide unparalleled opportunities for students to engage directly with senior administrators, faculty members, and admissions deans from renowned American universities, particularly those popular among Indian students pursuing master’s degrees abroad.

At a typical university booth, students can:

• Learn about admission requirements for master’s programs, gain insights into student life at the university, and explore placement opportunities based on recent placement records.
• Immerse yourself in a unique VR experience, stepping onto the university campus from the comfort of the ShiftED event in Hyderabad. Past participants have reported that these virtual tours are incredibly enriching, transforming their perspectives and visualization of post-admission life.
• Don’t miss this rare chance to interact directly with senior university representatives. Ask questions, gather information, and gain clarity about your study abroad aspirations.
• Take home resources to review program details at your own pace.

Many universities offer exclusive benefits to students who attend ShiftED , such as:

• Application fee waivers
• Credential evaluation fee waivers
• Test score submission waivers

These offers can result in significant savings for students. University booths at ShiftED provide invaluable opportunities to understand the true value of pursuing a master’s degree at a specific university.

Universities that have participated in ShiftED 2023

• Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
• Washington University in St. Louis (Olin Business School)
• University of Colorado Denver
• University of Miami (Miami Herbert Business School)
• Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
• SMU (Cox School of Business)
• University of Maryland
• The City University of New York (CUNY)
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
• Rutgers Business School
• Willamette University
• Drexel University

Lender Booths

ShiftED goes beyond information dissemination; it empowers students to achieve significant milestones in their study abroad journey. 

One of the key advantages of attending ShiftED is the opportunity to connect with representatives from over 10 different banks in a single evening.

At lender booths, you can:

• Discuss your educational loan needs and explore loan products tailored to your specific requirements.
• Many banks offer waivers on various fees associated with the loan application process.
• Come prepared with the necessary financial documents (admit card, co-signer details, etc.) to initiate your loan application directly at the event. In the past, students have shared how ShiftED enabled them to complete the loan process, which typically takes weeks, within a few hours.

Participating banks and NBFCs from ShiftED 2023

• HDFC Credila
• SBI (State Bank of India)
• Avanse
• Prodigy Finance
• IDFC First Bank
• Tata Capital
• MPower Financing
• ICICI Bank

Scholarship Launches

ShiftED provides a platform for students to discover lesser-known scholarship opportunities. GradRight, for instance, has previously launched exclusive scholarships at ShiftED, offering benefits of up to $50,000 for students across various categories. This alone is a compelling reason for many students to attend ShiftED.

Guidance and One-on-One Advisory Sessions by GradRight

At ShiftED , friendly and helpful GradRight team members are readily available to guide you through the event and connect you with the right resources. Hundreds of students benefit from personalized advisory sessions with GradRight experts at each ShiftED event.

These sessions provide invaluable support in navigating the complexities of studying abroad, including:

• Selecting the right university
• Securing a suitable education loan
• Managing the visa process
• Arranging travel and accommodation

GradRight experts offer insights and guidance at every stage of your study abroad journey, ensuring a smooth transition from one milestone to the next.

Value-Added Services

The study abroad journey involves numerous logistical challenges beyond securing an education loan and visa. Students often face decisions about accommodation, forex, and health insurance, where they are susceptible to overspending on less-than-ideal solutions.  

ShiftED addresses these challenges by connecting students with GradRight experts who can help them navigate these areas effectively and save money. 

For instance, GradRight has helped students save significantly on health insurance by identifying compliant plans that offer sufficient coverage at a lower cost compared to university-provided options. Attending ShiftED can equip you with valuable information that translates to substantial savings.

Panel Discussions on Key Higher Education Topics

ShiftED features panel discussions with prominent figures in the higher education sector, including:

• Senior university administrators and faculty members
• Bank officials
• Industry veterans
• Senior board members from Indian universities

These discussions cover critical topics such as:

• Representation of women in STEM fields
• Understanding university rankings
• Making informed decisions about studying abroad

Students and parents can participate in these discussions and benefit from the insights of experienced professionals.

University Alumni-Students Engagement

We are fortunate that alumni members of renowned American institutions become part of the ShiftED event. Their presence is a huge boost for students because they can answer questions about life after completing a Master’s degree. 

Many times, these alumni members are part of our panel discussions and are always willing to have in-depth one-to-one conversations with students or student groups. 

We strongly encourage students to not hesitate and ask a graduate team member to connect them with alumni from different universities, so they can get a broader picture of how their life is expected to shape out after completing their Master’s abroad.

Workshops, Master Classes, and Hackathons

ShiftED is a very engaging event for students over two days. You can expect not a single moment where you will feel disconnected, and one of the most exciting and enjoyable parts for students is participating in any of our hackathons, workshops, and masterclasses. 

In fact, you will never be far from such an event when you are at ShiftED. Please always ask any graduate team member to point you to the planned master classes, workshops, and hackathons for the day you are attending, and see which one is most relevant for you and be a part of it. 

This is a great way for students to connect with other like-minded students and showcase or acquire new skills in a warm and friendly environment.

Breakout Sessions

These are very targeted sessions where groups of students get an opportunity to have in-depth interactions with university teams. 

The representatives from the universities go to every possible extent to answer the deepest-rooted questions that students have in the most detailed manner possible. 

These breakout sessions can be hugely rewarding for students who have made up their minds about certain universities but want to get a strong sense of whether their choices are right for them.

Media Hour

Dedicated blocks of time where we request our media partners and a huge community of creators from the international education and higher education space to utilize our platform. They can directly speak with students, and representatives from different groups such as banks, and international universities. 

We have always been thankful to the people from the media for being a pillar of strength in spreading the word about ShiftED. We are very happy to offer them a platform where they can have organic and honest conversations with almost everybody who matters in a student’s journey from India to a country like the USA for their Master’s. 

We also encourage students to look at the feedback that the online community of creators has been sharing about past ShiftED events to get a sense of what they can expect.

Additional Activities

Beyond these primary activities, we host other valuable networking opportunities. Lenders, representatives from universities, and Indian universities come together to explore collaboration possibilities. In the past, we’ve facilitated discussions about student exchange programs and international student semesters. We believe such discussions are vital for advancing higher education.

Lenders have reported that their understanding of what universities look for in students has significantly improved. This is a crucial criterion when approving student loans, as they must judge the viability of a student getting admission to their desired university. Incorrect understanding can cause banks to disapprove loan applications, but an elevated understanding will eliminate such issues and ensure no student misses out on studying abroad.

We also conduct guided tours of Hyderabad City, particularly for international visitors. If you’re a student interested in joining, please reach out to us, as we have special spots available.

If any of these events can benefit you, we strongly encourage you to register for ShiftED 2024. 

Every year, ShiftED continues its attempt to bring everybody involved in the international higher education ecosystem closer to each other, so that everybody can understand each other better. Ultimately, if students can find the right university and secure the right student loan, everybody benefits—and that is the core goal for which ShiftED exists.