Indian students have coveted education abroad since the mid-19th century.
Of course, at that time it was more or less restricted to England, and the usual domain that students pursued were law and medicine.
It is projected that in the next two years, the number of Indian students abroad might rise to 2 million.
Not unnatural given the state of education in India. It is helped by the large number of international scholarships for Indian students after 12th.
- Narotam Sekhsarias Scholarships,
- Tata Scholarship,
- Inlaks Scholarships,
- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships,
There are many more from private sources.
Scholarships for studying abroad by the Indian government after 12th include National Overseas Scholarship for the economically weaker sections.
Apart from a handful of top IITs and management schools, there is a serious dearth of good teachers, updated curricula, and infrastructure.
The latest QS world rankings gave 155th place to our pride and joy IISC Bangalore, followed by IIT Mumbai in 172nd place. Truly dismal since universities in China are so highly placed.
Table of Contents
Steps to Study Abroad After 12th For Indian Students
Advantages of Studying Abroad After 12th
Best Universities Abroad for Indians
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- California Institute of Technology
- The University of Oxford
- The University of Bonn
- Nanyang Technological University
Steps to Studying Abroad After 12th
- Identify what you want to study
- Identify the institutions
- Identify the tests
- Apply to universities
- Apply for visa
- Apply for loan
Common Terms for Students Going Abroad
Advantages of Studying Abroad After 12th
There are several reasons why Indian students make a beeline for going abroad. The courses after 12th to study abroad are created with care and are valuable.
A degree from abroad is the surest way to impress someone in a Fortune 500 to hire you for a post in the UK, USA, and Europe.
Average cost of study abroad
1. Best system
When it comes to engineering and STEM subjects, the curriculum abroad gets revised after every five years.
A student needs rigorous education in the latest curricula. Otherwise, what chance do they have to develop next-generation ML and AI tools or build a sleek skyscraper?
Universities abroad invest in pedagogy and infrastructure, making learning truly rewarding.
2. Not costly
Education abroad costs an arm and a leg. That is the popular notion.
It costs about $50,000 for an undergrad course in the USA. That is equal to ₹ 40 lakhs.
It sounds like a lot. But have you thought of financial aid? There are plenty of international scholarships for Indian students after 12th.
But the student who has a degree in software or medicine or law from the USA will not start with a $15,000 job with WITCH (Wipro, Infosys, TCS, Cognizant, and HCL) in Bangalore.
They will receive a $90,000 job with a FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google) employer in Seattle or London.
It’s not impossible to pay back $40,000 over 10 years, the cost of living notwithstanding. In 10 years, they will earn $500,000 (including bonus).
Impressive salary growth of an Ivy League graduate.
3. Learning from the best
The greater the R & D in any country, the more access educational institutions have to cutting-edge science. The courses after 12th to study abroad draw from the experience of post graduates and their research.
India has very little R & D. There is no scope to learn from being an intern. Most universities have tenured professors who are there for the past 20 years and draw huge salaries for obsolete tutoring concepts.
For a bright student, nothing can be better than learning from teachers and colleagues who are fully invested in the domain.
4. Better Experience
Campus life abroad is far more satisfactory. Indian institutions also have scope for extracurricular activity, but nothing except debate and photography finds many takers.
3D printing, modifying drones and developing the next-generation computer language, the array of activities are mind-boggling. There are hobbyists, professionals, and visionaries about every topic under the sun.
The person next to you at the water cooler might be the next Mark Zuckerberg (or Sam Bankman-Fried of FTX fame). That is exciting in so many ways.
Best Universities Abroad for Indians
There are a vast number of options for Indian students going abroad. To shine a light on all of them would require several articles.
Space is limited and hence we shall focus on the best engineering colleges abroad and leave out medicine, law, and humanities. Any top foreign college offers dozens of courses after 12th to study abroad.
To learn more please visit SelectRight. We have a huge database of colleges and our experts will offer you worthwhile advice about admission without any froth.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is a private and not-for-profit institution that is usually considered the best in the world.
MIT offers bachelor, master’s, and Ph.D. courses to 12,000 students.
The average annual expense on campus is $70,000. The average aid received by a student is $34,000.
If you want to learn engineering or science, there is possibly no better place.
2. California Institute of Technology
No better place apart from Caltech.
The institution in Pasadena, California also offers bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in every imaginable branch of science and engineering.
The private university has almost 2,400 students on its rolls and has a 3:1 student-teacher ratio.
Located 11 km from downtown Los Angeles, the culture at Caltech is driven by innovation.
In 2021-22, the average aid for a student was $38,000.
3. The University of Oxford
One of the oldest seats of learning in the world, it has been active for the past 930 years!
Oxford has educated nearly every PM of England and several heads of state.
From Edmund Halley, the famous astronomer, to Robert Hooke, the world’s first cell biologist, the alumni are impressive men of science.
The Department of Engineering Sciences provides demanding classes at every level.
The cost of study might reach as high as £28000 annually. There are multiple scholarships and grants that ease the burden.
4. The University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is almost 250 years old.
The institution offers B.Sc. courses in physics, chemistry, biology, geosciences, computer science, cyber security, and mathematics. The sheer number of courses after 12th to study abroad in the University of Bonn is magical.
You read that right. European universities are often free or charge a minimal amount.
There is, of course, a social contribution fee to be paid each semester and the cost of lodging.
To get accepted, you need an exceptional GPA.
Is there a catch? Yes. The teaching medium is German. If you want to migrate at 19, start learning German by 16 to be fluent.
5. Nanyang Technological University
One of the best engineering universities in the world is located in Singapore. It ranked 19th in the latest QS world rankings.
The university teaches multiple courses from management to medicine, but is best known for engineering courses.
Depending on the course, it can cost between $5700 and $11500 annually.
You need exceptional academic achievement to gain entry into this university.
Steps to Studying Abroad After 12th
It’s a vast undertaking to migrate abroad and study. So many questions about what, how, where, and when.
We demystify the process of going abroad after 12th.
1. Identify what you want to study
Natural science, engineering, technology, medicine, humanities, and law.
Upcoming subjects such as the study of climate change and AI. There are numerous choices.
First, decide what you want to study.
You need the help of someone considerably better versed than you.
A relative who is in similar work is the best possible guide. Otherwise, you can ask counsellors and of course, feel free to go on Q & A sites such as Quora and Reddit and seek help.
Understand that some careers have an exceptionally long tail. Designing microprocessors might have you labouring as an intern after you have completed your Ph.D.
On the other hand, a six-year undergrad and graduation degree in business management can land you a plum job by 25.
2. Identify the institutions
At least narrow down the country. You can’t aim for Singapore, Australia, Canada, the USA, and Germany in the same year.
After you have narrowed down the country, decide which institutions will be best for you.
Select about 8 -10.
How to know which are worthwhile? Ask SelectRight and find the right answer without any ado.
SelectRight offers you the best advice to receive admission in hundreds of top colleges and universities globally.
Climate, language, cost of study, and your own academic scores are the usual parameters. The existence and availability of international scholarships for Indian students after 12th is also a criterion.
3. Identify the tests
For graduation from Caltech, you would need to take the SAT or an equivalent exam. For masters, you need to pass the GATE with a high score.
Most English-speaking nations also require TOEFL or IELTS accreditation.
Not only do you have to appear in generalized tests for abroad but pass from Indian boards.
4. Apply to universities
Find the date from when a new session begins. Admission starts almost a year before.
Fill up forms online.
You also have to send school and college transcripts for evaluation.
None of this is covered by scholarship and has to be funded from home.
You need mark sheets, transcripts, a financial ability statement, and a letter of recommendation, as well as a statement of purpose.
A lot of paperwork and stress.
5. Apply for visa
If all goes smoothly, and your academic scores are satisfactory, you need to apply for a visa.
Post-Covid, the visa issue process for the USA is taking enormous time. The same for the UK. In the US it is normal for the interview to happen after many months.
Moreover, the visa process has to demonstrate that you have received admission to a foreign university and have adequate funds to finance yourself.
It is not impossible but draws a lot of energy and resources.
Document List for study abroad.
6. Apply for loan
Most students going abroad would need a loan. Usually, the loan is given by banks and financial institutions.
You can apply for international scholarships for Indian students after 12th, but you will receive the funds after you secure admission.
US scholarships that Indian students can avail
Canadian scholarships for Indian students
Education loans with a tenure of 10 years and a moratorium of five years are the best way to finance oneself at the beginning.
Common Terms for Students Going Abroad
Letter of Recommendation
Students need a Letter of Recommendation from several eminent persons in the field. Most ask their school principals and teachers.
Statement of Purpose
Universities abroad like to explore the student’s thought processes. Why is the student worthy of admission and what are his future plans? These are part of the Statement of Purpose.
Proof of Funds
Foreign nations want to be assured that the student would not be a burden to them.
Proof of funds demonstrates that the student can finance his education (if there is no scholarship), pay for lodging, and has medical insurance.
Transcripts
Transcripts offer proof of your knowledge.
Academic transcripts provide a detailed snapshot of the student’s coursework and demonstrate if he was a worthy and able student.
Anything More?
There is plenty more to learn about going abroad after the 12th.
Applying to a university and applying for a visa and loan are topics that need at least one article to describe.
These are the salient points and broad brush strokes. To know more, contact experts at SelectRight.
Log in and provide your details and a team of experienced advisors would guide you.
The process would vary considerably depending on your destination. Getting accepted in Canada is vastly different from the USA.
Maintain a KanBan-style board. That is the only way to organize this mega project and extract the best opportunity.
You should begin research at least 18 months out.
Keep calm and work every day at shrinking the to-do list a little bit and you will be fine.
