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5 Best Countries to Study Abroad for Indian Students in 2024: List of Deciding Factors

Updated on 09 January, 2024

5.82K+ views
7 min read

The post-covid time is seeing a splurge in the number of students opting to study abroad, mostly for their higher studies, given the scarcity of adequate and diverse courses in Indian colleges and universities. However, deciding where to learn is a fundamental question for these students.

So, here we shall focus on the best country to study abroad for Indian students. To avoid any kind of confusion and to prevent students from taking wrong decisions, they must know which country would suit them the best concerning different aspects that are meant to be taken into account and decide thereafter which country is best for study.

Check out our free courses to upskill yourself.

Deciding factors to Choose the Best Country

First, ensure which course you are willing to study and then shortlist the best three countries offering that course. You can apply to a few colleges offering that course across three countries, and you will make it to one. 

The second most important thing to consider is the cost of living. This is the foremost factor for students who usually move abroad for better opportunities with a weak financial background. Living in a foreign country is a costly affair, and bearing education costs at the same time can become even more hectic. Most students undertake part-time jobs to pay their rent and other living expenses. So, considering the financial aspect is of great importance.

Apart from these, the job opportunities you get from a particular college need to be taken into account, besides the visa regulations. Language is another factor candidates should consider, as many countries use their native language and don’t give much priority to English, which can be a draining process for learners in their initial years of settling down.

Considering all the above facts, here’s a list of five countries which are the best for studying abroad in 2022.

USA 

The USA hosts the maximum number of students from India. In 2021-22, reportedly, 1,99,182 students from India were pursuing higher education in the US. Many factors attract students to the USA, specifically the booming software sector with enormous job opportunities and brighter careers. The USA is home to leading universities, including Harvard, Cambridge, Columbia, Stanford, Yale, Princeton and many more. 

Studying in US colleges comes with a significant set of benefits. Students get the opportunity to explore their interests and different academic disciplines through their course tenure. Let’s examine why the US is a primary choice for global learners. 

  • Transferring credits from one university to another allows students to shift from one university to another. 
  • The Optional Practical Training (OPT) facility allows international students with an F-1 visa to work up to 12 months during or after the study duration. 
  • The universities in the USA allow more diversity-cultural diversity in the US universities. The inclusion of various races and nationalities creates a very productive environment for students where they feel comfortable and are more engaged and motivated to study. 
  • There are many options for scholarships, grants, bursaries and tuition fee waivers.

Canada

Canada’s economic immigration policy is the driving force behind Indian students popularly looking for education opportunities in the land. Let’s look at what makes Canada an attractive educational hub for learners. 

  • A number of provinces in Canada provide permanent residency to international students who have graduated and are eligible for employment. 
  • Canada provides cost-effective education and cost-efficient living. This makes it much more affordable than any other overseas destination for education. 
  • Not just India, people from all over the world choose Canada as their study destination following the student benefits and diverse offered perks. 
  • Canada provides financial, social and legal security to students who migrate to study. 
  • Carrying one of the lowest crime rates in the world, Canada avidly embraces racial diversity compared to most countries. 

In 2021, Canada welcomed a massive chunk of Indian students. About 217,410 permits were issued to Indian students from Canada. With the COVID-19 pandemic curbs lifting, Canadian universities experienced an upsurge in applications. Canada eased its Post-Graduation Work Permit( PGWP) rules which facilitate international students to gain Canadian work experience and permanent residency. These are the major attractive factors for students from India who want to settle abroad. Thus, making Canada easily the best country for Indian students. 

Germany 

Germany provides free education at public universities, which is one of the major reasons attracting students from across the globe.  Let’s further explore why you must go for a German program. 

  • Many public universities in Germany are among the best universities in the world and are well-ranked as per the QS world ranking.
  • Germany offers various courses suiting a wide variety of interests. The offered degrees are globally recognised, and it is easier to find jobs for international students. 
  • Germany offers low-cost living facilities compared to other popular study-abroad destinations. 

The only requirement you must meet as a learner is learning German. Since it is the native language of the country, learning the German language can help you obtain better employment opportunities. Germany is undoubtedly one of the best countries to study abroad for Indian students. 

Germany and the EU issue the Permanent Resident Permit in the form of an EU blue card for specially skilled employees. With that permit, one can live, work or settle in any of the 26 European countries. Obtaining one can further help you build work experience as well as achieve a degree in the country. 

United Kingdom 

According to the British High Commission reports, the UK has issued as many as 1,27,731 study visas to Indian students in a year till September 2022. Currently, the UK is one of the topmost priorities for Indian students, with the nation providing quality education and being home to some of the top universities worldwide, including Oxford and Cambridge. Let’s explore what more the UK has to offer to Indian learners.

  • Courses are shorter and more intensive than in other countries, which makes the UK a good destination for students. 
  • Quality education and a solid academic curriculum put the universities in the UK at a level above the universities of other countries. 
  • Higher educational institutions in the UK have strong links to the industry, which allows students to develop a network. 
  • UK provides a host of scholarships for Indian students, like the Chevening scholarship, the British Council Women in STEM scholarship and many others. 

The large Indian population based in the UK bridges the cultural gap to some extent, and Indians don’t find it hard to settle in there. The UK is also considered one of the best countries to study abroad for Indian students because of its cultural diversity. 

Australia 

Apart from these four countries, Australia is one country which is gaining tremendous recognition in recent times for the number of international students it is drawing to provide world-class education. Several universities in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide have gained international recognition. Indian students are heavily inclined towards Australia due to its multicultural environment, world-class education, employment opportunities, and other tangible benefits. So, let’s take a look at what precisely seeks their interest!

  • Australian cities have been ranked as the best cities for students because of their student-friendly atmosphere and multicultural society. 
  • There are almost 1200 institutions with over 22,000 courses, thus offering a plethora of options for studying. 
  • The Australian government has stringent laws to protect international students against any kind of threat. This makes it an appealing destination. 

Thus, today, more and more Indian students are migrating to Australia for better education opportunities and exposure.

Conclusion 

Studying abroad is a big decision, so it is essential to shortlist the best options for yourself. Proper research and the right information can easily help you decide which is the best country to study abroad for Indian students. The countries that offer the best education with the needful employment opportunities attract the most students. However, the choices differ from person to person, and it is totally up to oneself which country suits them the best.

In case you seek a foreign degree from any reputable institute without stepping out of your nation, we have your back!

upGrad’s Post Graduate Certificate in Product Management, offered under Duke Corporate education, is an excellent opportunity for fresh graduates and working professionals to upskill and inherit in-demand knowledge of the domain. From research to launch, working on creating a product management cycle and its successful delivery is no more a hassle with upGrad!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which country is best for study-abroad programs for Indian students?

There is no single answer to which country is the best for Indian candidates. The choice can vary from person to person depending on various factors such as the availability of scholarships, cost of living, employment opportunities and various others. However, the analysed reports claim US and Germany are the top contenders for the position.

2. Why 2022 saw an increased number of students opting to study abroad?

Post-COVID times saw a burgeoning growth in the number of students willing to go out to receive a world-class education and better opportunities and infrastructure for studying. More and more Indian students are thus going abroad.

3. Which are the top 4 countries that host Indian students?

The USA, Canada, Germany and the UK are the top countries receiving the most students from India. However, the list goes on, and the position of these countries shifts from time to time depending on the domestic environment of that particular country.

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Google I/O 2016 – Day 1 | Recap

The most awaited Google I/O 2016 Conference was filled with announcements about improvements in current products and launch of some new products. In this article, we have summarized the biggest announcements from Day 1 of the conference. Google Allo Allo is Google’s new messaging app with resident chatbot. It has features like whisper/shout, expressive stickers, smart replies- which evolve with time and wide range of bot support especially the Google Assistant search bot. One of the most important features of Allo is that all its chats are encrypted but incognito mode offers end-to-end encryption and an option to send messages that self-destruct. Additionally, once you close a chat, the entire conversation is deleted forever. Google Duo Duo is Google’s mobile only companion app for Allo that helps in video calling. One of its special feature is ‘Knock Knock’ which lets users see the incoming video call feed before even answering the call. So, the receiving party can see who’s calling and where they are before they even pick up the call. Google Assistant Google takes search to the next level. Google Assistant supports “conversational understanding” to make search more natural and to better support voice searches. Google Home Home is built on the Chromecast standard, which lets it push media to other Cast-compatible speakers and screens, change temperature or lighting through Nest devices, and integrate with third party services. The entire experience is hands-free, powered entirely by voice. In fact, it doesn’t even have any buttons. Simple voice commands will control every aspect of the Home. Android N Android N comes with new features that include more control over notification size from different apps and a new picture-in-picture mode. Android N uses a new API called Vulkan that lets developers directly control a phone’s GPU for sharper 3D graphics. Android N will also download and install system updates automatically. The name of Android N has not yet been released. It is going to be selected through a crowdsourced contest. Google Daydream Google has a new VR platform built on top of Android N, and the new VR platform is called Google Daydream. It is an optimized virtual reality platform that aims to standardize the mobile-based VR experience. It also spans both software and hardware; Its biggest limitation is that it will be available only in new phones with special sensors and screen. Android Wear 2.0 Android Wear 2.0 can function independently of a smartphone. Apps no longer need a connected smartphone in order to function. Apps can function and even communicate without a phone, as long as the wearable device is connected to the internet via cellular or Wi-Fi. Users can also make data from any app show up on any watch face. Instant Apps One of the most interesting announcement was google Instant Apps. With Instant Apps, users can begin using an app instantly from right within the Google Play store without even having to download and install the app. As we can see, Google has made some big moves in the three hottest areas of tech – virtual reality, messaging, and smart assistants. However it would be interesting to see how these new products will compete with their competitors and how much of market share would they capture after their launch.
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by Dilip Guru

19 May'16
There’ll Be A Billion-Plus Job-Seekers By 2050, So Get Yourself Skilled NOW

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There’ll Be A Billion-Plus Job-Seekers By 2050, So Get Yourself Skilled NOW

This isn’t just a catchy headline meant to shock you, though that would be a justified reaction. If you are 25 years old, have graduated from a reputed institute in a traditional higher education discipline and are looking for a job, you may not be handed one on a platter any time soon. You may be cushioned within the famous Indian demographic that is supposed to yield a “dividend”, but unlike what you’ve been reading everywhere, this does not guarantee you employment. Between 1980 to 2010, 90% of world labour force growth occurred in developing countries and about 500 million new workers emerged in India and China alone (workers went from 260 million to 470 million in India, between this period). India, along with other developing counterparts, is all set to fuel 60% of the global growth in labour in the upcoming years. Keep in mind that enrolment in Indian higher education is only 24% right now. With India attaining almost universal elementary education and increased retention in secondary schools, the projected demand for higher education and jobs thereafter, will only escalate. By 2050, India will be home to more than a billion job seekers. This means providing jobs for over 12 million new entrants annually. There is also the challenge of finding jobs for the backlog, which reached 60 million by 2014. So isn’t this good news? India finally placed on the world map with a solid advantage where labour supply is concerned. Well, it may not all be good news. The new-age job-seeker must strive to acquire specific skill sets to be considered employable. Currently, only 43% of Indian youth are considered fully employable. Indian millennials are being touted as the future of jobs and the saviours of the working world. But this won’t hold true if in-demand skills are not imparted to the youth entering the workforce. The world of work is changing and industries are transforming. It’s a fact that we are moving towards a massive labour pool, but we are possibly riding a low-skill, low-wage cycle to get there. The country is on a trajectory that involves a surplus of millions of low-skill workers, whereas most nations, including India, will be increasingly demanding a high-skill workforce. Impacting Education: My Journey and UpGrad Most industries are replacing low-skill jobs with high-skill ones. Skills relating to upcoming technologies like cloud computing, social media, artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, etc, are gaining immense relevance. Unfortunately, our education system is not preparing students well enough to enter the workforce as high-skill workers or equipping them with skills in the mentioned emerging domains. Gone are the days when just holding a graduate degree was enough to get employers to clamour to hire you. Education is not enough. The new-age job-seeker must strive to acquire specific skill sets to be considered employable. Currently, only 43% of Indian youth are considered fully employable. Gone are the days when just holding a graduate degree was enough to get employers to clamour to hire you. Education is not enough. The positive connotation associated with our demographic shift has been taken for granted and assigned the term “dividend.” But if we don’t strategically harness this change, we could very easily be faced with a demographic disaster. We don’t want to be stuck in a situation where we have too many job-seekers with inadequate skills, and therefore not enough jobs for them. India is moving workers out of farm jobs at a very fast rate, and this will only add to the burden of providing jobs in other sectors. We need a wake-up call and more concerted efforts towards large-scale skill development and training. We may have a situation of too few high-skill workers and not enough jobs for medium- or low-skill workers. This needs to be rectified by adjusting the education and skilling system to ready ourselves for the jobs of tomorrow. UpGrad develops various programs such as Digital Marketing Certification Program, and Product Management Certification Program in collaboration with IIIT Bangalore, specially designed for working professionals looking to up-skill themselves.  Check out the free courses.
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by Mayank Kumar

20 Jun'16
Only 25% Of Indian Graduates Are Employable, And The Solution Is Obvious

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Only 25% Of Indian Graduates Are Employable, And The Solution Is Obvious

Co-authored by: Apoorva Shankar, Business Development Associate, UpGrad The world today has enhanced productivity requirements. Due to this, the demand for highly skilled labour is growing. China and India are set to drive this demand. Globally, the share of low-skill jobs is likely to decline from 74% of employment in 2010 to 62% by 2020. On the other hand, the shortage of highly skilled workers with a tertiary level of education is expected to reach 18 million by 2020, globally. But due to its demographic dividend, India will have a labour surplus of 47 million by 2020. However, this surplus may only be of low-skilled labour. And while the demand for highly skilled labour is increasing, the supply isn’t quite keeping up. The challenge, as well as opportunity, that India faces is how to train such a large reserve of labour and convert low skills to high skills. One solution that immediately comes to mind is providing higher education for all. But at present only 24% of those meant to be participating in higher education, are actually enrolled. Plus, traditional college or university pedagogy has been increasingly criticized for being outdated and irrelevant to the jobs market. If you attended school or college in India, you will have first-hand experience of the ills that plague the system. Some of the reasons for this are: Absence of a customized or personalized approach to education (necessary as different students have different needs and learning capabilities). Restricted resources due to not-for-profit nature of educational institutes and over-regulation. Lack of technology infrastructure. Poor teaching quality. Lack of skills-based learning. Low focus on research and development. Minimal partnerships with industry/foreign academia. Outdated curricula not reflecting requirements of a dynamic market environment. Skill-intensive industries are expected to contribute more than 90% of India’s GDP by 2030. The opportunity is staring at us in the face. Only about 25% of Indian graduates are considered employable by the organized sector. Further, 48% of Indian employers said they were having difficulty in filling jobs, in 2012. Despite employers expressing difficulty in finding employable candidates, in 2009-10 the unemployment rates in India were higher for those who were more educated (graduates had more difficulty finding jobs than secondary or primary level graduates). [b_color background=”#EDFF3D”] Also Read – Technology will surely kill some jobs, but not all of them [/b_color] So Indian education, in its current form, hasn’t proved to be enough training for the incoming workforce. The numbers also prove that just completing higher education in any field is not all it takes anymore. This pinch is being increasingly felt as the world of jobs is turning upside down; which is why we need skill training. Skill-intensive industries are expected to contribute more than 90% of India’s GDP by 2030. The opportunity is staring at us in the face. It’s not just about the potential but also the responsibility we are tasked with — restoring balance to the global supply of labour. The country needs to invest in skill development and training for a large chunk of its population. Exploiting sheer numbers is therefore one major reason to skill our workers. Secondly, the demand for advanced skill-sets in emerging areas is growing. Knowledge-intensive roles such as finance, business, etc, and those related to information technology and entrepreneurship are gaining momentum. The reality that these skills must be acquired will take root for more and more individuals, including drop-outs from the mainstream education system and those who have completed such education. Currently, the actual supply of these workers falls drastically short of matching growing demand. Hence, the gaps in domain knowledge are another reason to scale up the skilling. You are likely to be at a disadvantage, in terms of skill training and thereby employability, when compared to someone your age in China, USA, South Korea… In China about 47% of the workforce has received some kind of skill training, 52% in USA, 68% in UK, 75% in Germany, 80% in Japan and 96% in South Korea. Comparatively, only about 10% of the Indian workforce received such training in 2008. India is seventh in the category of countries facing maximum difficulty in filling jobs, i.e., 58% difficulty, where the global average is 38%. These figures reflect that just belonging to the young Indian demographic is not enough. You are likely to be at a disadvantage, in terms of skill training and thereby employability, when compared to someone your age in China, USA, South Korea etc. To address these imbalances, India needs unprecedented increase in both education and job creation. At this point, there is no guaranteed advantage for India in the contest for high-skill talent. It will be dependent on skilling. Considering the state of higher education and the skill upgrade required to be carried out in the future, the process will not just be about learning for professionals, but rather unlearning and re-learning.
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by Mayank Kumar

13 Jul'16
7 reasons to watch UpGrad Talks today

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7 reasons to watch UpGrad Talks today

There is really no secret sauce for success. Provided you have had the opportunity to view the exclusive online tete-e-tete sessions brought to you by UpGrad Talks. With an amazing roster of world-class speakers, some from the top 1000 companies of India such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Sky, Coca Cola, JP Morgan, JWT to start-up poster children such as RedBus, Snadeal, Ola & Zivame and many more, Upgrad Talks provides insights into their formulae for success. The talks also share deep learning from situations that didn’t work out and many valuable nuggets of honest, down-to-earth and practical advice from successful entrepreneurs, experts and industry leaders. While some lip service has been paid to new-age technologies and skill sets, and the evolution of industries because of these, a deeper understanding of what this signifies is missing. Upgrad Talks intends to fill this gap by bringing together thought-leaders from different walks of life and raising the level of discourse in this area, as they share their experiences. Here are the top reasons why you must visit talks.upgrad.com today and make it your daily source of insights and motivation: Get Inspired Inspiration can come from many different sources. You may get inspired when you see a problem that needs a solution, which you are able to ideate, or get inspired when you hear stories of adversity being overcome by sheer willpower. Rarely does the simple existence of wealth inspire us. It may motivate us to work harder, but inspiration stems from a deeper place that needs real stories. Upgrad Talks are stories from the folks who have lived these stories, first hand. Not only does hearing someone’s complete story of challenges, thought process and subsequent outcome inspire, it also gives birth to new ideas and provides impetus to grow in your own space.  Moreover, inspiration also stems from well-put statements such as, ‘attitude will sail you through,’ by Harit Nagpal, CEO of Tata Sky. A key benefit of listening to industry leaders is that it also inspires us to think. ‘What we think, we become,’ is a quote by Buddha that sums up this well. Go ahead, face challenges It does not matter if you are a startup or an established financial organization; challenges, big or small, exist in every level of most businesses. Challenges faced, strategized and overcome is the rite of passage for almost everyone. Not only do Upgrad Talks cover challenges faced by leading industry veterans, it also covers it from various stages of businesses along with discussion of the solutions that helped overcome them. Upgrad Talks speakers’ discuss challenges faced by businesses in different spaces, which makes these talks an interesting listen. Furthermore, is quite motivating to hear the candid conversations of business leaders. So what is the common thought on challenges in the Upgrad Talks? No challenge is too big. It also strengthens the belief that challenges help you grow and become stronger and develops a sense of confidence to take on the next big challenge. Learn from influencers People who can motivate are great influencers. To hear success stories at Upgrad Talks, which have been driven by deep-rooted passion as well as courage of conviction can be a great influence on most people. It is likely to help you push yourself to greater heights and also follow your dreams a bit more diligently. To quote Snapdeal’s Kunal Bahl, ‘ there is a fine line between stubbornness and persistence.’ Upgrad Talks is likely to help you define the lines as an excellent selection of influencers talk also about the key soft skills required to make it a significant mark on the industry that you belong to. Mentoring As you listen to entrepreneurs, business leaders and experts on models that have worked, one can also start drawing parallels to one’s one business or profession. Mentoring of this kind is both subtle and effective as it helps you choose some key takeaways from the shared experiences that are most relevant to you. Follow the series to get premium access to the best mentors in the country as they talk about education, the emerging digital age and its impact on businesses, talent shortages and advice to youngsters. A bit of crystal gazing In the series of Upgrad Talks, one is likely to come across a vast amount of business knowledge which has been converted into digestible insights that can also help you choose the next steps in your career. Speakers’ at Upgrad Talks share their business mantras and what the future is likely to be.  This is crystal gazing of the finest variety and yet another reason to tune into the talks. A healthy dash of optimism One of the unique selling points of the Upgrad Talks is that they also brings out the combined optimism in business from key industry leaders. Apart from that one can learn what is next in the industry, and explore potential future opportunities in the workspace. The upbeat and positive nature of these talks makes them a must-listen. Easily available online Just in case you were wondering how far you would need to travel to listen to such a wide range of speakers, you can breath easy. Upgrad Talks are delivered online and you can listen to them at your own convenience. All you need to do is to long onto talks.upgrad.com and you can access high quality, pre-recorded sessions online. Upgrad is making content richer, bigger and better as it kicks off with 15+ talks delivered by entrepreneurs, experts & business leaders.  You definitely do not want to miss out on the educational transformation that UpGrad is fuelling in partnership with some of the greatest minds. Remember, one can never stop learning. So, if you always aspired to hear great advice and insights from the top Indian business leaders on how you can grow your business, choose a career goal or get inspired, do take a look at Upgrad Talks. They are truly the voices that impact. Join us today and be a part of it at talks.upgrad.com.
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by Omkar Pradhan

06 Aug'16