Studying abroad has always been a hot topic among the students and the educators. Pursuing higher education outside India is no more a big deal now. The article tends to explore the top favorite higher education destinations abroad.
According to a study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), more than 3 lakh students opt for studying abroad at the university levels, which costs India a foreign exchange outflow of $15-20 billion annually. All thanks to the rapid globalization, the higher education aspirants can have a better access to the best of the universities and institutes in the country of their choice.
Why Indian students are more inclined towards studying abroad.
A better learning environment, expanded employment prospects, a macro-understanding of the world and a highly competitive market have been the things which have led to an increased number of students seeking higher education abroad. We can consider this fact as well that the shortage of good institutions across country, which has led students to opt for studying in the international colleges and universities.
It is not at all surprising to learn that the reservation policy in education in Indian subcontinent has reduced the availability of general category seats, thus hampering the prospects for a majority of students.
Which destinations have been favorite among students to study abroad?
Needless to say that countries like the US, the UK, Australia and France remain favorite among the Indian students for studying abroad since ages. Take a look!
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The United Kingdom
Hands-down, the United Kingdom is the most sought-after destination for the Indian students, comprising 12.5% of the total number of students studying abroad. Top ranking universities and colleges in the UK are Cambridge University, Oxford University, London School of Economics, University of St. Andrews, among others.
A recent HSBC report suggests that the average annual cost for studying in the UK for international students for the year 2014-2015 is £18,760, while the tuition fees for the specific courses may remain as high as £38,532 per annum for the same year bracket.
The United States of America
A perfect combination of a warm welcome, top ranking universities, and the quality of education, have altogether made the US a perfect higher education destination for the students. The universities are popular for producing smart professionals in almost every field and of course, some billionaires. The top universities and colleges attracting students in the US are Harvard University, California State University, Stanford University, University of California (Riverside Campus), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to name a few. The average cost of a four-year course in 2014 at a private (non-profit) university in the US is no less than US$28,500 annually.
Australia
Offering over 22,000 courses across 1,200 institutions countrywide, Australia has been liberally granting visas to the international students, particularly Indian. The country has witnessed an increase of almost 33% in the number of students coming to pursue higher education in the country. This data talks about an increase in just one year, from 2013 to 2014.
Top Australian universities where students can seek admission for undergraduate and postgraduate courses are University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, Australian National University, among others. The cost of study in Australia is lower as compared to that in the US and the UK. The average costs are for an undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees range from AU$15,000-AU$37,000.
France
Since 2010, the number of Indian students studying in France has come up by 50%, and the reason behind this is the increased costs of education and livelihood in the other popular countries like the US and the UK, a range of scholarships offered to the eligible students, and easy visa rules. Over 3,000 students got enrolled to different courses in France in 2013. The leading universities in France are Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris and Ecole Polytechnique ParisTech, and the costs of education on an average are under US$1,000 annually.
Other places which have been luring Indian students with the quality of education and life they provide, are Singapore, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Russia, among others. The list is long, but considering the growth of economy and the brain drain India has faced recently, it is very important to revamp the educational structure in India itself, so that it not only emerges as the preferred educational hub for the Indian students, but also for the international students!
Author Bio: Rashmi Karan has been writing professionally since 2010, most recently publishing for various websites on topics like employment and education.
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