Summary
- Why do Indian students go abroad to study?
- Benefits of studying abroad for Indian students
Studying abroad can be exciting and beneficial at the same time. Statistics have shown that as many as one million Indian students study in 85 countries across the globe.
Concerning how many students go abroad to study every year? It is estimated that around 400000 students exit the country to study abroad every year.
Through these surveys, we can conclude that studying abroad is a popular concept among Indian Students. So, why do Indian students go abroad to study?
The reason is simple. There are many benefits of studying abroad for Indian students. Below we have enumerated some of the reasons why Indian students go abroad to study
13 Shocking Benefits of Studying Abroad
1. Gateway to The World
One of the reasons why Indian students study abroad is because studying abroad allows students to see and experience a whole new country.
It also serves as a gateway and access to visit neighbouring countries. It becomes easier and cheaper to travel to other neighbouring countries while you are abroad.
Students can visit new places over the weekends and experience the beauty and terrain of an entirely new country.
The world is a book and those who do not travel have only read one page.
2. Learn Other Cultures and Practices
During the study, students have a chance to mingle and interact with other students from different countries.
This multilingual and multi-racial blend serves as an added advantage to the students while pursuing their studies abroad.
The USA ranks number one when it comes to playing host to international students from all over the world. As of 2019, the USA hosted around 1095299 international students.
This mixed number of students comprises students from different parts of the world, thereby giving rise to a mix of cultures and traditions.
3. Freedom and Liberty
Another benefit of studying abroad for Indian students is that students studying abroad require them to stay independent for a long period of 5 to 6 years or at least until the course is complete.
This long stay away from home makes students self-reliant and self-sustaining. During this period students learn to cook, travel and manage money on their own. Unlike at home where you have family members to watch your every step.
4. Career Opportunities
When you think of finances, some students think- is it worth studying abroad? Well, if you think of the job opportunities that may unfold for you after you complete the course, we can say that studying abroad is worth it.
It will help the students mould their profession. It can be a stepping stone to creating a long-term career in the host country or in any of the neighbouring countries.
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5. Exposure to A New Country
The tenure of the course abroad will serve as an exposure to a brand-new country. This exposure will serve as a memorable experience throughout the student’s life. Moreover, it will make a lasting impression on the minds of students.
Also, this experience in a new country will expose the student to the working methods in that country.
Students can try to bring back the good from that country and make it work in their own home country. This is what experiences teach students.
6. Greater Interactions
As studying abroad entails interactions with students from many countries, one of the benefits of studying abroad is that it will help the students to foster good relationships with other fellow students from various other countries.
Students will learn to interact with different students from different backgrounds. They come to realise a whole new world outside their home country.
Studying abroad helps to build large networks which will come in handy in the future. Building Networks while studying is very advantageous.
These networks may not only help you in your career but may also lead to great bonds of friendship.
Networks are valuable because it is who you know that matters. A survey published in zety.com stated
- Depending on the source, between 70% (Forbes) and 85% (LinkedIn) of jobs are not posted online at all—these positions are filled via networking and internal referrals.
- At the same time, more than half of job seekers say their preferred source for finding jobs is online. The second most popular method is hearing about it from a friend, preferred by 45% of candidates.
Also, there are some job profiles that can only be filled through great networking.
For example, house help contacts like a plumber or cleaner are mostly retrieved through networks with friends and family rather than any other mode of recruiting.
7. Develops Personality
Students can build great personalities while studying abroad. The course curriculum, syllabus, and modules in these universities ensure all-round development of the students.
Apart from academics, foreign universities give importance to the holistic development of the student. Not all classrooms are made up of four walls.
Students are exposed to a lot of extracurricular and co-scholastic classes. This ensures the overall development of students and in turn better personalities.
Studying abroad builds confidence in students. It is this confidence that sets them apart from other students.
Exposure in a foreign country, the ability to stay away from family and manage expenses, and education in a foreign country are all factors that build confidence among students who study abroad.
It lets you build certain skills that improve your confidence levels. It improves leadership qualities and communication skills, all of which are required to be confident.
8. New Goals for Life
One of the reasons why Indian students go abroad for studies is because studying abroad provides an opportunity to set new goals in life.
With a change in atmosphere and interaction with others, students will see a whole new world that might change their perspective of life and career. Students may be able to set new goals for life.
9. Better Education and Facilities
Another reason why Indian students go abroad to study is that many of the prestigious globally recognised universities are situated abroad.
The QS global ranking for the world’s top universities places Massachusetts Institute of Technology-USA as the number one university in the world. This is followed by the University of Oxford-UK and Stanford University -USA.
Pursuing a course in prestigious foreign institutions like these will increase the quality of education and hone their professional skills.
Foreign universities offer diverse courses to students. These courses cover various subjects that may not be offered in India.
Pursuing these courses proves advantageous to students because these courses are unique and can be a stepping stone to a whole new career.
There are many short-term as well as long-term courses that are offered by foreign universities. Many of these courses may not be found in universities in India.
Foreign universities offer practical knowledge to students rather than Indian universities which concentrate on theory. Foreign universities have multiple course options with immense research facilities.
10. Improve Language and Other Skills
One of the benefits of studying abroad for Indian students is that it improves language skills. India is a land of many languages, the English language is considered a foreign language in India. Many students are not exposed to the English language.
Studying abroad enables students to sharpen their English language skills and adopt the host country’s language as well as learn other languages from their peers, thereby helping students to interact better in society which is one of the foremost requirements of a great career.
11. More Weightage with A Foreign Degree
Having a foreign degree from an ordinary university always holds more weight than a homegrown degree from an ordinary university.
Therefore, studying abroad increases career opportunities for students. A prospective employer is more likely to hire a student possessing a foreign degree than a local degree.
This is because a degree from a foreign university shows that you have been exposed to a new world and therefore have a better experience.
A survey conducted by CNBC in 2018 stated that 41% of employers are more likely to consider offering a higher salary to employees who have studied abroad.
12. Cost-Effective Education
Many courses in foreign universities are more affordable than in India. Some of the countries like Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Poland offer cheaper professional and short-term courses than India.
13. World-Class Education
A major reason why Indian students go abroad to study is that pursuing a course from a foreign university introduces students to world-class quality education.
Through these courses, students will be able to understand global economies and the various approaches adopted by different countries to handle their economies.
Students will be able to learn and embrace these varied theories learned from abroad and adapt these theories to the Indian conditions.
Conclusion
Though studying abroad can be an overwhelming concept and many students may be apprehensive to go abroad for studies, Studying abroad has innumerable benefits as seen from above.
Indian students especially get great exposure during courses pursued abroad. Studying abroad is the most effective way of changing the way we perceive the world.