Factors To Consider Before Choosing A Country For Higher Studies

Selecting a country for higher studies is more than choosing a university. It influences your course of study, money, career opportunities, and lifestyle. Some real and economic considerations need to be weighed before you finalise a country.

Don't Limit Yourself to Popular Countries

The US, UK, and Canada are famous for their education system and provide international recognition, good alumni groups, and broader job markets. However, there is a price tag. Even tuition fees can be as high as Rs 20 lakh to Rs 45 lakh per annum. Hostel, food, and other expenses in major cities can increase the overall cost by another Rs 10 lakh to Rs 18 lakh per annum.

Less popular destinations like Ireland, Sweden, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands are emerging as popular alternatives. These nations have affordable course fees ranging from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, excellent tutorial support, and good post-study work visa rules. For instance, Ireland has recently given master's graduates a two-year stay post-completion of their course to hunt for jobs.

Ankit Mehra, CEO and Co-Founder at GyanDhan, an education financial platform, states, "It's not a question of choosing between popular and offbeat countries. It's about what is most aligned with your career and educational aspirations."

Add up the Total Cost of Living

Though tuition and rent take up the lion's share of expenses, students usually neglect everyday expenditures such as transport, meals, and personal grooming. These may be small, frequent expenditures, but they contribute heavily to your monthly expenses.

Living in London or New York may cost over of Rs 1.5 lakh a month. In Berlin or Spain, it would be around Rs 70,000 to Rs 90,000 on an average. Mehra recommends that students speak with existing students and include a 10 to 15 per cent buffer over their monthly expenditure to account for seasonal and unforeseen expenses.

Plan for Currency Risks

Students planning to study abroad for more than a year must prepare for exchange rate fluctuations. A fall in the value of the rupee during your course can increase your expenses overnight.

Mehra advises using a mix of strategies like paying part of your tuition early, getting a forex card that locks in favourable rates, and opening a local bank account to avoid repeated conversion charges.

Watch Out for Hidden Costs

These expenses, such as visa renewals, medical coverage, textbooks, software licenses, lab charges, and travel for visa interviews, are usually overlooked in financial planning. They might appear minor initially but can aggregate to Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh or more over the duration of a programme.

Mehra says, "Students tend to underestimate these expenses. Doing your research and talking to university counselors or existing students can assist you in factoring them into your budget."

Value is More Important than Brand

While it is easy to pick a country that has greater name recognition, students need to consider what is important to them. A country might have a famous degree but also include high economic stress and restrictive visa rules. Another country might give better value in terms of lower fees, solid support systems, and easier access to work after school.

A number of European nations have enhanced their post-study visa provisions over the past few years, making them more desirable for international students seeking to acquire work experience before going back home or pursuing permanent residence.

Mehra continues, "Students need to evaluate what is most important. Is it the international name of the university or cost and lifestyle? The ideal destination is the place where you will have the best climate to develop as a person, not only academically but also professionally and personally."

Selecting a foreign country to pursue higher education is not merely an academic decision. It's also an economic and individualistic one. Careful research, early planning, and consideration of long-term objectives can assist students in making a decision that serves both their academic life and future professional development.