Studying abroad is a dream that a majority of our students aspire for, and the demand to grab an admit card from a prestigious university is growing up every year. According to certain reliable data, the tuition and hostel fees paid by Indian students abroad went up by 44%: from $1.9 billion in 2013-14 to $2.8 billion in 2017-18. And the most sought-after study abroad destinations of Indian students are the US, UK, and Canada, followed by Australia. Among the EU destinations, Germany leads the list but France is also not far behind. New Zealand and Singapore are two other countries that fall in the trove. And this trend is here to stay. Now when we state that thousands of students are flocking to shores abroad, a natural question will pop up like: what are the most prominent programs that are in a fad?
The dominance of STEM continues on the turf of foreign education. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) enjoys the clout for the past decades for the job options it renders both in India and outside. The universities abroad compete to update the syllabus every year, ensuring students to enhance their proficiency and catching up with alluring professions post completion of the program. Though the US universities are the primary beneficiaries of an Indian student’s craze for STEM, the UK, Canada, and Australia are not far behind. And observing the trend, the demand for STEM is sure to go up in the coming years.
Which program is most popular among engineering? Well, it is a tough question to answer. A majority of students opt for computer engineering though specialisations like automobile, mechanical and electronics have also got ample takers. Thousands of Indians select civil engineering programs as well. When we speak about IT-related programs, the US-based universities are the first choice, while for automobile, electrical and electronics, Indian students flock to Germany.
Studying medicine abroad has been a trend in vogue since the last half-a-century or more and still is continuing. The only difference is that while earlier it was a privilege reserved only for the super-rich, now anyone aspiring to study can get a berth in a premium medical university. Apart from the US and UK, Australia and Canada also home many prestigious colleges offering medical programs.
Who said Indian students are hesitant to experiment when it comes to studies? The 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange shows students from India are willing to take roads less travelled. As a result, offbeat programs like marine engineering, geophysics, game design, earth science, renewable energy, and agricultural science forestry are getting more takers from India. One reason for this new rage among students is the rise in job opportunities abroad and another can be the lack of such programs in Indian universities.
In the same way, students are also opting for courses like machine learning and artificial intelligence as there is a huge demand for candidates with specialised skills. Students joining for unconventional courses like robotics, automation, and mechatronics are also increasing every year.
Canada, one of the most desired overseas education destinations for Indian students, houses institutes offering both conventional and unconventional programs. Apart from engineering and business management, students take admission in courses such as hospitality management, pharmacy technician, public health programs and psychology. One of the popular programs in Canada is international relations, which is opted by hundreds of Indians. There are also universities teaching architecture, which are preferred by Indian students.
Let us now have a look at the management programs in Canada. With more than 5,000 global tie-ups, Canada is a hub of management institutions, where ‘desi’ students dash to grab admits in management programs related to banking, investment, consulting, finance and human resources.
The education stratum in the US is much more than engineering and medical sciences. For a brilliant student aspiring to augment his/her proficiency in research can find multifarious programs in astronomy, nuclear science and biotechnology, which guarantee admirable professional opportunities across the globe. Also, there are colleges where you can specialise in earth science, renewable energy, and agricultural science forestry, which probably are alien subjects in India. In the changing world, where issues like global warming and climate change are hot topics, such programs gaining acceptance is not a surprise. The US is also a favourite destination for students of big data analytics; thanks to the big data boom and digitalisation.
Is there any other unorthodox program abroad? Come along, the list still goes on. How about actuarial science from an Australian university which is about assessing financial risks in the insurance, finance and other sectors? Well, Australia is preferred by Indians for such nonconventional and out-of-the-box programs that promise lucrative careers ahead. Tourism management, design strategies, population health studies, forensic studies, metallurgy, sports and recreation management, and agricultural economics are some of the programs that you cannot find in India but can study abroad, especially in Australia.
Not yet decided on which one to opt for? Take time, think and decide. The options are plenty ahead. All you need is a passport and expert guidance from an experienced overseas advisor.
We would love to see you spread some love by sharing this article, as it may help many who are looking to study abroad. If you have decided to move abroad you need to work on your entrance exam and conquer it, a good test prep institute like Manya-The Princeton review can definitely help.
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