Overseas education an evergreen choice
Ajay Mittal

The prospect of an overseas education has always fascinated Indian students and the incentives that are being offered by all major universities across the world have given the Indian youth a wide range of options in terms of courses, universities as well as the choice of countries. At a time when studying as well as getting a good job in India is becoming more and more difficult because of the quota system and immense competition, the number of students migrating to countries like the USA, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand is increasing every year.

Brilliant students scoring over 90 per cent in Class XII are sometimes unable to get admissions in the top colleges of the country but rather than compromising with their academic future, they have started opting for an overseas education. The number of Indian students seeking admission in the top universities abroad, for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, is steadily increasing.

Their fascination with the universities of UK and USA is intact and the recent introduction of the Fresh Talent Initiative (FTI) by the UK has made it even more appealing. The University of Greenwich (UK) has emerged as the second highest recruiter of Indian students. The annual intake of Indian students in this prestigious institution has increased from a mere 10 in 2000 to over 600 in 2006.

The University of Southampton, UK’s foremost institution for several courses, including engineering, and the acclaimed University of Edinburgh are also in high demand. Scotland’s policy of giving a two-year work permit to all overseas students has made it a sought-after educational destination. Canada, Ireland and New Zealand offer excellent career-oriented courses while Australian Universities are well-known for their management and hospitality courses. While MBA still remains the most popular option as far as Indian students are concerned, courses such as architecture, biotechnology, fashion technology, hospitality and engineering are also gaining popularity. Broadcast journalism, jewellery designing, media and international relations are the other vocational courses that are the rage. Students can log on to educationoverseas.com, that is a treasure house of details regarding the undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered by the various universities across the world.

An overseas education not only gives the students international exposure but also makes them extremely business-savvy, increases their confidence, broadens their outlook and gives them an opportunity to get a practical training in their field of study.

These foreign universities offer what is popularly known as a ‘sandwich option’ where the students can work for a year while pursuing their degree and make it a 4-year course instead of the traditional 3-year one. All the major universities of the UK help the postgraduate students in acquiring a year’s work permit and they also organise job shops for career counselling purposes. The easy availability of educational loans and their acceptance as proof of funding by all major embassies have given a much required boost to the booming overseas education market in India.

The writer is Director, International Placewell Consultants