An Intro to Overseas Education
Let us look at What it is? Why is it Important? Challenges that come with it and how to handle them
Overseas Education is one of the biggest trends in higher education among Indian youth. But, what does Overseas Education involve? And is it important for you?
Read on to find out!
What is Overseas Education?
Indian students can study in countries like the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA and other top Study Abroad destinations.
Once you have completed a minimum of 10+2 years of schooling, or a higher education program, you are eligible to apply for various programs abroad.
These include:
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Bachelor’s degree |
Duration: 3 to 4 years Eligibility: 10+2 schooling |
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Postgraduate certificate |
Duration: approx. 6 months Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree |
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Postgraduate diploma |
Duration: 6 months to 1 year Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree |
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Master’s degree |
Duration: 1 to 2 years Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree |
What is the importance of Overseas Education?
There are plenty of reasons why Overseas education is the right option for you, including:
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Greater exposure: Studying abroad can help you meet new people from around the world, build a strong network, and help you gain valuable life experience before you start your career!
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Rare subjects: For several subjects, from artificial intelligence to geothermal engineering, the research and infrastructure in top universities abroad are unmatched! If you want to study such a subject, Overseas Education is the right path.
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Job opportunities: Once you earn your degree, you will be able to find work anywhere in the world. Overseas Education can give you the boost you need to launch a prestigious career!
What are the Challenges of Studying Abroad and How to Handle Them?
Studying abroad is a rewarding experience – but not without its difficulties! With the right advice, you can handle them all.
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Homesickness
This is probably the biggest challenge! You will miss your family, friends, and home, especially in the first few months.
What to do?
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Take a piece of home: Anything that reminds you of home!
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Schedule video calls: Keep in touch with family and friends. Let them know that you miss them, and find ways to bond virtually!
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Make new friends: Get to know your roommate or a classmate. S/he will be missing home too, and you can help each other!
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Language Barrier & Culture Shock
Moving to a new country always requires adjustment – like speaking only in English, adjusting to different foods, learning correct behaviors, or understanding local customs.
What to do?
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Practice makes perfect: Remember that these things take time and practice. Don’t give up!
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Find a support group: Many universities have international student groups. They will help you find new ways to cope.
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Academic Obstacles
Adjusting to a new education system, dealing with teacher’s demands, exams, and assignments, all while living in a new place, can be hard!
What to do?
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Remember, you deserve to be here! You earned your place here, which means you already have what it takes to manage.
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Ask for help: From a teacher, a fellow student, a TA or anyone who feels trustworthy. You don’t need to struggle alone.
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Visa Fears
A lot of students may be worried about dealing with visa rules and avoiding mistakes
What to do?
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Read: Familiarise yourself with the rules, and keep a list handy that you can refer to when in doubt.
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If concerned, ask! Your university will help you with your doubts.
Study Abroad: Can I take my spouse or family?
One of the biggest benefits of Studying Abroad is that many countries allow you to bring your spouse or family as your ‘dependents’.
Visa Rules and Dependents: Different Countries
Different countries have different rules for international students to bring dependents. These are some examples:
|
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Spouse |
Children |
|
UK |
The spouse can accompany the student studying in an eligible program. A spouse can work in the UK if the student’s program is 12 months+. |
Children under 18 can accompany students studying in an eligible program. |
|
Australia |
The spouse can accompany the student. The spouse can work in Australia, the number of hours depending on the student’s program. |
Children under 18 can accompany students studying in an eligible program. |
|
Canada |
The spouse can accompany the student. The spouse can work in Canada after getting an ‘Open Work Permit’ subject to certain student visa regulations. |
Children under 18 can accompany students studying in an eligible program. |
You will have to provide proof of relation, age, etc. at the time of visa application.
Important Factors
Before you decide to bring your spouse or family, there are some things to consider:
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Sufficient Funds: Visa regulations stipulate a minimum amount of money required per dependent, in order for the visa to be issued.
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Accommodation: You will have to find accommodation that is suitable for the size of your family, depending on housing regulations.
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Children’s schooling: You will have to ensure that your school-age children are enrolled in school.
Taking your spouse or family with you can make your study abroad stint even more rewarding!
How to Pay for Education and Manage Your Living Expenses
It is expensive to study abroad. But with the right planning and management, you can cover the costs comfortably – and get the best education money can buy!
How much does it cost to study abroad?
This varies from country to country, from cities to regional locations, from universities to smaller colleges.
Say you are a student studying for a Masters in Data Science degree at Royal Holloway College, London, UK. This is what your expenses would look like:
|
Tuition fee (1 year) |
25,600 GBP = 25.3 lakhs INR |
|
Living expenses (1 year) |
12,180 GBP (stipulated by UK visa rules) = 12 lakhs INR |
|
Visa fee |
348 GBP = 34,302 INR |
|
One-way flight |
15,000 INR |
|
Total |
Approx. 37.5 lakhs INR |
Give a take a few thousand, your education anywhere in the world would look something like this!
How to pay for Study Abroad?
There are plenty of ways to get funding for your studies abroad!
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Education Loans
There are many loan options with favourable margins for students to study abroad, such as SBI Student Loan, SBI Abroad ED-VANTAGE, and education loans by ICICI and HDFC.
For more information on selecting the best education loan, check out our blog: Education Loan Options for Abroad Education.
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Scholarships
If you are a bright student with an excellent academic record or have other noteworthy experiences such as internships or sports, you can avail yourself scholarships to study at thousands of universities worldwide! Scholarships offer partial or full coverage of tuition fees. They are offered by universities, governments and independent organizations alike.
Earn while Studying Abroad: What are Your Options?
Studying abroad is very expensive. The tuition and accommodation fees alone may be costing your parents a lot, and you may not like to ask them for more.
No worries! There are many ways for you to earn some extra pocket money to cover your personal activities.
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Get a Part-Time Job
While it is not so common in India, many students abroad work while they study!
Most Study Abroad countries permit international students to work part-time, and in some cases even full time, while they study.
This work includes off-campus jobs like McDonald’s or Tesco and on-campus work like in the library.
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Get an Internship
It is possible to get an internship in a company, in a field related to what you are studying. A lot of programs have an optional/compulsory internship component. Most internships are paid and maybe either long-term or short-term.
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Work as part of your Program
Many programs have a compulsory work component – including teaching or research assistantships, compulsory service in healthcare programs, or a co-op program that has a placement as part of your studies. In all of these, you will receive a stipend.
What to Know about Working while Studying
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Follow all the rules for international students, including required documents, eligible work, number of hours, etc. Non-compliance can lead to the loss of your visa.
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You must ensure that your work doesn’t interfere with university requirements.
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You cannot rely on such work opportunities to fund your studies. Your fees must be covered by you separately.
Improve Career Prospects while Studying Abroad
If you’re planning to pursue a course abroad, you’re already on track to a great career. But there’s more you can do to improve career prospects while studying abroad!
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Look For Placements or Internships
There’s nothing like getting work experience while studying, and there’s plenty of ways to do it. Many programs offer a placement year, or a short micro-placement period of a few weeks – here, you’ll get a chance to work at a company that ties up with your university, putting theory into practice. Alternatively, you can take up an internship wherever you like for a limited period.
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Take Advantage of Your College’s Career Assistance
Colleges abroad provide plenty of career-related services for their students – from learning to write a CV, preparing for job interviews, to developing additional career-ready skills. Start working towards your career early on!
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Attend Career Fairs or Workshops
Here’s where you’ll get an idea of all the companies out there, and what your options are. Try to have a plan for what companies you want to check out, especially when you’re closer to graduation. Dress professionally and have a few questions ready to interact with company representatives.
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Get Involved in Extracurriculars
Volunteer work always looks great on a CV – helping you pick up useful skills, and prove your resourcefulness and dedication to a good cause. Joining a college club or society, especially if you can land a leadership role, also makes a good impression on potential employers.
Basically, you must make the most out of your college time, to land a great job after!
Hope you found this “Know All About Overseas Education” topic useful. Hurray aims to help students like you to make your dream of studying abroad come true. Hurray, your Overseas Education Consultant, is here to support and provide help at every step in this process!
Learn more about Overseas Education here. To find your options related to the country, programs, and everything that needs to be done for study abroad, book your free one-on-one counselling session with us today!
To know more about it join IELTS Online Training or IELTS Classroom Training. Reach out to us at info@hurrayedutech.com or call us at 9900426501.
Hurray offers Study Abroad consultation, IELTS/PTE/OET, and Spoken English programs. Visit our website https://www.hurrayedutech.com/ for more information.
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