Study abroad destinations you should consider now

 Top 8 Study abroad destinations for Indians in 2023

Hello and welcome back my chai coffee buddies! Your friend Prabhasini is back with another blog.  

Today's blog is a tribute to astudentinsider.blogspot.com - the way this blog started as one which addresses various student issues. Given some of my email responses, I decided to continue posting content to help students in their various issues and this time spice them up as well with my own abroad experiences and contacts. So, let's get started. 

If you are an Indian student, searching and planning to study abroad, this blog is for you. If you are overwhelmed with which country to consider, this blog will help you make a shortlist.  While we live in a world where pandemic like situations keep cropping up, these are countries selected exclusively for Indian students based upon their pandemic cooperative attitudes towards accepting Indian vaccines and issuing visas to Indian students based upon my personal experiences, and external news reports.

Here we go (ranks do not indicate any preference order)

1. France

You wake up to the melody of a musician playing the Graïle, or the Piano or their Harp or Horn. A sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries greets you. You get up from your bed. Go to the balcony and see a couple walking by hand in hand, eye in eye. You are immersed in the romantic air — — WELL, Well. Let’s wake up from dreamland and get back to career now. With

• leading research institutes in STEM and non-technical fields,
• experienced professors having close-knit industry experience,
• a wide range of options to specialize in,
• affordable fees and availability of generous scholarships,
• an education system which emphasizes inculcating industry-relevant skills, and
• a long-standing history of cooperation with India,

France should be one of your choices to study abroad. Alongside accepting Covishield vaccine, France had had special arrangements for scholars to obtain a visa. Further, you get a chance to be in an economic powerhouse with great industry networks. This raises your chance of finding employment in France post your studies, i.e. if you have the right skills which are necessary in the current French economy and are willing to tap into the right kind of networks. Moreover, being a multicultural cosmos, racist attacks are rare — which is a very concerning facet for Indians while abroad. Also, the French adore Indian culture and are very interested in learning more about it. Several Indians report to have found French friends quicker than friends among other nationalities. Many have found the French to be very helpful, warm and kind. Plus, mastering French takes you a step ahead in the job market since it is one of the most important business languages in the world. Keep an eye on campus france platform for guidance and opportunities. 

Eh bien, bienvenue en France.

 2. Croatia

So, you are both an extrovert and an introvert! Well, if you are looking to find a perfect blend of tranquility and activity, Croatia is your destination buddy. Like France, Croatia too had recognized Covishield vaccine. Plus, visa procedure for Croatia isn’t very difficult. Additionally, here are some points which makes Croatia a lucrative choice for Indian students:

• A taste of Balkans and west at far affordable prices than living in Western Europe;
• A global perspective;
• Multi-cultural environment, reducing risks of racism;
• Although popularity is rising, it is still not thoroughly explored option by Indians — you have a chance to be a pioneer;
• Job opportunities — If you have relevant skills for the Croatian economy, chances are you will find jobs there
• High quality cooperative academic environment.

A word of advice here: instead of an agent, please contact the relevant university directly for admission, fees, visa processes etc. Also, university study in Croatia is not free and international students do not receive institutional scholarships directly. But there are other sources of funding available:

• The Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports supports scholars from fields which are of economic importance for Croatia for 2-year joint research programs with some countries and India is one of them.
• WeMakeScholars portal: link to scholarships here.

3. Japan

        Wondering how Nike built its success story, starting from Blue Ribbons. Do you know what role did travel to Japan play in inspiring Blue Ribbons? The birthplace of Ikigai, Samurai, Suzuki, Rice — Cooker, Emojis, Car Navigation, Bullet-train, QR code, Just-In-Time management system, and a lot more has indeed a lot to offer.

        A country ranked Number 1 in Henley’s Passport Index, studying in Japan raises the perception of respect a great degree. In this world of competition, it shines like a bright star on one’s CV. Japan has a very straightforward Visa application procedure for Indians. Plus, its excellent academics in various fields makes it a lucrative choice globally. So, bear in mind, getting into Japanese universities can be a tough nut to crack — but the effort will be worth it. If in general you are

        Although Japanese student visa doesn’t enable one to work without obtaining a Work Permit, there are numerous scholarship options one can avail. Here is a very good blog covering Japanese education scholarships for Indian students by a leading education consultant in India: LeapScholar.

Here is another official link of Japanese embassy in India, which contains valuable information: link here. You can find work related information here as well. 

4. Poland

One of my acquaintances once told me about Poland and I was pretty curious. Then, I stumbled upon the YouTube channel and website: India in Details by Karolina Goswami - a Polish national married to an Indian man. I find it incredible how much love a foreigner is showing for India. That's when I started digging more on Poland. Some interesting reasons which I came across include:

1. High Quality education, globally recognized degrees at very affordable prices compared to other European cities. 
2. Access to other European cities - opens possibilities.
3. Good Career opportunities.
4. Possibility to be admitted without IELTS and other tests.
5. Ability to work part-time and availability of good opportunities.

In the medical field several Indian students are already enrolled in Polish universities due to duration and lower course fees which acts as a huge cost saver. With a rich history among the two countries, perhaps you can go there and through your actions make this bond even stronger at grass root levels. 

Here is a very informative page exclusively designed for Indian students seeking to study in Poland. Although Bachelors and Masters programs are self-financed, here are two scholarship opportunities for Indian students especially in science and tech fields:

• Ignacy Łukasiewicz Scholarship Programme
• Stefan Banach Scholarship Programme

5. Singapore

So, do you want to be in a country which:

• Holds the highest rank for its passport
• Is a multicultural society, lower risks of racist attacks
• Society powered with advanced Hi-Tech
• Excellent academic institutions with great industry ties
• A safe secure and high quality of life  
• Clean and pure drinking water

then, Singapore in Asia can be a good choice for you. If you are thinking that all these goodies will come at a tight pocket pinch then you Are Wrong. You can get an amazing life in Singapore and world-class globally recognized degree at a very affordable price in Singapore. There are tons of resources provided by the university along with a lot of scholarship opportunities. Additionally, as per the guidelines of Ministry of Manpower, a full-time student is eligible to work 16 hours a week during term time and unlimited hours during vacation provided they have a Student Pass issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

6. South Korea

        Want to study abroad and be a sought after graduate around the world? Choose South Korea. This is another Asian country in our list which is home to Hyundai, Samsung and is the 10th largest economy in terms of GDP ranking. 

         Excellent education at affordable costs supported by generous scholarships opportunities South Korea gives you a chance to be among one of the most innovative and fast-growing economies. There are a lot of Indian and international students there in South Korea. They are wanted and celebrated. So, this reduces the probability of racist attacks a great deal. One will get to experience a rich culture of diversity. along with a high quality of life. Additionally, for spice lovers, the Korean Kimchi and loads of Korean cuisine presents a lot of variety to try. Also, the Visa process is very straightforward. Finally, South Koreans worship movies (we all know K-pop). So, it would be fun to have a Bollywood K-pop mashup with your new friends - who will grow to be friends for life. (Don't forget to send me an autograph if you get a chance to meet one, while studying in Korea by being inspired by this blog!)

7. Finland

A country which holds the top rank in several parameters, and reports to have the best education system in the world - which seeks to make education enjoyable and stimulating rather than a system to cram up information should definitely be one in your choice list. If you are up to face challenges of harsh winters gear up for a Scandinavian journey. While studying in English - taught programs will require you to pay fees, there are two important facets here:

• If you Study in Finnish or Swedish, you can study for free
• There are scholarship opportunities too: check out here.

If you want to be in a place which has:

• Top ranking universities globally recognized and accepted in the world
• Excellent academics and research opportunities
• Vast natural spaces
• Plethora of Activities like: fishing, ice-skating, ice-hockey, saunas, etc.
• Most Importantly: Friendly and cooperative academic ambience and people in general.
• Quiet and peaceful existence
• Northern lights.

Finland can be an ideal place for you. Especially of you are into artic research, Finland and Greenland are really interesting places to consider.

 

8. Germany

High Quality Globally respected education at very affordable rates in Western European economic powerhouse??? Welcome to Germany where this dream gets optimized in its vast choice of excellent universities. If you are not in the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, you can study in Germany for Free. If you are looking for:

• Outstanding universities, ranked high in global rankings
• Safe country to be in (especially as women) with a stable economy
• Wide range of English-taught programs giving one a diverse scope for specialization
• Practice - oriented courses
• A good mix of local and international crowd
• Excellent employment opportunities during and post studies,
• Affordable education and excellent scholarship opportunities

then, you can consider Germany. Bear in mind though, admission in German universities is very competitive. A word of advice from my German friend - Start early and get to know the department, university and professors very well, then customize your application to be very specific - unique - authentic of your true self. www.studying-in-germany.org is a good resource for finding most of the required information alongside DAAD. Post Study, the process to get a work permit isn't cumbersome either and for entrepreneurial minds, it provides a very cool ecosystem of mentoring and training alongside establishing business.

Hope this helps gives you a preliminary insight. If you want more such blogs like this, drop: "I want more" in the comment section. Also, please share this blog with your friends or family members for whom it might be helpful. Also, if you want more information on any specific country, please drop a Comment with the name of the country. 

Also, you can drop off an email here: aamiprabhasini@gmail.com

(Especially Indian students who are running pillar to post after agents for education in Russia, other CIS countries, or in Europe, you can contact me directly with your specific questions regarding admission procedures, scholarship opportunities, jobs, life in general. It may take time, but I will surely help you within a reasonable timeframe).

Pictures used here are from pexels.com which is an amazing source of photos for bloggers and content creators. Thanks to all Photographers for sharing your pictures in creative commons.

That's all for now. See you again in my next. Till then stay tuned, as the next one is just round the corner.