Why Indian Students Want to Study in Foreign Universities?

While I was in college most students of my batch wished to study in foreign universities. Many of them who got admissions there are now well settled and are earning well for themselves. Is this trend still the same or has it become even more aggressive with time? According to a study by a faculty of IIM Bangalore, there is an extreme surge in the number of students going abroad for study and the percentage of growth in this case is 256%. For Indian students, the U.S is one of the top most destinations, followed by the UK and Australia. As per one of the leading newspapers in India, between Oct 2012 and Feb 2013, 5,600 student visas were issued in India. There has been a 50% growth in the total number of visas offered last year. Don’t you think that this is a big question mark on our education system which is the third largest in the world? Admission of Indian students in foreign universities is also creating a well known problem of brain drain in India.

The first and foremost reason of studying abroad is the ever increasing competition in the education sector in India. Students who are scoring as high as 90% are not getting seats in their college of choice in India. There is an unnecessary pressure and burden of clearing entrance exams to get admission in engineering or medical colleges, even after getting a very good percentage in their 10+2 exams. Some study so hard, yet are still unable to clear the entrance exams. Does this mean that they are not intelligent? Hence they are left with no other option, but to pursue a career that they do not want. Another challenge is that the number of students competing for limited seats is extremely high. To get admission in 15 IIT’s across India, which have around 10,000 seats each, almost 500,000 students sat for the entrance exam in the year 2012. Because of this extreme competition and in spite of a much higher cost of education abroad, students prefer studying in foreign universities.

Students getting admission in private colleges have to pay a hefty amount of fees. The quality of education is another big concern in these colleges. So what is the use of spending so much money when you have to compromise on quality? Hence quality of education is another reason for this trend of students moving abroad for studies.

Reservation policies are further deteriorating the education system in India. Students are ready to compete, but when a seat is given to a student just on the basis of reservation then it hurts. Reservation system is further increasing the competition in the general category.

A double degree benefit provided by foreign universities attracts students from India. Indian education is very strict in terms of courses offered and the way these are taught. But most foreign universities are very flexible and you can choose from a range of subjects. A student can choose to do dual major, minor and free elective courses.

Apart from this, better job prospects are another major reason behind this trend of studying abroad. Most global companies prefer candidates who can work well in their own country as well as abroad. And thus getting education from a foreign university is an added advantage. Studying abroad improves one’s personality, communication skills, social contacts, and at the same time one can experience a different quality of life.

Also if we were to compare the curriculum of Indian and foreign universities,  the latter is better than the former. Unconventional methods of teaching in foreign universities help in personality development and hence attract students. Foreign universities do lots of experiments with the mode and style or teaching which is not done in India. Infrastructure facilities are much better in foreign universities as compared to those in India.

Opportunity of working while studying and scholarships brings down the overall burden of fee in foreign universities. But the same is provided only during internship in India.

There is another segment of Indian students who get a student visa only to get immigration to a foreign country. Such students enroll for programs or courses that have high possibility of providing immigration and that too within a short span of time.

Because of the fundamental differences in education, competition, quality of life, job after completing studies, overall personality development etc, most students and their parents prefer foreign universities for further studies.

 

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