Going abroad for higher studies is no longer a luxury. For many students in India, it is a smart career move. Education abroad brings international exposure, industry-relevant skills, and better career prospects. But, one major concern for many students is the cost of studying abroad.
However, there are several budget-friendly countries where
Indian students can study abroad without draining their savings. These
countries offer quality-education, post-study work rights, and also low cost of
living as compared to other country options like the US or the UK.
In this blog, we’ll explore abroad
destinations that are budget-friendly for Indian students, with some
insights on tuition fees, living expenses, popular courses along with career
opportunities.
Is studying abroad possible in budget?
There was a time when opting for international education
meant spending ₹50+ lakhs. But with the right planning and country selection,
one can:
•
Get access to top universities in budget
•
Reduce their tuition fees
•
Take benefit from scholarships or even part-time
work
•
Build a high-paying career abroad
Top Budget-Friendly Study Abroad Destinations for Indian Students
•
Germany:
For many Indian students, Germany is their first choice because public
universities in Germany charge little to no tuition fees, even for
their international students.
- Average annual tuition fees range from €0 - €1,500 (public universities often
offer free tuition)
- Living expenses range from €8,000 - €10,000 per year. There
are also many popular courses which include Engineering,
Computer
Science, Business,
and Automative.
- Additionally, there is post-study
work visa available for the students, which is valid for 18 months.
During that period of time, students can look for jobs.
•
Canada:
Canada offers a balanced education, safety, and post-study work opportunities.
The tuition fees are moderate but students are allowed to work part-time and
can also apply for Permanent Residency (PR) after completing graduation.
- The average tuition fees range from CAD 13,000 – CAD 22,000
per year. The popular courses includes IT, Healthcare,
Engineering,
and Business.
- There are scholarships
available for both, undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
•
Ireland:
Ireland’s one-year master’s programs, particularly in business and technology,
are gaining popularity among Indian students. Although tuition fees is little
expensive than Germany.
- Average tuition fees cost between €10,000 - €20,000 every
year. The living expenses range around €8,000 - €12,000, also depends upon the
lifestyle of the student.
- Popular courses include Computer Science, Data Analytics,
and Pharmaceuticals. Additionally, masters students are eligible for two-year post-study
work visa, for finding a job.
• France:
France provides a rich cultural experience along with
affordable tuition at public colleges. It offers courses like Engineering,
Administration, Hospitality, and the Arts which many Indian students opt to
study in France.
- The average tuition fees for public universities is between
€3,000 - €5,000. However, there are scholarships
available for students. Living expenses range between €8,000 - €12,000,
depending upon the lifestyle of the student. The popular courses include Fashion,
Engineering,
Culinary
Arts, and Business.
- After completing their graduation, students get a two-year post-study
work visa.
•
Malaysia:
Malaysia offers degrees that are budget-friendly and also globally recognized
and particularly collaborates with UK and Australian
universities.
- There are multiple public and private institutions that
offer scholarships for both national and international students.
- The popular courses are Hospitality,
Business,
Engineering
– IT,
Computer Science, and more. After completing the course, the student
gets Post-study Work visa for limited period of time, but there are jobs in
some sectors.
- The average tuition fees range between USD 3,000 – USD
5,000 per year.
•
New Zealand:
New
Zealand offers slightly expensive education but the quality is excellent along
with post-study job rights and peaceful environment for living.
- The cost of living in NZ is
around NZD 12,000 – 15,000 per year. Average tuition fees range from NZD 14,000
– 22,000 per year. There is also post-study work visa which lasts for upto 3
years.
- All courses are taught in
English, so that communication is easier for international students.
How to maintain finance while studying abroad?
Irrespective of your study abroad
destination, follow the following tips to make your study abroad journey more
affordable.
•
Apply for
scholarships because many universities offer financial
aid for Indian students.
•
Start working
part-time. Many countries allow students to work for upto 20 hours per week
during study.
•
Apply and complete
Certificate or Diploma programs because these programs are less time-consuming
but more job-focused.
•
Use IELTS
alternatives because some abroad
universities offer courses without IELTS qualification too.
Studying abroad doesn’t have to be
a costly aspiration. Many Indian students can now have access to excellent
education, global exposure, and great career opportunities without
overspending. Countries like Germany, Ireland, Canada, France, and Malaysia offer
a perfect blend of affordability, academic excellence, and top career
opportunities.
FAQs:
•
Which is the cheapest country to study abroad for
Indian students?
Germany is the most affordable country as it offers programs with very low
tuition fees at public universities, specifically for engineering and technical
programs.
•
Can one study abroad without IELTS?
Yes. Some universities
in Ireland, Germany, and Malaysia offer courses without IELTS if
the student meets alternate language requirements.
•
Are there scholarships available for Indian students
abroad?
Yes. Countries like Canada, France, Ireland, and New Zealand offer scholarships
specifically for Indian and international students which are based on merit or
on financial need.
•
Are students allowed to work while studying abroad?
Most of the countries allow students to work part-time (upto 20 hours per week)
during semesters and full-time during breaks.
•
Which courses abroad are budget-friendly that lead
to high-paying jobs?
Courses including Computer Science, Data Analytics, Hospitality, Engineering,
and Business are budget-friendly in countries like Germany and Ireland, which
also lead to high-paying jobs.
