Studying abroad and the Indian student experience

Indian students who choose to study abroad have a lot to look forward to. They will learn in new teaching environments and encounter more diverse curricula. When students cross borders, they have the opportunity to tailor their academic life to their interests and career ambitions – and the cross-cultural experience off-campus can be just as rewarding. But before choosing a destination for study, there is much to consider.

Many students will choose to enroll at an Indian university before taking a semester or summer programme abroad. Vanita Shastri, dean of global education and strategic programs at Ashoka University, says that institutions such as Ashoka actively encourage their students to study internationally and offer a number of student exchange programmes with partner institutions that make it financially accessible. “Where we actually have a student exchange programme, it means that students can just go and study there and just pay room and board,” she says. “They are paying tuition fees at home, so it makes a very reasonable opportunity.”

Shastri adds that those who take that opportunity can enjoy a “more holistic” degree programme and approach their studies from a different cultural perspective. Ashoka’s students have used their international studies to build relationships with other institutions and map out career paths they would have missed otherwise. Shastri says employability is one benefit of international study, but that the life experience is invaluable. “All of these things really help them round out their personality, and develop them as a human being,” she says.

Other students, such as Aditya Narayan Sharma, will study abroad for the entirety of their undergraduate degree. Sharma is one of more than 200,000 Indian students studying in the United States. He is undertaking the second half of a four-year dual-BA programme at Sciences Po in France. At the end of his studies, he will receive a BA from both institutions. “I thought the focus of the European education plus the wide breadth of the American liberal arts education would work quite well together,” he explains.

In Sharma’s experience, the French model offers an intense and focused curriculum while the American model offers a liberating sense of academic freedom that is unrivalled anywhere else. While he has no regrets about studying abroad, enjoying academic experiences that have been intellectually inspiring, he urges other students to be aware of different countries’ visa restrictions before choosing a destination for their studies. In recent years, western countries have adopted a selective stance towards visa allocation, a situation that complicates securing internships and casual employment alike.

“As an international student on an F1 visa here in the US, you are not allowed to work off-campus,” says Sharma. “It is not as easy as it used to be for a foreign student to find a job here in the US or the UK. Being informed about these things, and taking in as many perspectives as possible before you go, is incredibly important.”

In order to help with this process and to provide students with the opportunity to gain exclusive advice, tips and insights, THE Student Fairs is hosting . Attendees can meet and talk to universities and colleges from America, Europe, Asia and Australia, attend live seminars learn more about the different courses on offer.

"When it comes to choosing a university, Indian students have more options today than ever before,” says Rupert Merrick, director of BMI and Talk Global Study, THE Student’s partner for the event. “That's exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Students tell us all the time how valuable it is for them to be able to speak directly with each institution they are considering so they can ask questions and find their perfect university match. That's exactly what events such as this one let you do. In just a few hours, you can talk to universities in 10 or even 15 countries – opening up a world of possibilities you might not have even realised existed.”

about THE Student Fairs and Talk Global Study’s online event for Indian students.