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Why Indian students choose the USA for higher education | Explained

Reading Time 5 minutes/Published 23-1-2024

Article Featured On: India Today

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The USA is one of the most sought-after study-abroad destinations for international students, including Indians seeking diverse learning and quality educational experiences. A recent Open Doors Report highlighted a 12 per cent rise in the population of international students in the US during the academic year of 2022-2023.

It also shared that the Indian student population in the US registered a record high in the academic year with a 35 per cent Y-o-Y growth, with 2,68,923 students. This surge in the number of Indian students moving to the US to pursue higher studies underscores the growing trend of seeking quality education abroad.

On that note, let’s explore what makes the USA a preferred study-abroad destination for Indian students shared by Abhinav Mital, Co-founder of The WorldGrad.

1. COURSES AND QUALITY OF EDUCATION

The American academic landscape allows Indian students to choose from over 5000 world-class institutions and enrol in undergraduate or PhD.-level programs across any discipline. In the last couple of years, US universities saw an increase in international students’ enrolment in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified associate courses and degrees in STEM fields, business, and management.

Today, some of the most popular courses in the US include Computer Science and IT specialisations, like AI, data science, and cybersecurity. Engineering courses such as electrical, aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineering, and MBA specialisations in international business, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship are also widely popular.

In addition, degrees related to biophysics, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics are popular. Meanwhile, smart programmes that allow students to start the first year of their degree at a US university in India are also gaining prominence.

2. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

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The US presents lucrative opportunities to international students, making it a top study abroad destination for 32 per cent of Indian students. Many US universities and colleges allow students to work on one or multiple internships, enabling them to network with leading employers, which helps them secure lucrative placement offers in the future.

Some of the most popular careers projected to grow further in the next 7 years include – software developer, information security analyst, medical and health services manager, web developer, and financial manager.

3. STUDENT-FRIENDLY VIA POLICIES

Recently, the US rolled out pro-student policies for graduates in the STEM fields, allowing them to apply for work permits for 2 years after their post-graduation. This has offered an extended window for Indian students to seek employment opportunities and pay off outstanding student loans.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Programme categories international students as non-immigrants, eligible for several visas, including the F-1 visa.

4. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

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Many US universities extend scholarship programmes to students that allow aspiring candidates to enrol in their dream institutions for higher studies. To make it further possible, students can access multiple platforms that extend education loans to pursue education in the US.

5. DIVERSITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE

The US is often described as a ‘nation of immigrants,’ where the culture, values, and beliefs of different communities merge in harmony. This makes the multicultural country very forthcoming to international students, making the lifestyle and culture of the land more inclusive. The diversity helps Indian students adjust to cultural differences quickly, enabling them to focus more on their academic goals.

Factors like the flexibility to explore courses and degrees, lucrative job opportunities, and student-friendly visa policies will continue to add to the charm of the US being a preferred study-abroad destination for Indian students.

With more international student-centric policies and initiatives to expedite visa approvals, the rate of students enrolling in US universities will continue to increase in 2024.

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