Affordable Countries To Study Abroad: Netherlands, Ireland, Singapore & More

A large number of high school students aspire to move out of India for their higher education. Be it the interdisciplinary curriculum, experiential learning, diverse student body, and professional opportunities- students and parents often perceive a lot of merits to studying abroad. However, the costs involved often become an obstacle for a large segment of those who aspire to study abroad. One may expect a gross spend of more than Rs 1.5 cr for an undergraduate degree in mainstream study abroad destinations which some people also consider as best countries to study abroad such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, which is beyond the means of many. Whilst scholarships are available, a student being able to achieve a scholarship that substantially reduces the cost of education is extremely rare (as compared to minority scholarships that cover less than 25% of the tuition fees only). This makes it extremely common for students to postpone plans of studying abroad for the postgraduate level or even abandon them altogether.

An important contributing factor to this chain of events is limited knowledge about countries (beyond the most popular ones like the US, UK, Australia, etc.) that offer prestigious undergraduate degrees with English as the medium of instruction.

It hence becomes important to explore countries and universities where Indian students can access everything that makes foreign education appealing with a cost similar to that of private Indian universities.

Also Read | Things To Know Before Choosing Canada As A Study Destination

Besides the usual destinations, this article will explore some of the best countries to study abroad for Indian students.

Netherlands

The Netherlands has established itself as one of the cleanest and most progressive countries in Western Europe and therefore can be considered as one of the best countries to study abroad.

• It hosts some of the world’s leading universities such as the University of Amsterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the University Groningen and Leiden University amongst others.
• Tuition fee for undergraduate degrees is fairly low (between Rs 9 lakh and Rs 11 lakh per year). With the cost of living being around Rs 8 lakh per year, students can finish 3-year undergraduate degrees in about Rs 50 lakhs making it one of the cheap countries to study for Indian students.
• This is not only about a third of the cost of education in a university of similar repute in the UK but is at par with many Indian universities as well. Moreover, universities in the Netherlands offer several merit (need-blind) and need-based scholarships to international students, which can significantly bring down costs.
• Engineering, business, and psychology courses are particularly sought-after in the Netherlands, and universities also offer attractive open-ended liberal arts degrees at the undergraduate level (in a model similar to the US at 25% of the cost).

Also Read | Things To Know Before Choosing Netherlands As A Study Destination

Ireland

The Republic of Ireland has emerged as an attractive destination for Indian students in the past decade.

• Leading universities in Ireland include Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, and University College Dublin.
• Tuition fee for undergraduate degrees is around Rs 15 lakhs and the cost of living is around Rs 10 lakh per year making Ireland one of the cheap countries to study for Indian students.
• Students have access to both the EU and the UK job market after completion of degrees, in addition to having a shot at a permanent residency in Ireland.

Exploring the right universities, courses and scholarships warrants thorough research and exploration, which should ideally start as students enter Class 11.

Also Read | 6 Reasons To Choose Ireland As Your Destination For Higher Education

Read on to find more about some of the best countries to study abroad.

Singapore

Singapore has long been a popular destination for Indian students.

• It hosts three of the world’s leading universities – the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and Singapore Management University.
• Low cost of attendance and the country’s proximity to India increase its appeal to students.
• Despite minor disturbances due to the Covid-10 Pandemic, Singapore’s economy is recovering at an impressive rate with an increase in sought-after job opportunities, particularly in finance and technology making it one of the best countries to study abroad.

Also Read | Things To Know Before Choosing Singapore As A Study Destination

Some More Options

Other best countries to study abroad where students can complete their undergraduate education for less than Rs 75 lakh (including tuition fees and living costs for the entirety of the degree) are Finland, Sweden, Japan, South Korea, Czech Republic, Estonia, and Turkey. Moreover, these costs can be brought down further through scholarships and part-time work opportunities and therefore can be seen as some of the cheap countries to study for Indian students.

Also Read | Things To Know Before Choosing The USA As A Study Destination

Exploring the right universities, courses and scholarships warrants thorough research and exploration, which should ideally start as students enter Class 11. Certain universities and courses have specific entrance/aptitude tests as admissions’ requirements and a high score in those tests significantly increases one’s chances of availing scholarships.

Also Read | Jobs You Can Take Up As A Student in all countries

In addition to the short-term and immediate benefits of completing an undergraduate education in the countries we just spoke about, they present unique benefits to students in the long term. Netherlands and Ireland are likely to offer permanent residency (PR) to international students after they complete their undergraduate degrees and work in the host country for a few years which is why they are now considered as some of the best countries to study abroad. Moreover, if students are aspiring to complete their graduate/postgraduate education in the most prestigious universities in the US or the UK, an undergraduate degree in any of the countries we just spoke about provides a far better base as compared to universities in India. Broadening one’s horizons improves both the quality and quantity of growth opportunities that one can access.

Vijeeth Srinivas is a development consultant with more than extensive experience in the foreign education industry. With the Centre for Career Development and Essai Education he has helped hundreds of students secure positions in leading universities abroad. He is keen to make novel developments in education and skill development more accessible to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.