Indian Student Busts the Biggest Myth About Studying Abroad

Saransh Ahuja Changed the Narrative for Indian Students

Saransh Ahuja, a 22-year-old student studying in Canada is from a middle class family. He also, like other Indian students, thought that studying abroad was “for others”. However, he did not give up and spent months and months on researching, looking for scholarships and application strategies, etc and he was finally able to do it- without family wealth or luxury.

“You don’t have to be rich to study abroad,” he said in an interview. “You just need clarity and commitment. I worked part-time, applied for grants, and managed my living costs smartly. It’s not easy, but it’s possible.”

It is one of thousands of stories that prove studying abroad is not only about money but about the mindset and management.

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What made it possible for Raghav to study abroad?

A majority of the Indian students think that studying abroad means five-star accommodations, and endless spending. When in reality, students like Saransh who make it big through simple, practical steps, including:

• Going for budget-friendly study abroad destinations: Instead of studying in US, or UK, he chose to study at a public university in Canada.

• Not missing the deadlines of scholarships: Saransh had been actively looking for scholarships and received a partial tuition waiver and government-funded bursaries to cut down on the cost of study in Canada.

• Working part-time: There are several part-time jobs in Canada for international students in Canada, so he got one and worked 20 hours per week during his course to cover the basic expenses easily.

• Choosing affordable accommodation: He was staying in shared accommodation, cooked his own meals at home, and made use of student discounts to travel and purchase groceries.

Related Reads:

Why the ‘Rich Only’ Myth Exists in the Minds of Indian Students?

The misconception of the rich continues because of what they see online-lavish vlogs, great infrastructure of universities, and fancy student lifestyles. However, these visuals hide the challenges that students have to face while studying abroad, including financial constraints, job scarcity, and finding financial aid.

Smart strategies to study abroad on a budget

Here are some effective tips used by Saransh to make your studying abroad journey smooth.

• Choose the right country and know how the program is taught: Rather than following the ratrace, go for affordable countries like Germany, Canada, France, and New Zealand and check how the program is taught after you are done checking the latest QS world university rankings 2026.

• Crack the admission code: Be aware of how you will get admission to a particular college. While Canadian universities generally do not require students to submit SAT scores and want students to submit authentic SOPs and credible LORs, other universities and countries might require them.

• Balance academics and work: Just like several other Indian students studying abroad, Ahuja also worked part-time in Canada. He has a great way to balance both.

• Try to minimise unnecessary expenses as much as possible: Smart choices like ones that Ahuja made (staying off-campus in a shared apartment, cooking himself, traveling and grocery shopping using student discounts) helped him cut down costs.

• Socialize and build networks: Saransh encourages international students to participate in hackathons, co-op placements, and projects to build a strong network that can be useful later.