Why studying abroad calls for a plan

University education is one of life's biggest investments and, like any other investment, it should be judged by the opportunities it opens up laterFor most Indian students, studying abroad remains a life-changing aspiration. India is one of the world’s largest outbound student markets with nearly 1.8 million Indians pursuing education overseas. But success does not depend only on admission in top foreign universities, but also on how well students marry education to their future career. The choice of university, therefore, must be seen as an investment, with attention to aspects such as employability and return on investment (ROI).Being far more outcome-driven than before, students today should begin with three fundamental questions, says Sanjay Laul, founder and director, MSM Unify, a global education marketplace. “First, what career outcome am I working towards? Second, can I realistically afford the complete journey, including living expenses and unforeseen costs? And third, does the destination offer strong opportunities for internships, employment and skill development after graduation?” explains Laul.LOOK BEYOND RANKINGSRankings can provide a useful benchmark but they are only one piece of the decision-making puzzle. Most global ranking systems are based on measures of research productivity, institutional reputation and citations of the teaching staff. These factors are crucial, but they do not always indicate employability, internships and successful graduation rates. “When choosing a school, one needs to consider how well the university integrates its students in the industry, whether the offered courses meet current market demands, and what share of alumni find jobs after graduation,” suggests Laul.Schools situated near big centres of trade, technological development, medical services or innovation will offer better chances for networking and learning in practice. One of the biggest mistakes students can make is selecting a destination solely because of a favourable visa policy at a particular moment. Regulations related to immigration and post-study work options may change very fast; demand for skilled workforce will remain more stable.So, destinations offering good economies, labour shortages in strategic industries and the habit of drawing global talent should be chosen by students. Studies have found that assured post-study work options have helped in making students confident.MAKE A REALISTIC FINANCIAL PLANIn some cases, depending on the destination chosen, the cost of living may take up as much as 30 to 50 per cent of the total budget. It is important for prospective students to budget for housing, transport, health insurance, visa fees, books, travel and emergency costs. “Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates also deserve consideration. Small variations in currency rates can translate into very high costs within the two-year study programme. Students and their parents need to check scholarship programmes, assistantships, grants and part-time work that will ease their financial burden,” says Laul. It’s advisable for students to have an extra 10 to 15 per cent above their projected budget.JOBS, SKILLS AND MOREArtificial Intelligence (AI), sustainability, healthcare and digital technologies are reshaping the job market. Students should move beyond asking, “What jobs are in demand today?” and instead ask, “What skills will remain valuable over the next decade?” According to the Future of Jobs Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum, while 92 million jobs are expected to be displaced worldwide by 2030, another 170 million are projected to be created, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs. It all comes down to skill readiness.“When assessing a programme, students should look at how frequently the syllabus is updated, whether it incorporates AI, data literacy, sustainability and digital innovation, and how closely it aligns with industry needs,” Laul points out.Besides technical abilities, nowadays many companies look for candidates who have strong analytical skills, creativity, flexibility and ability to solve problems. Research also proves that students with internship or any work experience are much more likely to get hired. The key is not to find the most famous programme in 2030 but to be prepared for lifelong learning and working together with technologies during their whole career. In the AI era, success belongs to those who know how to merge technologies and human judgement with a global outlook.AVOID THESE MISTAKESOne of the biggest mistakes students make is choosing a country first and the course later. Location preference is understandable, yet success in the long term depends more on the quality of a course, its relevance, and job and internship prospects, than on the country. “Quite often, students get fixated on university ranking while ignoring aspects such as course structure and placement,” says Laul.Another common mistake is picking a destination just because it is trendy at the moment, while checking for the relevance of a course offered there. Others fail to assess the total cost of education or the realistic job prospects after graduation.It is important to set a career goal first, and to then evaluate courses, universities and locations against that goal. These factors are extremely important and often shape a student’s overall success.Studying abroad means adapting to a completely different culture, education system and environment, and strong support structures make the transition easier.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsPublished By: Shyam BalasubramanianPublished On: Jul 21, 2026 18:38 IST