Getting a foreign degree is a worthwhile experience for large number of students. However there are also a few for whom the educational experience has not been as beneficial as they expected it would be. Some students also hold regrets for taking the decision of studying abroad. Evaluating the tradeoffs of getting an educational degree from abroad is critical in determining where to study, which course to take up and how to study in another country. Indian students can assess whether they have made the right move by studying abroad based on these factors:

Degree Value

Students, who decide to opt for an educational degree from abroad, should be aware of the potential differences in the manner in which their degree is evaluated in their own country as well as the rest of the world valued in their home country and elsewhere. There is no uniform and globally accepted standard for higher education degrees. Different universities have different educational programs with varying lengths, content and quality. Indian students can approach agencies that specialize in finding out whether the value of a degree from abroad is equivalent to a degree earned in the person’s home country. Students can get help from these agencies when unsure on how their foreign educational degree will be valued at home.

Value in the Job Market

An educational degree secured from a foreign university is usually highly valued by employers in India. Students with a foreign degree are given more competitive edge in interviews over those who do not study abroad. Foreign education is often perceived to be of a high standard and hence employers give higher preference to those who hold a foreign degree. Indian students with a study abroad program are believed to be mature, confident, aware of global happenings and trends and open-minded. As Kiran Jain, pursuing masters degree in a language in France, says, “If you possess fluency in some of the globally accepted languages or are culturally aware then you have a better chance of hiring by global conglomerates with operations spread over different parts of the world.”

However, some employers do not acknowledge a foreign degree if earned from a lesser known college or university abroad. The educational degree taken from a school, the employer is unfamiliar with stands equivalent or even less as a degree from even a mediocre college in the person’s home country.

Quality of Education

Educational standards offered by different universities and in different countries vary significantly. Students who decide to opt for a study abroad program need to undertake research to ensure that the university and program they choose meets their standards. Students can find out about university rankings from the Academic Ranking of World Universities. Students going for education need to find out if their chosen college is accredited properly.

Personal Benefits and Challenges

Students who study abroad may see several positive changes in them.Studying in a new environment and interacting with new people often makes students confident and mature.