Study in English Speaking Countries
Every year more than 1.8 million students travel to different countries for higher education. More than 3.5 Lacs students, solely from India travel to different countries to enroll in various programs, which is second highest after China. At present, more than 11 Lacs Indian students are pursuing their higher education outside their homeland. Generally, when thinking about study destination for higher education, at times we get trapped in our heads about nations where native understands the English language and countries where their native language is English.
We Indians as a nation are the highest English-speaking individuals in the world; does this mean that we are an English-speaking country? The answer is - No. There is a huge difference between USA and India, USA has adopted English as their primary native language, while Indians understand English but our native language is Hindi (first language), Bengali, Gujrati, Marathi, etc. Any Indian student looking for an abroad education always seeks an English-taught study program, whether it may be in English speaking countries like the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, etc, or any of the European countries. The primary criterion to decide on any destination is the budget plan for the study programs and career opportunities post studies.
English Speaking countries
Some of the popular destinations for higher education where English is used as a primary language are listed below-
- United State of America (USA)
- Canada
- Australia
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Ireland
- New Zealand
Highest English Speaking Countries in Europe
An estimated 370 million people in Europe majorly speak the English language. This figure becomes even more prominent when you realize that there are 450 million EU residents on the whole!
1. Germany- 62.35% of Germans can interact in English.
2. Netherlands- With a proficiency of 71.45%, the Netherlands with the highest proficiency in English in the entire European region.
3. Sweden- With a proficiency of 70.40%, Swedish can manage their communication in English
4. Denmark- About 65% of youth under the age of 18-24 Years can communicate in English
5. Norway- Typically 69% of Norwegians (residents of Norway) can interact in English
6. Belgium- Hardly 61.58% of the natives converse in English.
7. Poland- 62.07% of Poles can speak English at a satisfactory level
8. Austria- With a proficiency rate of 62.18 percent.
Top reasons to study in English Speaking countries
As most Asian and African countries established their education system post their independence from Europeans or Americans. Before these countries gained their independence children of elite families used to study at top universities in Europe and the US. These Universities retained eminent Educationists and Researchers who gave several life-changing discoveries to the world in the field of science and philosophy.
The major reasons to study in English speaking countries-
1. Global Exposure- Studying abroad not only gives you a life-long opportunity to learn and understand different forms of ethnicity and culture. Moreover, students all across the world prefer studying in these countries.
2. Flexible System- Most universities allow you to choose the duration and structure that works for you.
3. Study programs for everyone- The availability of tons of study programs at the universities, enables the students to enroll in the program as per their interest. Hence, we can say that these countries offer study programs for all.
4. Quality of Education- Collectively 9 out of 10 academies and 37 out of 50 world-ranked universities have their origins in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada & UK.
5. Scholarship to the Meritorious Students- Almost every other university runs multiple scholarship programs, which are offered to the students based on their profile and Academic performance.
6. Great Career Opportunities- Post study these countries offer Post Study Work (PSW) VISA to search for jobs. Most of the students fetch good jobs either during their internship or immediately after completing their studies.
Popular Destinations, who goes where?
The interesting point is most of them are Asian, not Africans! The answer is very simple - it’s affordability for the program. Above all, students belonging to countries with booming economies find it a better choice to work in developed countries or after coming back to their own country, as ample career options are available. More than 50% of students are from India and China. Primarily students from Germany, France, etc either go to US or UK. Students from the US, move to Europe. In India, speaking from a geographical perspective, students living in the Andhra region, usually, prefer the USA as their study destination, while the natives of Punjab plan on Canada, and natives of Gujrat prefer to study in the United Kingdom (UK) and about 50% of students from these states solely are keenest to go to foreign universities. The chart below displays the distribution of international students who migrated to different countries for their higher education
The most popular destinations among Indians are the United States (USA) & Canada. More than 11 Lac students are registered in various institutions for their higher education outside India. If we look at the statistics, over 3.40 Lac students in UAE, Oman, and Saudi are perusing their school education, as a result of their parents working in these countries. On the whole, over 7.91 Lac students are currently pursuing Bachelor-level or Master-level degrees in the remaining countries. In addition, when looking at the abroad student percentage of the 5 top destinations like the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Canada, and New Zealand hold 75% of the share whereas Europe carries a share of 25% of total international students, to know more about the programs in these countries you can refer to the links below-
Study in USA
Study in UK
Study in Australia
Study in Canada
Study in New Zealand
Study in Ireland (Affordable)
Source: Rajya Sabha Reply 2021
Popular courses
Science and Engineering programs are the foremost preference of the students willing to study abroad, followed by the Business Program. Mostly, these programs are only preferred by students from science backgrounds students. Subject fields such as Tourism, Culinary, Arts, and Culture, etc, are also quite a preference these days. You can simply find the popular study program among students-
- Business
- Engineering
- Architecture & design
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Social Science
- Media & Arts
- Economics
- Foreign Language
Cost to study in English Speaking Country
In the table below, you take a glance at the cost of study for various programs in foreign countries (in INR).
These costs are tentative and may vary based on University type, World ranking, Scholarship offered, and other criteria.
*Tuition Fee in Lacs/Year
| Program | UK | US | AUS | CANADA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering | 20-25 | 25-30 | 20-25 | 10-15 |
| Business | 30-35 | 30-35 | 30-35 | 25-30 |
| Economics | 15-20 | 25-30 | 20-25 | 2025 |
Above mentioned cost exclusive of the living cost.
Comparison between English Speaking and European countries
Here, is the comparative table for Universities in English speaking countries and European Union, let’s take a closer look to analyze various parameters while studying abroad-
| Parameter | Europe | English Speaking Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee | 3-8 Lacs for most of the Programs | 15-20 Lacs |
| Living Cost | Moderate | Very High |
| International Exposure | Very high, 14 Lacs international Students | Very High |
| Study Pattern | Research oriented & Industry interfaced Curriculum | Research oriented & Industry interfaced Curriculum |
| Quality of Education | Very High | Very High |
| Scholarship | ERASMUS+ takes care of even the living cost | University offers individual Scholarship |
| Post Study Work VISA | Open to work in 28 Countries of the European Union | Respective Country of attaining education (country where one completed their education) |
| Multiple Campus Education | 200+ Universities under Student Exchange Program | Not Available |
| Global Ranking | Top Ranked Universities | Top Ranked Universities |
In India, there are huge numbers of students who look for quality education at an affordable price.
You may refer study in Europe page for affordable programs in European countries.
Intake
Universities in English-speaking countries majorly offer 3 intakes. To learn about the right time to apply to these universities, you can refer to the table given below for intake month, and the application timeline-
| Intake | Application Timeline | Participating University |
|---|---|---|
| Fall – September | November – May | All |
| Winter – January | July – December | Most of them |
| Spring – May | January – March | Few |
Eligibility
General Exams (USA)
In this section, we will tell you which exam is required to study in USA? and the eligibility criteria to study in USA.
- GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test for those who want to pursue an MBA or business programs
- GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is for students looking MA or MS. Few business schools also accept GRE scores for business or management courses.
- LSAT - The Law School Admission Test is a standardized test for admission to law schools
- SAT - The Scholastic Assessment Test evaluates admission in UG courses.
Language Exam (USA/UK/CANADA/AUS)
All the higher educational institutes in USA ask for English proficiency skills for Indian students.
- TOEFL
- IELTS
Academic Requirement
Any University may ask for any specific grades in 10+2 or Bachelor level
Documents Required to Apply for Bachelor or Master Course
Below are the documents required to apply for Bachelors/Master’s Program
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts of 10+2 Grade/Bachelor etc
- Entrance exam scorecards i.e GRE / GMAT / MCAT / LSAT/SAT / ACT
- Proof of English language proficiency scores
- Statement of Purpose
- Passport
- Resume or CV
- Work experience letters (if applicable)
- Application confirmation copy
- Certificates for extra-curricular activities
- Proof of funds
- Research proposal / any portfolio (for any particular course)
- Essays
VISA Document & Application Process
Student Visa (USA): Students applying for a program that requires more than 18 hours of study in a week require an F1 visa. It includes all the undergraduate-level as well as graduate-level programs such as MS, MBA, etc.
Student Visa (UK): This visa category is for students going to the UK for higher education, formerly named as the Tier 4 Student Visa.
Student visa requires you to carry mandatory documents along with supporting documents of financial and academic records.
- A passport with a validity date of at least six months beyond your period of stay.
- A printed copy of DS-160, the online application form
- SEVIS Fee Receipt
- Interview appointment letter
- Form I-20 sent by the college
- Visa fees payment confirmation receipt
- Bank statement for at least three years establishing your financial capability to pay the fee (parent or guardian is also accepted)
- Original mark sheets/provisional certificates
Scholarship to study in US or UK:
At times students need financial assistance in order to pursue their education Abroad. The Question is- Does Government offers any scholarships to international students for abroad education? The answer to this is - Yes. Many State Government offers scholarship to the students of their state based on Academic Merit, Financial position, and other categories. Students can refer to the Official websites of the respective country to learn more about these scholarships. Other than government or public institutions, many private trusts also offer scholarships to bright students. Some of the scholarships are quoted below-
| S. No. | Name of Scholarship | Description | Eligibility | Amount in USD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | InlaksShivdasani Foundation Scholarships | It covers tuition fees, travel, & living expenses | It is awarded to students who pursue all courses except Computer Science, Business, Engineering, Medicine, Public Health, Music & Film Animation | USD 1,00,000 |
| 2 | Fulbright-Nehru Research Fellowship | It is given to all students studying in a US Accredited college or university | Students having at least 3 years work experience & doing their Master’s are eligible | Variable amount |
| 3 | The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program | Students pursuing a non-graduate degree in a few disciplines are eligible | The TOEFL score is necessary for this fellowship | Variable amount |
| 4 | Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowships for Indian Students | This fellowship is given to 5 qualified students | It provides financial assistance on the MBA tuition fees | USD 1,50,000 |
| 5 | Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship | It offers grants to fund scholarships with sustainable and high-impact outcomes of focus in 6 areas | Only sustainable and measurable activities will be considered | USD 30,000 |
| 6 | Akhtarali H. Tobaccowala Fellowship | This fellowship is awarded to 2 students | It covers the tuition fees of the 2-year MBA program | USD 25,000 |
| 7 | The Indian Trust Fellowship | This is given to students possessing excellent academic records, extracurricular achievements, etc. | It covers the tuition fees of full-time MBA students of the Booth School of Business | USD 10,000 |
| 8 | American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship | This is renewable for 4 years and is dependent on academic excellence | It covers all billable expenses of UG students at the American University | Variable amount |
| 9 | Tata Scholarships for Cornell University | This is offered to 20 meritorious UG students at the Cornell University | Students need to fit inside the prescribed income bar to be eligible | Variable amount |
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