5 Unconventional Destinations to Study Abroad for Indian Students

Getting a postgraduate degree is a necessary step towards career building. Students who excel in their studies get the golden opportunity to pursue higher studies at a prominent university abroad. Now, the decision to study abroad requires deliberate planning.

It is really important to select the correct destination for shaping your future. While some much sought-after destinations such as Harvard, Oxford, Princeton, or Cambridge offer brilliant academic programs with promising careers, these are big-budget choices. An ordinary household can’t easily afford to send their wards to the elite-class universities of the world. 

There are many unconventional destinations for middle-income people to study overseas. Apart from being budget-friendly due to their geographical location or affordable courses, these destinations provide a unique and enriching experience for Indian students. Moreover, these unconventional locations offer vibrant cosmopolitan cultures, giving you much-needed exposure that is as valuable as your master’s degree.

So, this article will take you on a trip around the five most unconventional destinations for abroad education.

List of 5 Unconventional Study Destinations for Abroad Education

Taiwan: Where Learning Goes in Sync with Nature 

Taiwan is a country famous for its sociable people and vivid culture. But what makes Taiwan a much-coveted destination is its natural beauty and picturesque landscapes featuring majestic mountains, lush green valleys, iconic beaches, and immense waterfalls. Taiwan offers a quality education at a very economical cost. The capital, Taipei, has numerous things to explore, including natural and manmade splendours. Aiming towards conserving its natural beauty, Taiwan follows a holistic education system, emphasising green growth. In this direction, Taiwan has established the Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City, which aims to bolster sustainable energy and promote green energy technology. This city serves as a model for using green energy and encourages R&D by various universities in sustainable development. 

Besides, Taiwan has much more to offer from its culture and traditions. A visit to a Buddhist temple or the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall can give you a larger-than-life experience.

Mexico City: Explore Secrets of the Bygone Era

The national capital of Mexico, Mexico City, exhibits a very diverse cosmopolitan culture. Above all, Mexico City is renowned for its world-class universities. Seven universities in this megacity appear on the QS World University Rankings 2023 list. 

Britannica ranks Mexico City at the top of the list of the world’s most densely populated metropolises. This is because the city is globally hailed for its excellent Mexican cuisine, particularly the traditional street food. Besides, you can witness the majestic beauty of the colonial-era buildings and historic sites. History scholars can visit various archaeological excavation sites and unearth hidden secrets. You must never miss visiting one of the world’s seven wonders– the Chichen Itza.

Moreover, at the grand annual carnivals, you can have ample opportunities to talk to the locals and expand your outlook.

Singapore: Where You Can Learn How to Build Marvels

Singapore is indeed the land of magnificence. The moment you land in the Lion City, you find yourself surrounded by lush greenery, with waterfalls pouring from the ceiling at the botanical gardens of the Changi Airport. It all appears like a scene from a fantasy movie coming alive! However, very few people know that this marvellous country is also renowned for its educational excellence. 

The country possesses two of the highest-ranked universities in the world—the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. These universities offer distinguished courses in engineering, medicine, business administration, and doctoral degrees in various humanities disciplines at affordable fees. 

Estonia: Safest Progressive Nation

Estonia is a peaceful Nordic country that is considered one of the world’s safest places to live. This is due to the lowest crime rate and high standard of living. However, it is one of the most worthwhile places to pursue higher education because of its prominence as a precursor of IT and digital innovation. Prestigious Institutes like the University of Tartu and Tallinn University of Technology offer promising cybersecurity, business intelligence, robotics, and e-governance courses. The best part is that most disciplines are taught in English, which is easy for students from all nationalities to understand.

Malaysia: Promising Career At Affordable Means

Globally acclaimed for its vivacious, traditional opulence and delectable cuisine, Malaysia is also prominent due to its excellent universities offering engineering, business, and hospitality management courses. Due to its booming tourism and food industry, Malaysia offers a promising career in hospitality management. The universities of Malaya and Monash are the critical centres for learning the basics of hospitality. Above all, Malaysia has a record low cost of living. This can be perceived from the estimated monthly cost of living for international students, which is MYR or annually just MYR 1,500. Besides, the annual tuition fee for the postgraduate course is between 27,000 Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) and 47,297 MYR.

So, these are some of the most iconic places to study abroad. As you can understand, these destinations have one thing in common— the low cost of living and affordable fees to study overseas. However, what additional benefit you can gain from these locations is a vast diversified experience of different cultures and communities, which will shape you as a future leader.

If you plan to move to an unconventional destination for higher education abroad, you must be prepared with the most essential thing—student travel insurance.

Also Read: How to get Scholarship to Study Abroad?

Make your Abroad Education a Stress-free Journey with Travel Insurance

It is essential for you to financially secure your study trip abroad against medical and personal risks. Hence, the first thing to do before planning to study abroad is to buy comprehensive student travel insurance, such as the Care Student Explore plan by Care Health Insurance. This policy provides complete coverage for medical emergencies and other financial burdens such as losing passports and travel documents. The plan also backs you up by compensating for a tuition fee if you have to interrupt your term abroad due to an unforeseen circumstance!

Hence, if you plan to pursue higher education at a prominent university abroad, you must carefully select student travel insurance, among other mandatory documents.

Here’s a Tip: Always cross-check the university’s requirements for student travel insurance with your Indian travel insurance plan to verify whether it conforms with all the eligibility criteria. 

Disclaimer: Plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.