Check out Canada, Australia: Look beyond US for higher education options

Students and IT workers are worried that changes in the US could turn sour

Not just Indian information technology (IT) workers, even students planning to pursue higher education in the US are spending sleepless nights on account of US President Donald Trump’s avowed goal of reducing the influx of immigrants into America. They are worried that changes in regulations could cause their American dream to go sour.  
 
Students who plan to go to the US for their undergraduate education typically begin preparing for exams like SAT from as early as Class IX. All their efforts could go waste if visa rules change by the time they reach Class XII.
 
Since studying in the US is an expensive affair, many students look to stay on, work and earn some of that money back. But if the rules in this regard are made more stringent, the US could become an unviable destination for many. At present, if you have completed your undergraduate studies in the US, the government allows you to live and work there for three years if you have done a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) course, and for one year in case of a non-STEM course. People try to get an H1B visa during that period.
 
“The UK government now allows students to stay in the country for only three months after they have finished their course. If the US government introduces a similar policy, getting a job there will become very difficult,” says Neeraj Khanna, co-founder and director, Spark Career Mentors.
 
A precondition for getting an H1B visa is that you should have an annual salary of at least $60,000 a year. A legislation introduced in the House of Representatives proposes to raise the bar to $130,000. “It will be almost impossible for a fresh graduate to get a job that pays so much,” adds Khanna. 
 
Students eyeing a value-for-money destination may then head elsewhere. “For those belonging to the upper strata of Indian society, working in the US after completing their course is not a big priority. Such students may continue to head to that country for just quality education and exposure. But for those from the middle-income strata, staying back and working is critical. That segment will begin to consider other destinations,” says Naveen Chopra, founder chairman, The Chopras. According to him, the motivation for staying back is not just to earn money but also to gather work experience, which augments a candidate’s value in the job market back home and elsewhere.
 
Those who plan to go to the US need to watch the situation closely. Experts also suggest that students should consider a backup destination. Here are a few you may examine:
 
Canada: One country that is likely to gain students at the expense of the US is its northern neighbour. Tuition fees and cost of living there are lower than in the US and UK. “The country offers what is known as a co-op programme, which means that students can study for, say, six months and work for another six. Since they have already gathered work experience during their undergrad course,  students find it easier to land a job,” says Khanna.
 
The Citizenship and Immigration Canada has made favourable changes recently to the post-graduation work permit programme. “International graduates can now obtain a three-year open work permit allowing them to work for any employer in any industry. They don’t need to have a Canadian job offer at the time of applying for the permit,” says Vibha Kagzi, founder and chief education officer, Reachivy.com. University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University and Waterloo University are among the most sought after.
 
Singapore: The country has emerged as an important educational hub within Asia. Its government has developed collaborations with some of the best institutes around the world, such as MIT and Yale. Some of the top universities in the country are NUS, SMU, NTU and Yale-NUS. However, academic standards are rigorous, so gaining admission is no cakewalk, warn experts.
 
The Singapore government offers a tuition grant scheme to help students bear the cost of tertiary education. “In exchange for the grant, international students have to sign a tuition grant agreement under which they are contractually obliged to work for a Singapore entity for three years upon graduation,” says Kagzi. Proximity to India and safety are two other reasons why Indian parents prefer Singapore.
 
Germany: If you can speak German, your tuition fee can be lowered or even waived. It a good destination for those wishing to pursue courses in engineering, technology and design. Here, too, international students can work during college years. They can also stay on in the country after finishing their course to find work. Being here gives them the freedom to explore opportunities in other European countries.
 
Australia: The country’s popularity had dipped a few years ago due to racism-related crimes against Asians. But with the Australian government managing to contain such incidents, confidence is rebuilding. Australia is popular for a wide range of courses: Business management, engineering, information technology, architecture and hospitality. “This year Macquarie University has even allocated AUS$ 1.8 million for Indian girl students to help them pursue higher education,” says Jaideep Gupta, founder and chief executive officer, Univariety. University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Sydney, University of Queensland and Monash University are among the country’s most highly rated. Australia, too, gives two-year extension to students who have finished their course to find work and later get a permanent resident status.       
 
Hong Kong: It is fast gaining popularity as an education destination. Its preeminent universities include the HK University of Science and Technology, University of Hong Kong, and Chinese University of Hong Kong. The country is generous with scholarships: Meritorious students can get it up to 100 per cent. Business, engineering and information technology are some of the courses for which students go there.