Students who aspire to study abroad are no longer making their choice of destination based purely on the reputation of the institution. With rising education and living costs, scholarships, and a changing job market, the emphasis is shifting towards cost-effectiveness, employability, and skills.

SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026-27 offers financial assistance between Rs 15,000 and 1.5 crore to eligible students who wish to study overseas at any level from class 9th to higher education. Eligible students who opt to pursue postgraduate or higher-level studies from QS Top 200 overseas universities can get an assistance amount of up to Rs 15 lakh based on their grades, income, and entrance examination.

Eligible candidates can apply for the SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026-27 on the official website before the last date, September 19, 2026. The applicants will have to appear for document verification and interview rounds before the final selection.

Scholarships can change the scenario for students who study abroad

The financial assistance provided under various scholarship programs can impact the students’ choices of universities and countries while studying abroad. As scholarships open up opportunities for economically weaker sections, they might influence the selection of universities and countries for students unwilling to bear the expensive fees of education and maintenance.

Moreover, with changing job market requirements, students are now choosing their courses, universities, and countries based on the employability ratio rather than just brand value.

Skills development has now become more important than the reputation of the university

Education counsellors Akshay Chaturvedi and Piyush Kumar feel that the skill development and knowledge gained by students while studying abroad can play a significant role in deciding their future careers, depending on the ROI of the course and education.

Artificial intelligence, data, adaptability, communication, and diverse experiences gained while studying abroad can give students an edge over others in landing better job opportunities.

Moreover, AI and automation are taking over various jobs, which means skill development and knowledge beyond theoretical learning offered by universities can make students job-ready. Thus, it is important for students to keep learning and update their skills consistently to keep pace with the latest trends and innovations in their respective fields.

Germany, Ireland, Singapore, and UAE are emerging as popular study-abroad destinations

The shift in perceptions about studying abroad is impacting the choice of destination of Indian students. Germany, Ireland, Singapore, and UAE are emerging as preferred study-abroad destinations for Indian students for getting quality education and better career opportunities.

While QS World University Rankings might continue to influence students’ choices of universities, considerations such as cost of education and maintenance, research exposure, internships, and placement opportunities offered by the institution will equally contribute to their final decision.

For students aspiring to pursue higher education studies, such as a PhD, the high expense of research and the associated expenditures could be of utmost concern. But for these students, there is great news as certain countries do offer a stipend or salary to the students so that the former can take care of the basic necessities of life while they work towards their goal.

These stipends are generally offered in return for services rendered in the form of teaching, lab assistance, and so on. For students who wish to make a career overseas, a funded PhD could be an excellent opportunity to earn a fortune and simultaneously make an international career for themselves.

Let us take a look at five such countries where one can expect a handsome stipend during their PhD:

1. Austria

Austria has the highest stipend amount to offer to an international student, with an average stipend amounting to roughly $104,328, or approximately ₹1 crore. The estimated average monthly cost of living is around $1,955 Euros, which is equivalent to Rs 1.87 lakh.

Students can look for an opportunity at the University of Vienna, Vienna University of Technology, University of Innsbruck, Medical University of Graz and University of Salzburg.

2. Netherlands

Netherlands comes next on our list, with an average stipend amounting to roughly $74,163, which is equivalent to Rs 70.99 lakh.

The country is famous for its research and science-based publishing activities, making it an important academic hub for PhD students. Students can consider universities like University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, University of Groningen, Delft University of Technology, and Erasmus University Rotterdam.

3. Denmark

Denmark offers an average stipend of roughly $53,436, which is equal to approximately Rs 51.14 lakh.

Some of the universities where a student can explore the options available include the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), University of Southern Denmark and Aalborg University.

4. Finland

Finland offers an average stipend of roughly $46,537, which is equal to approximately Rs 44.54 lakh.

The universities present in the country offer a wide range of research areas, from the science stream, the humanities stream and much more. Some of the universities that one can apply to include the University of Helsinki, Aalto University, University of Oulu, Tampere University and University of Turku.

5. Sweden

An average stipend of approximately $42,618 or Rs 40.80 lakh can be offered to students pursuing a PhD from Sweden.

The Blekinge Institute of Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, Dalarna University and Jönköping University are some of the options that one can consider.

Check university specific funding before applying

Though the stipend amounts that we have mentioned might interest many, it must be noted that these are only average amounts. Moreover, many universities might not offer a stipend, depending on the nature of the PhD program that the student wishes to join. Therefore, it is essential that before applying anywhere, the student thoroughly studies the terms and conditions of the scholarship, eligibility criteria, taxation, and so on.

For many students, the need to pursue a PhD abroad may seem impossible due to the expenses related to university fees, housing, and everyday living expenses. Thus, scholarships play a critical role in enabling students to achieve their dream of obtaining a higher degree from a foreign university.

The University of Queensland provides a variety of research scholarships for both local and international students who are interested in postgraduate research degrees such as a PhD

Graduate School Scholarships can benefit both local and international students who satisfy the eligibility requirements and want to make a significant contribution to their chosen field of research.

The University of Queensland Graduate School Scholarships can contribute to both tuition fees and offer an additional generous yearly living allowance to those who have achieved excellent results and show research capabilities in their field of expertise

The taxable living allowance for the 2026 cohort is set at AUD 39,220 per annum, with the stipend being indexed annually. The stipend is paid for a maximum of 3.5 years for a PhD, depending on the candidate’s personal circumstances and satisfactory progress in their studies while receiving the scholarship.

Even if you have been offered admission to the University of Queensland, you are not guaranteed to receive the Graduate School Scholarship. Thus, the candidate’s application will be assessed based on their research capabilities, academic excellence, the nature of the research and supervision available for the proposed research topic.

Graduate School Scholarships can be considered for coursework master’s degrees, combined coursework/research master’s degrees, professional doctorates with a substantial research component, and doctoral degrees, such as the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil). Before applying, it is essential to understand the nature of the stipend because a PhD stipend is significantly different from a salary or wage. A stipend is a sum of money paid to a PhD student (or other scholars) to cover expenses while completing a degree, such as a PhD. Usually, the stipend is intended to cover living expenses over three to four years of full-time study. In general, such scholarships as Graduate School Scholarships from the University of Queensland can play a vital role in a student’s decision to pursue a higher degree by research abroad since one of the most substantial costs associated with obtaining a higher degree by research is the tuition fees. Clearly, PhD students are critical assets to society, as they make original research and significant contributions to a wide variety of academic fields, from the sciences and technology to health, humanities, and social sciences.

For Indian students, funding options must be one of the most significant factors when narrowing the search for postgraduate research to specific universities overseas. A scholarship that covers either a large part of the costs or the entire cost of a higher degree by research can be a great motivator for pursuing postgraduate research abroad. Therefore, students who are considering applying for the University of Queensland Graduate School Scholarships should take into account several key aspects: eligibility criteria, application deadlines, the stipend, and available fields of study.

IIM Ahmedabad placements 2026 have set a new international record, with the maximum earning potential (MEP) reaching USD 243,000, or nearly ₹2.31 crore, for students of the institute’s flagship Post Graduate Programme (PGP). The figure is the highest international MEP recorded by IIM Ahmedabad since the Indian Placement Reporting Standards (IPRS) system was introduced in 2011, surpassing the previous record of USD 192,581 set in 2014.

The record international offer was made for a business development role in the information technology sector in Dubai, marking a shift in the profile of some of the highest-paying overseas opportunities available to IIM Ahmedabad graduates. The institute said its MEP calculation includes annual cash salary, one-time cash payments and the total guaranteed cash component.

IIM Ahmedabad Placements 2026 See IT Sector Lead International Pay

The IT sector emerged as the highest-paying sector in IIM Ahmedabad’s international placements in 2026, replacing the stronger presence of sectors such as banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and consulting in recent years. Of the 392 students who participated in the placement process, six accepted international offers. Four of these placements were in Dubai, while Hong Kong and Japan accounted for one placement each.

Business conglomerates accounted for three of the six international offers, while BFSI, IT and retail companies each made one offer. The figures show that although the number of international placements remained limited, the compensation attached to the highest overseas role reached a new level for the institute.

IIM Ahmedabad Domestic Placements Also Remain Strong

IIM Ahmedabad’s domestic placements for 2026 showed strong pay numbers too. The top MEP in the domestic list was ₹81.6 lakh. The median MEP was ₹36.98 lakh. That median number is also the best the institute has seen in the last five years.

BFSI recruiters made 82 offers, while IT and business conglomerates made 34 offers each. Consumer services accounted for 15 offers. The placement figures indicate continued demand for IIM Ahmedabad graduates across traditional management sectors as well as technology-led roles.

Business Development Roles Rise at IIM Ahmedabad

One of the notable trends in the IIM Ahmedabad placement report 2026 was the sharp increase in business development roles. The number of offers in this category rose to 27 in 2026, compared with only two to five offers annually between 2022 and 2024. The highest international MEP itself was attached to a business development position in the IT sector.

Overall, 182 companies participated in the placement process, offering opportunities across approximately 267 roles. Accenture Strategy made the highest number of offers, including pre-placement offers, at 36, followed by Boston Consulting Group with 33, FinIQ Consulting with 24 and McKinsey & Company with 21. More than 50 new companies also joined IIM Ahmedabad’s lateral and final placement processes during the year.

What the IIM Ahmedabad Placement 2026 Figures Show

The newest placement figures suggest that recruiters are coming from more places. They also show that companies still want management graduates in areas like IT, consulting, BFSI, business development, technology, and consumer services.

IIM Ahmedabad said in its official update that multiple student groups saw a clear jump in the number of offers. These increases were seen in fields such as analytics and IT consulting, fintech, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, plus renewable energy and greentech.

The institute also noted that more placement numbers will come out in a checked report. That report will follow the Indian Placement Reporting Standards, or IPRS.

For anyone watching IIM Ahmedabad placements for 2026, the latest numbers offer a quick view: the international MEP is USD 243,000; the domestic MEP is ₹81.6 lakh; the median MEP is ₹36.98 lakh. These figures reflect the recruitment pattern from the most recent PGP placement round.

A major gap between education and employment continues to affect India's young workforce, with 80% of higher-education students reporting a lack of practical experience and industry exposure, according to a NITI Aayog report.

The report, Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047, highlights the limited availability of meaningful apprenticeships and internships and calls for urgent reforms to make India's skilling ecosystem more industry-driven and responsive to changing job requirements.

According to the report, 47% of formal workers identify a lack of prior work experience and internships as the biggest challenge when seeking new jobs. The findings underline the difficulty faced by students and early-career professionals in transitioning from classrooms to workplaces.

MSME participation remains low

Despite India's large MSME ecosystem, employer participation in apprenticeships remains limited. The report noted that only around 32,000 of nearly 60 million registered MSMEs had engaged apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).

Participation among ITI trainees has also remained low. Only 8.5% of ITI trainees took up apprenticeships in 2018, indicating a significant gap between vocational education and workplace exposure.

NITI Aayog also flagged limited awareness of credible and high-quality apprenticeship opportunities. Many students reportedly remain uncertain about where to find genuine programmes that can provide meaningful workplace experience.

Multiple platforms create access barriers

The report pointed to the fragmented nature of India's apprenticeship ecosystem as another challenge. The Apprenticeship India Portal, under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, administers NAPS, while the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) for graduate and diploma apprentices operates separately under the Ministry of Education.

Although the two platforms serve different schemes, their parallel operation can create confusion and make it harder for learners and employers to identify relevant opportunities.

NITI Aayog recommended establishing a single state-level access window that brings together central and state apprenticeship programmes and connects them with the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH).

Internships often fail to deliver real experience

The report also raised concerns about the quality of workplace learning. Internships and apprenticeships for students and early-career learners can sometimes be short-term or tokenistic, limiting their ability to serve as a genuine bridge between education and employment.

Workplace barriers also include informal gatekeeping by senior employees, particularly in vocational trades. Such practices can restrict knowledge transfer and prevent young workers from progressing into higher-value roles.

Industry-led skilling needed

NITI Aayog has called for India's standalone skilling programmes to move away from top-down, supply-driven models towards demand-driven, outcome-linked and industry-backed programmes.

The report identified industry-led training for high-growth sectors, large-scale employability and entrepreneurship programmes, and reskilling for sectors facing technological disruption as key priorities.

The need for reform is becoming more urgent as artificial intelligence, automation and climate-related changes rapidly reshape job requirements. With India's median age at around 28, NITI Aayog stressed the importance of flexible, industry-aligned and job-ready learning pathways to prepare the country's young workforce for the jobs of the future.

International students aspiring to pursue higher education in South Korea can apply for the KAIST Graduate Scholarship 2027, a fully funded opportunity offered by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The scholarship is open to talented students from all countries seeking admission to Master’s, Master’s leading to PhD, or PhD programmes.

The programme is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2027, while the application deadline is September 1, 2026. Final-year undergraduate students who are expected to complete their degrees before enrolment may also apply.

KAIST Graduate Scholarship 2027: Key Details

• Host country: South Korea
• University: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
• Study level: Master’s, Master’s-PhD and PhD
• Study start date: March 1, 2027
• Application deadline: September 1, 2026
• Funding: Fully funded/tuition support with stipends depending on the scholarship

KAIST Scholarship Benefits

Selected international students may be considered for several scholarship schemes, including the KAIST University Scholarship, KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS), KAIST Prestige Scholarship (KPS), KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship and Global Korea Scholarship (GKS).

Under the KAIST University Scholarship, eligible students receive a full tuition fee exemption for four semesters for Master’s programmes, 10 semesters for integrated Master’s-PhD programmes and eight semesters for PhD programmes. Students may also receive a monthly stipend and national health insurance support.

The KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS) provides a full tuition grant and a monthly stipend of KRW 1,000,000 for four semesters.

The KAIST Prestige Scholarship (KPS) provides a full tuition grant and a monthly stipend of KRW 300,000, while the KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship offers a full tuition grant for four academic years and a monthly stipend of KRW 2.5 million.

Students selected through the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) may receive tuition support, a monthly allowance, accommodation, airfare, insurance and book assistance, subject to the applicable GKS scheme and selection process.

Programmes and Eligibility

KAIST offers graduate programmes across areas including natural sciences, life science and bioengineering, engineering, liberal arts and convergence science, and business. More than 80–90% of lectures are offered in English.

Applicants must be international students without Korean citizenship. Master’s applicants generally need a bachelor’s degree, while PhD applicants need a relevant master’s degree. Final-year students may apply if they will graduate before enrolment.

For applicants required to submit English proficiency scores, the minimum scores include TOEFL iBT 83, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 720 or TEPS 326. Certain applicants may request an English proficiency test waiver if they meet KAIST’s specified conditions, including completing previous education in eligible countries.

Prospective applicants should check the official KAIST admission guidelines for the latest programme-specific requirements, scholarship conditions and application procedures before submitting their applications.