Scholarships and Skills Are Reshaping Indian Students’ Priorities When It Comes to Studying Abroad

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.