Growing up, did you have cousins who went to study abroad? It could have even been your siblings. And now you must be reading this blog post to understand how you can do your master’s abroad, right?
Everyone has a different reason to do their master’s abroad. In fact, everyone has a unique reason to pursue a master’s program.
And in this article, we not only tell you why you should do a master’s program in the first place but also about the specializations you can choose from. We will also delve deep and dig out the specializations you can pick from based on your interests and background.
So, here’s what we will be discussing in this article:
1. Why should you do a master’s program?
2. Study abroad: Why should you do a master’s abroad?
3. Study abroad: Which are the top master’s programs?
4. Most Commonly Asked Questions
We know that you will have doubts while you are reading the article. What we would like you to do is to post your queries that you’d like us to answer, in the “Comments” section below, so that we can try and answer them as soon as possible.
So, let’s get started.
1. Why should you do a master’s program?
We are starting from the basics here. Before even getting started with why you should study abroad, we would like to tell you why you should even consider doing a master’s in the first place.
We are sure that some of you must be thinking why this is such a big deal, right?
But, we are giving this information so that we are all on the same page where we know the importance of a master’s degree in an individual’s life.
If you pursued engineering after school, you have already studied for close to 17 years of your life. And if you pursued a BBA or a BBM or a BA, you have spent 15 years of your life studying! We don’t really need to get into the specifics of those who are doctors now, do we?
So, one of the questions that a lot of people have is, “Why should I study more now?”
And we will be answering this question in this section of the article.
Why should you get a master’s degree? What is the scope of a master’s program?
i. A master’s degree program helps you specialize in the field of your interest
ii. Doing a master’s degree during a recession period will help you upskill
i. A master’s degree program helps you specialize in the field of your interest
Remember when you got your Grade 12 results and your dad said, “Now you can definitely become an engineer?” or your mother said, “You will be the best doctor in the world?”
Or maybe you just didn’t know what you wanted to do, so you decided to do a bachelor’s in business administration?
It is not always necessary for a teenager to know what course they actually want to pursue after school. In the case of a lot of teenagers, the decision is taken by their parents whose decision is probably influenced by what their peers tell them or just by research.
But, you will know what to do when it is time for you to pursue a master’s degree. And this is probably when you can finally start studying and working towards something you really like.
It is when you do your master’s program that you get to read more about what you like and even meet people who are like-minded! And that is how you start growing in the right direction.
So, if you are a graduate in mechanical engineering but you want to completely shift focus into information systems, a master’s program will help you do that and build your career as well.
Or maybe you’re an IT engineer but you have dreams of becoming an entrepreneur. A master’s degree in the right program can help you learn a lot about management and leadership. And this will be the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey.
ii. Doing a master’s degree during a recession period will help you upskill
The point we mentioned earlier is applicable at any time.
But the point that we are about to tell you is relevant now and will be relevant when we face a crisis in the upcoming years.
Let’s face it. Our economy is not in a great position right now. In fact, the world economy is crashing. There are so many people who have already lost their jobs and many more will probably lose it in the upcoming months. There is nothing we can do about it.
But this is a really good time to invest in yourself.
This is a fact. There is no better time to invest in yourself than during a recession period.
Doing a master’s in the field of your choice will help you upskill and be ready for when the market gets back on track.
By that time, you will have acquired a lot more knowledge in the field and will have the required skills to get a good job offer.
Now that you know the importance of getting a master’s degree, let us tell you why you should consider studying abroad.
2. Study abroad: Why should you do master’s abroad?
Once you have decided to do your master’s, the next question that you need to tackle is where should you do it, right?
Should you do it in one of the top universities in India or study abroad?
If you’re an MBA aspirant and if you’re confused about where to get an MBA from, you can read our article on MBA in India vs. MBA Abroad to make an informed decision.
But, if you’re looking to do your master’s degree in any other fields, let us tell you why you should choose to study abroad.
i. Studying abroad will help you live and work abroad later
ii. Master’s abroad will expose you to high-quality courses
iii. Doing a master’s abroad will get you better jobs
iv. Studying abroad will boost your self-confidence
i. Studying abroad will help you live and work abroad later
The number of Indian students in foreign countries was found to be 7,53,000 in July 2018 as per the data released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Can you believe this?
This massive rise in the number from 3,00,000 in 2016 to 7,53,000 in 2018 could be partly attributed to the pro-immigration policies released by countries like Canada and Australia.
A lot of the students who go abroad are also looking to work and live in those countries after their studies. In fact, a lot of people in India are trying to emigrate to other countries after learning about the achievable quality of life and other important factors.
So, if you are someone who is looking to live and work abroad later, you might want to study abroad now.
Now, why is it important to pursue a master’s degree abroad to settle there? Can’t you get your degree from India and then move abroad? We know that these are the questions that you might be having.
The reason why we suggest you study abroad is that you have a lot of options when it comes to specializations. They have really specific courses, for instance, game development or music theory, that help you master the skill that you are particularly looking for. You might not find those specific courses in India.
So, when you apply for a job abroad later, you will be competing against candidates who have completed the specialized course in the respective fields. This might affect your candidature.
Read the next point to get more clarity on the courses abroad.
ii. Studying abroad will expose you to high-quality courses
We understand that studying abroad will require you to invest a lot more, be it in terms of the money, the time, or your effort. But there are certain factors that will make it all worth it.
For instance, the variety and the quality of the courses abroad.
You can choose from a wide variety of courses when you’re looking to study abroad. It could be courses in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, or anything that interests you. The number and types of courses that you can find in universities abroad is a lot.
And a lot of these programs will open up new horizons for you when you decide to work abroad as well.
The quality of the courses offered abroad is very high (We are not saying that the quality of courses in India is low). It is just there is a continuous quality check process in place when it comes to the universities and other educational institutions. The courses and the quality of the programs are strictly monitored.
And moreover, the management of the institutions is always open to investing in the latest technologies to ensure that their students get the best experience and exposure.
If you study abroad, you will have a lot of practice sessions and internships. The faculty members there give a lot of importance to what you do outside the classroom. This will help you develop your skill faster and make it better every day.
iii. Doing a master’s abroad will get you better jobs
A master’s degree abroad will help you get better jobs there.
This is true in the case of most of the courses offered by universities abroad.
The countries are much more advanced and are constantly on the lookout for people who can build better products or come up with new ideas. And when they are recruiting people, just like we mentioned earlier, you will definitely have a better chance of getting the job if you’ve studied abroad.
Moreover, studying abroad will provide you with international exposure.
For instance, if you’re doing your master’s in marketing, you will be figuring out marketing strategies that will have an impact on American audiences or audiences in Australia. You will be looking at the world and not just a part of it.
P.S. Remember to read up about the country’s work VISA policies before you enroll for courses there. It’s different for each country and you don’t want to get yourself into something that you are not ready for.
iv. Studying abroad will boost your self-confidence
What is it that comes to your mind when you think of traveling to study abroad?
You might probably be thinking of all the people that you will meet who hail from different parts of the world, right? The way they would communicate with you, the things you will learn from them and your life with them for another one or maybe two years.
It might seem a little scary in the beginning but at the end of it, it will be worth it.
Studying abroad and mingling with all the people will help boost your self-confidence. This will happen over time of course. But it will happen.
You might initially be a little hesitant to go up to the front and speak. But once you get used to the new environment, you will find yourself getting up voluntarily and speaking when necessary.
Your language will improve along with your fluency. So, if you are going to the US, at the end of your master’s program, you will find yourself speaking English very fluently. Whereas, if you study in Germany, you will probably end up speaking the German language fluently.
All this will boost your self-confidence.
Moreover, you will inherit more knowledge in the field you wish to pursue and this will enable you to perform better.
Now that you have four valid reasons to study abroad, let us take a look at the top master’s programs that you might be interested in.
3. Study abroad: Which are the top master’s programs?
Just like we said earlier, there are so many programs you can choose from once you decide to study abroad.
For your ease, we will be listing down three master’s programs that we think top the entire list:
i. Management Information Systems (MIS)
ii. Master in Management (MiM)
iii. Master of Science (MS)
Let’s look at each of these courses in a little more detail and figure out the job opportunities that you may find once you complete the master’s degree program.
i. Management Information Systems (MIS)
Do you have a background in computer science? Or do you have a good deal of knowledge in databases?
If so, MIS might be the right program for you.
The reason why we asked the two questions is that the course curriculum of MIS revolves around database management and more along the same lines. So, it will be better if you have a background in computer science or knowledge in the same field.
Now you must be thinking that if you do pursue your master’s in MIS, you can only end up in an IT company. That would be a wrong idea because almost every industry needs people who have done their master’s in MIS or someone with similar knowledge and skill. So, you could get placed in a company in the manufacturing industry or the energy industry as well.
You will have an opportunity wherever there is technology involved.
Here are a few roles that you can fit into after you complete your master’s in MIS:
- Business application developer
- IT consultant
- IT development project leader
- Database administrator
- Business intelligence analyst
ii. Master in Management (MiM)
If you just graduated from college and are looking to do your master’s, you can definitely choose to do a MiM. This program is mostly suggested for aspirants who have less than two years of work experience. For anyone with more experience, an MBA would be the right option.
Also read: MIM vs. MBA – An Analysis
You know how the majority of the MBA schools are in the United States of America, right? Similarly, you will find most of the B-schools in Europe offer the MiM program. The degree is found to have a higher value in Europe than in other countries.
MiM is offered as a one-year program or a two-year program based on the university you choose to get your degree from. Some universities might give you an admit basis for your undergraduate degree. For example, the chances of you getting an admit for a MiM program at some universities might be less if you did engineering and not any management courses.
Here are a few roles that you can fit into after you complete your MiM:
- Management trainee
- General operations manager
- Advertising manager
- Public relations manager
- Sales manager
iii. Master of Science (MS)
Before we get started with this particular master’s program, let us make something clear. Master of Science is referred to as the MS program in the United States and as the MSc programs in most of the universities in the UK. We are referring to it as the MS program here.
When it comes to doing an MS, it is about micro-specialization. You get to choose really specific fields like marketing, entrepreneurship, supply chain management, finance, engineering management, etc.
If you’re looking at a career in marketing and probably if you have internship experience as a marketer, you can choose to specialize in marketing. Whereas, if you want to become an entrepreneur in the future and want to learn about investments, operations, human resource development, etc. you can specialize in entrepreneurship.
There is a large scope for supply chain management and a lot more students have started showing interest in the specialization. You might even have really interesting electives to choose from such as analytics.
Also read: Got Admits From 4 MS Programs Despite A Low GMAT Score: Shrishti Chaturvedi
When it comes to MS programs, you get to micromanage your decision-making about the master’s program, especially if you choose to study abroad.
Here are a few roles that you can fit into after you complete your MSc:
- Content marketing manager (Marketing)
- Digital brand manager (Marketing)
- Small business owner (Entrepreneurship)
- Business consultant (Entrepreneurship)
- Supply chain analyst (Supply chain management)
- Operations Specialist (Supply chain management)
Now that we have given you enough reasons to study abroad and have listed down the most relevant masters courses for you, it is time for you to make a decision.
Doing a master’s program or an MBA is clearly a choice that you have to make. And this decision should be based on your interest and on what you see yourself doing in the future.
But the next important decision you need to make is about where you want to pursue your education, right? We have given you reasons to consider studying abroad. Now, it is your turn to make a decision and start working towards the goal.
And if you’d like to know about the application process for a master’s program abroad, watch the video below to find the answer.
With the recent developments pertaining to the Coronavirus situation across the globe and US VISA bans, we are sure that you will have many questions in mind about applying to B-schools abroad. So, if you wish to know about the COVID-19 impact on B-schools and whether you should apply to master’s programs abroad, you can read these articles that speak all about the impact of Coronavirus on B-schools and the impact of US VISA bans and recession on master’s applications abroad.
Now, if you don’t know where or how to get started with your applications, schedule a 1-on-1 call with us and let us help you with it.
4. Most Commonly Asked Questions
- How can I apply for a master’s program abroad?
You will have to work on the application based on the guidelines mentioned in your preferred college’s website. You will have to keep a set of documents ready before you start applying for your master’s program abroad.
- Should I take the GMAT or the GRE to do a master’s abroad?
Yes. Check the website of your preferred college and then see which exam you need to take.
- How much will doing a master’s degree abroad cost me?
The cost for a master’s degree abroad will vary depending on the course, the duration of the course, the university you choose, and the choice of the country.
- Is there an age limit for master’s programs?
No. But you might want to go through the specific university websites to check for the profiles they would prefer to admit.
If there is something more that you’d like to know about doing masters abroad, let us know in the comments section below!
