How is India as Study Abroad Destination for Pakistani Students

Neighbor and rival country of Pakistan, India is also one of QS ranked study abroad destinations. India is one of the biggest and most populous countries in the world. Located in Asia and neighbor with important countries like Pakistan,

Afghanistan and China; India is also one of most important countries and biggest powers in the world. India is a huge economy spread all around the world.

When it comes education, world doesn’t have a very clear image of how it is in India. Only thing they see is over-populated streets but there is a lot more to it. India is also home to many good universities and have produced many of the greatest and most successful minds of the century. World thinks that India is the kind of country that only sends students abroad for education rather than receiving but you will be shocked to know that India is 12^th most popular study abroad destination among students of United States of America.

Indian Higher Education System:

In past few years, India has acquired great respect from the world in the field of education. There are thousands of universities in India of all sizes and reputation. 23 of the Indian universities are ranked in QS top universities 2017. In comparison, only 3 of Pakistani universities are featured by QS and Times and Higher Education.

In the latest Higher Education System Strength ranking of QS, India was 24^th best in the whole world. In the field of Information Technology, India has mostly taken over the world. Their software engineer and IT experts are regarded all around the world. CEO of Google, Nokia and Microsoft are all Indians. Once Bill Gates said:

“If we stop employing foreign engineers especially from. Then, there will be another Microsoft born in India.”

India’s top university is Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore that is ranked 152^nd top university of the world. Same university is ranked to be 33^rd best university of Asia. In many different subjects it even ranks under 50 in same world ranking. India is one of the few countries that offer advance IT courses like Cyber security etc. You can find the most qualified teachers with a great of experience in Indian universities. Almost in every field of education, India has without a doubt, somewhere in world, has proved its mettle. Compared to India, Pakistani education system is really weak and needs a great amount of effort and development.

Cost of Studying Abroad in India:

Indian currency just like Pakistan is also rupee, however, has a different value. 1 Indian Rupees is equivalent to about

1.5 of Pakistani Rupee. Because of its low currency rate, India is a very cheap country for foreigners. If you go to Australia, the accommodation that is going to cost you 5 Pakistani lac per month, you can get same class of accommodation in India for at most 5 thousand Pakistani rupee.

In almost all study abroad destinations, universities charge international students a lot more tuition fees than they charge their natives. Even in countries like USA and Australia, tuition fee for you and a native will be different and you will have to pay over 2 to 3 times more. Likewise, In India university tuition fee is different for international students. Still India is of the cheapest countries for higher education. Every university sets its own tuition fee still Annual cost of fee would be between 3 lac to 6 lac in Pakistani rupees. You can get a two year degree easily in about 6 to 10 lac. The same degree in Australia would cost about 20 – 40 lac Pakistani rupees.

Is India Safe for Pakistani Students?

I think I have proved my point that India is indeed a good study abroad destination and will do even better in future.

Now hundreds of students from around the world including countries like USA, Germany, China go to India to study higher education.

But should Pakistani students go to study abroad in India?

If I had a chance I would definitely want to go and study in India despite myself being a Pakistani. I think there is a lot that I can learn from there. They have a lot of good universities, teachers and facilities. The course I want to study is MPhil in Cyber Security that no one in Asia offers. We should want to go to India for education but the question is a matter of CAN.

Can I go to India for education?

Whole world is aware of the tension between Pakistan and India that has been passed on to us by ancestors of both countries. There is a man-made hatred between these two great nations that has been pulling them behind the world for years. Recently, these problems have increased even more. If it was just government, there could have been a solution but every citizen of these two nations have been inherited detestation for neighbor country. Logical and educated people have broken out of these walls of loathe but we are really short in numbers.

I once discussed my idea of studying in India with my father and he at once refused to allow to even think about it. The fear I have is of those Indian who hate Pakistan and that they won’t exactly be throwing a welcome parties for me. I know there are a lot of Indians and Pakistanis who understand how our minds are being controlled to continue this war but we are minority. Unless we become powerful enough to break this chain of unreasonable anger and apply it on our countries, I don’t think there is any benefit for us in the field of education. For now only few big evil businessmen are taking benefit of the situation.

Until or unless, relations between Pakistan and India improve, I will not recommend any Pakistani to go to India for higher education. When this happens, I’ll be in front row of those going there.

Written By Usama Ahmed Awan

The Editor of StudyAbroad.pk, Usama is a BZU studied Software Engineer, now a Teacher, Article Writer, Educational Counselor and Journalist. He has been writing to assist students selecting the right career path.