Higher education overseas yet remains a fad amongst most Indian students, mainly because of the foreign tag or stamp that they will have in their resume after successful completion of their academic programmes. A heavy chunk of Indian students are going overseas for coveted diplomas or degrees in varied fields, so that they can move into the fast-track career track. Definitely, education abroad lends vast credibility, for aspirants as well as industry are aware of the quality being delivered by many of the institutions across the world, though some have opened as mere shops too, which we must to be careful about. Countries like the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, France, New Zealand, etc., offer programmes across all sectors; recently name one and you will find a plethora of them starting from foundation to specialised levels.

There are a few valuable aspects of study abroad that we need to look at before we actually land up in an offshore country. Let's glance at them one by one:

How to decide a programme - Tab your aptitude first and go for subjects and programmes that you are interested in. Don't get influenced by the current trends. A course catering to a exact industry may not fetch the similar high salary after 3 to 5 years, which it is offering to applicants presently. But if you find interest in a specific subject then you will constantly find ways to shine in your work area; you can even think of opening your own venture in the related field, in the future.

Countries and popular programmes - Programmes in Information Technology, business and management are most popular with countries like the US, UK, France and Singapore. You can find Germany to be the greatest place for science and engineering programmes. Medicine and Aeronautics programmes are pretty known in the US and Russia. Programmes in finance and accounting are something that the USA and Australia suggest in full swing. For hospitality and travel programmes, you can look at the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore. Whereas, for fashion and design programmes, Italy and France are favoured destination.

Start doing research - Make a detailed study of the sources for scholarships, fellowships, financial aid, work study or other assistance available. Opportunities for part time work and related regulations in the university should be studied well in advance, though the initial priority should only be studies. Catch the academic requirements, including the acceptability of Indian qualifications, confirmed by the admission authorities. Search engines of Google, embassies and foreign offices of many overseas universities in India can provide you with all details about the programme you intend to go for in a exact country.

Visa interview - You require a valid student visa to study in a country offshore. Interview is a part of your visa application method. The visa officer's aim is to be convinced that your study plans are genuine and workable. First, you must dress up in a smart outfit. Bring all the supporting documents in a presentation folder. Know the order of documents so that in case a visa officer asks for any document then you should be quick enough to present that. Be organized to clearly state your learning goals; your major; why you chose that major; your graduate school plans, future plans, etc. Furthermore you should be clear about the cost of living, the course and the finances part. Always maintain eye contact with the visa officer while answering the questions. Don't be nervous, you might skip essential information.