What are the top courses to study abroad?

Studying abroad is an ambition many students tend to have. However, you cannot just pick a random course and end up paying a hefty tuition fee for some random degree just for the sake of going abroad. This is something you cannot afford to do. Time and money are both precious therefore it is important you aim for the right place and right program. 

There are numerous lists out there on the type of programs and qualifications that are the most sought after. Even though the list will show you the top popular courses to study abroad and which courses are high in demand, what they fail to do is show the reader the future trends and upcoming trends that will affect these disciplines. 

Top in-Demand Courses to Pursue:

1. Medical Professions: Of course, doctors are in demand all over the world given the pandemic and its effect on the global healthcare system. A major demand for professions such as nursing has risen and so has the demand for qualifications in Pharmacology. Making these two the best courses to study abroad. Major trend that will affect this industry is vaccination increases globally is the demand for medical professionals going to fluctuate and another aspect of these degrees is the cost. However, another aspect to consider is the fact that the global increase in life expectancy means people who are living longer will require more care thus increasing the overall demand for healthcare workers consistently. 
2. Computer Science: This is no surprise, everything we do now is dependent on computers. From ordering food to finding our way when we are lost, computers, software and programming get us where we want and what we want. The rise of computer science all over the world has created a lot of competition globally. This is precisely the reason why picking the right institute in this field matters and this is why it is considered to be one of the best courses to study abroad for international students.
3. Engineering: It is no surprise the STEM fields are in the top 3. As the world becomes more and more integrated with the use of information, the need for well-engineered solutions has grown as well. We need well engineered products to support the advances made in software. Therefore, engineering is in high demand. Australia and Canada are both countries which offer permanent residents to engineers. Good thing about engineering is that unlike medical where most countries only recognise their own medical professionals and might require some sort of testing to give jobs. The engineering industry has standardised bodies such as the Washington Accord. These bodies accredited universities and their programs which makes it possible for an engineer qualified in Pakistan to apply for an Australian working visa (especially legislated for engineers). This makes it easy for the labour to move around and attain better career opportunities. 
4. Business: MBAs, the world seems overcrowded with these but at the end of the day as business models and organisations are changing the need for qualified managers is on the rise. One major aspect to look out for is the quality and ranking of the business school you pick. More or less all universities have business schools, but the problem is the ranking and strength of the universities network is what differentiates them from each other. How many corporations visit the university, where are the graduates employed and so on.
5. Psychology: Mental illness is something that is growing day by day all over the world. In western countries there is a growth in demand for psychologists. Most psychologists tend to earn more when they create their own private practice and in many areas of the world the market for private practices is saturated. Even though this is a degree that is in high demand a lot of students are opting to study this in universities abroad. When picking your degree please assess the future potential of the market around your university. 

The above degrees are also some of the popular majors and programs to choose around the world. These degrees are in line with the latest industry trends. These programs are being offered all over the world. These degrees tend to have a high cost attached to them as the graduates of these programs tend to be high earners. There are plenty of cheap or affordable options available. However, a lot of these lists on the internet fail to recognise the relationship between quality and cost. You can get an extremely cheap medical degree from Kazakhstan, but a lot of the universities are not recognised elsewhere. Below are some of the most affordable places to study abroad, that will keep your pockets intact and provide you with the right opportunities.

Most Affordable Places to Study Abroad:

1. China: It is no surprise China is an affordable option. Annual cost of living is estimated to be around 6 to 7 thousand USD. This depends on which part of China you opt for. Tuition fees are usually between the 3 to 5 thousand USD mark. Engineering and medical programs tend to be a bit more expensive. Advantage of studying abroad in China is that it is cheaper, the universities are climbing the QS rankings day by day and the technological advances being made are immense.

It should be noted that there are plenty of affordable places to study abroad, places like Argentina and Mexico can also be on the list. However, we are trying to look at places where Pakistani students can afford to study and find prospects easily.

2. Germany: The annual cost of living here is around the 10,000 USD mark, A lot of the public universities offer free tuition and the ones that charge money are relatively affordable. A major advantage of studying abroad in Germany is that it is home to one of the healthiest economies in the world, this provides a strong base for future careers.
3. Malaysia: One of the best destinations for Pakistani students in Asia. Malaysia is affordable with annual living expenses hovering around the 11,000 USD mark. Tuition fees revolve around the 4000 USD per year mark

Other destinations are most European countries like France, Sweden and Norway which offer tuition-free universities, and the students must bear the brunt of living expenses which revolve around the 10 to 15 thousand USD mark. If you compare these costs to countries like the USA and Canada, then the cost of higher education in these countries is affordable. These countries not only offer affordable options but also have healthy industries which later provide employment opportunities to the graduates.