It’s the season for applying to universities abroad. As students are looking for suitable programmes and universities for further studies, The Hindu held its 10th edition of the International Education Fair in Bengaluru where students interacted with consulting firms, universities, consulates and training institutes from across the world.
Inaugurating the fair, Margit Hellwig-Botte, German Consul General, spoke of the advantages a student could avail upon studying in Germany. “Firstly, there won’t be tuition fee as universities are State-funded, except for a minimal administration fee. Accommodation costs are reasonable,” she said, adding that there is a buffer zone of 18 months to find a job, which very few countries provide.
Science Advisor Manjula Mundakana answered students’ queries on the process of admission and life in German universities.
This was followed by interactive sessions with representatives from the UK and USA, which traditionally have hosted Indian students, along with Germany and New Zealand that are now witnessing a steady rise in the number of Indian students.
Thomas Joseph, director of Olive Consulting, who spoke of study options in New Zealand, said, “The benefits a student would get are part-time work permit while studying, a one-year permit to work after completion of the programme and also a work permit for the spouse.”
Apart from university agents, the fair also had stalls by bodies such as Yashna Trust, an operator under the Education USA programme in the State, that provides counselling on all universities in the USA. Banks too participated with detailed schemes of education loans.
Students actively raised queries regarding the language of instruction, fellowships, internships, placements, food and the criteria to apply to the countries of their choice. Some of them took mock entrance tests, like GRE, at the fair.
