Ankur Dhawan

President, upGradabroad, Contributor Content

Dhawan worked with Buddy4Study.com, India’s largest scholarship portal as COO and supported more than 50,000 students with scholarships. He has close to 15 years of experience.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs,11,33,749 Indian students are currently pursuing their education abroad. Of these, 19.02% are in Canada, 18.69% in the USA, 8.14% in Australia, and 4.89% are in the UK.

Students opting to study abroad from India often look for employment and a permanent residency (PR) in the country leading to citizenship. The process of immigration can be taxing and often time-consuming for several countries. For instance, the immigration and PR policies of the USA are complex, and it may take decades for an individual to receive a PR status.

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On the contrary, countries like Canada, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand welcome skilled immigrants and want them to study, work and settle. As per the Highest Migration Acceptance Index, Canada ranks at the top with a score of 8.46, with New Zealand and Australia acquiring third and fourth positions with respective scores of 8.32 and 8.28.

• Canada has the most friendly immigration policies among all the nations. According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) report published in 2021, Canada provided PR status to 97.5 per cent of international graduate applicants. Canada’s Post Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) allows international graduates to gain work experience by obtaining an open work permit for a minimum of 8 months to a maximum of 3 years. Furthermore, there are several categories and channels like Quebec Experience Programs (QEP), Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), and Canada Experience Class (CEC), which help a person obtain PR status. To maintain the PR status, one must spend at least 730 days in Canada during his stay of 5 years.
• Germany is also one of the most preferred study abroad destinations. As per the Human Development Index (HDI) 2022 report, Germany maintains the fourth position with a high score of 0.93, boasting its quality of life. International graduates at German institutes can apply for an extended 18-month post-study work visa. If one wants to stay in Germany permanently, one can apply for ‘EU Blue Card’, 2 years after receiving the work permit.
• Australia, as per Commitment to Development Index (CDI) rankings 2021, ranks among the top three nations that stood firm on the three parameters – migrants’ acceptance from developing nations, their integration process, and whether the country is a participant of international conventions on migration. There are several routes to get PR status in Australia, depending on the region of work & qualification. For example, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) allows international graduates to stay and work in the country for 2-4 years. Similarly, the 487 Regional Sponsored Visa provides a pathway for permanent residency with a provision to work for three years in a regional area.
• New Zealand, at the 14th position in the HDI, has a superior life expectancy, literacy, education, and living standards. International graduates can easily apply for a Post Study Work Visa, which entitles them to work in New Zealand for nearly 1-3 years, depending on their level of qualification. One qualifies for the Citizenship application process after staying in the country for at least five years.
• The United Kingdom is another favourite study destination. The UK’s HDI score is relatively high and stands at 0.932, offering an encouraging environment and quality living standards to people looking to move abroad. The country recently introduced the much-anticipated changes to its Graduate Visa, enabling international students to work or look for work after their studies for two or three years for PhD students. This signals a strong step toward the country easing its immigration policies. Getting a UK PR requires expats to spend five years in the country.

Developed countries, due to their ageing population and varying demographics, offer immense opportunities to Indian talent, making them highly sought after by educational institutions and multinational organisations.

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