Abroad study’s potential benefits, especially in countries known for their high-quality education and promising opportunities, have consistently captured the aspirations of Nepali students. People either apply for a Student Visa or Work Visa for going abroad.
The current trend of Nepali students studying abroad is attributed to various reasons, including a desire for higher-quality education, more employment opportunities, and exposure to diverse cultures.
In the last fiscal year, more than 100,000 students left Nepal to study abroad. According to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s NOC (No Objection Certificate) department, 110,217 students have earned no-objection certificates to study abroad.
Among the students going overseas for abroad study, the majority of them headed to Australia with 33,991 NOCs issued, and among these, 8,452 were canceled. Similarly, 21,554 received NOCs to study in Canada, 21,658 in Japan, 10,527 in the UK, 3,046 in Korea, and 2,389 in the UAE. The students of Nepal have gone to 111 countries to pursue their higher education.
We can observe that the net migration of Nepal increased to 21.54% in 2023 from 16.47% in 2022. the migration rate has increased by 5.07% per 1000 population which is pretty high and people going abroad to either study or work contribute to this.
Source: Over 100,000 left Nepal to study abroad in FY 2023/2024
Why do Nepali Students Prefer Abroad Study?
As we know, Nepalese students prefer to pursue their higher education in foreign countries rather than in their homeland.
The main reason Nepali students choose to go abroad to study is due to limited access to quality education in Nepal. Foreign universities provide a variety of fields and courses with high-quality content, both theoretical and practical. However, as we know, education in Nepal is not as high quality as in other countries, and syllabi are outdated.
Nepal has faced political and economic turmoil over the years. Many Nepali students believe that abroad study will provide them with a stable environment where they can learn and grow while avoiding political and economic instability.
Furthermore, foreign universities offer a wide range of scholarship opportunities for international students, as well as high-quality education. They offer more opportunities for scholarships than our country itself.
Abroad study provides access to high-quality academic programs and advanced research facilities that may not be available in Nepal. Many Nepali students consider pursuing education in foreign countries as an opportunity to develop their careers and build worldwide networks, thus improving their chances for future success.
Studying abroad exposes one to different cultures and ways of life, which broadens their perspectives, and builds empathy and appreciation for diversity. It promotes cultural exchange, language learning, and international networking developing an understanding of the world.
For detailed information, please visit this site: Why do Nepalese students choose to study abroad
Expectations Vs Reality of Going Abroad
The promises of new beginnings, career advancements, and academic excellence lure a large number of people to foreign countries with high hopes and expectations.
With the expectation of earning a lot of money and getting rich quicker, Nepali people leave their families and homes to go to foreign countries. even people holding good government job positions quit in order to go to foreign countries in search of a better life.
With a Student Visa, many Nepali youths go to foreign countries to earn money by working extra hours. The students who have gone to Australia and Canada tend to focus on studying less and working more while those who have gone to UK or USA focus on their study than working more. That’s why the Australian government imposed the rules to closely monitor the attendance of international students.
Abroad study might expose one to different cultures and ways of life but it might be difficult for them to adapt to different cultures and might get cultural shock and can feel like an alien.
In some situations, many consultancies in Nepal have deceived people by promising to obtain a job or admission to prestigious universities, raising their expectations only to find that the reality is the opposite.
Nepali people are so busy thinking about abroad study that they forget to look for opportunities in Nepal.
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Recommendations for Abroad Study
Abroad study is an incredible adventure, but it requires proper planning. When planning to study abroad, there are several crucial factors to consider in order to have a successful and beneficial experience.
Firstly, people should go to foreign countries with a clear mindset. During the initial stages of reaching a destination country, the students should manage the basic facilities such as flooding and lodging for settling. The youths should not only decide to go abroad through friends/family’s influence but also conduct self-research before making such decisions.
Furthermore, parents should not send their children abroad without first learning about the realities of life there. They should conduct proper research before sending their children to other countries.
Consultancies should also share real-time experiences of people in foreign countries honestly, rather than luring people in with false promises or defrauding them for money. Only experienced counselors for abroad study should counsel those planning on going abroad.
The government should properly monitor the agencies to prevent fraud by educational consultancies and colleges. The government’s proactive participation through regulation, enforcement, and support mechanisms is critical for protecting students’ interests and maintaining the integrity of the education consultancy industry.
Conclusion
The potential benefits of abroad study attract Nepali students seeking a high-quality education and different opportunities, with over 100,000 students leaving Nepal in the last fiscal year, mostly for Australia, Canada, and Japan. The students from Nepal head to foreign countries to escape political and economic turmoil and gain access to advanced research facilities and scholarship opportunities not available domestically. To ensure thorough planning, a clear mindset, honest consultancy practices, and government intervention are recommended to protect student’s interests and maintain industry integrity.