Destinations
Compare destinations
Every country works well for some students and poorly for others. Pick a destination to see who it suits, what to watch for, and the questions worth asking before you commit.
Destinations
Every country works well for some students and poorly for others. Pick a destination to see who it suits, what to watch for, and the questions worth asking before you commit.
Germany
Public universities charge little or no tuition. That makes Germany attractive. It also means the real work sits elsewhere: checking your college, getting your academic record verified, passing any required test and proving your funds.
Public universities and private universities work very differently. Public universities look at your whole profile. Private universities set their own fees and fixed requirements. We help you work out which side fits you.
After your degree
Graduates of a recognised German university can extend their residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job. During that time you can take any job to support yourself, not only one in your field.
The usual next step is the EU Blue Card, which depends on a job offer at or above a minimum salary. That salary bar is lower for some shortage fields, such as IT and engineering. For Blue Card holders, German language level can shorten the route to a settlement permit (21 months at B1, 27 months at A1, with other conditions). Thresholds change, so confirm current figures before you plan around them.
Public universities charge little or no tuition, but you still pay a semester fee and your living costs. Private universities charge tuition, and some ask for the first year's fees before the visa application. Choose the type of university with your budget and your profile in mind, not by price alone.
It is a German bank account where you deposit a year of living costs. The amount is €11,904, which is €992 a month for 12 months, as of October 2026. Setup and service fees are extra. The German embassy also lists a sponsor's formal letter or a German or EU scholarship as other ways to show funds, but the blocked account is the usual route.
APS India is run by the German Embassy in New Delhi with DAAD. It verifies your Indian academic records. Most applicants to German universities need it, with a few exceptions, such as studies built on a non-Indian school certificate or degree. It takes about 3 to 4 weeks, and it comes before your university applications. Follow its document checklist exactly. In rare cases the verification comes back negative, and then the application cannot go ahead.
TestAS is for Bachelor's applicants only. dMAT is a separate test for Master's applicants and becomes required from Summer 2027. Whether dMAT applies depends on the field of your previous degree, not the Master's you want. APS India's list covers degrees titled Engineering, Commerce, Accounting, Finance, Economics, and Business or Management. Many students find these tests hard, so start preparing early.
Yes. German universities, embassies and immigration offices all use the ANABIN database to see whether an Indian institution is recognised. If your college is not recognised, the application does not go ahead on that degree. We check this before anything else, so you do not spend time and money on a route that is closed.
You can apply to stay up to 18 months to search for work, and you may take any job during that time. A longer stay usually depends on finding a qualifying job. Learning German helps both your daily life and your options. We do not build plans that depend on settling in Germany.
Get your free Unilyft Profile Assessment before you apply. We check your college, marks, funds and timeline against the rules above and tell you plainly what we see.
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Australia offers strong courses and clear post-study options. It also asks for careful financial documents and a convincing reason for your study plan. Most of the detail is set by each university, not by the country.
Two students with the same marks can get different answers, depending on their state, their college and who is funding them. Rules for visas and families also changed in October 2026, so older advice may be out of date.
After your degree
Many graduates apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (485) to work in Australia after study. It has conditions. The applicant must be 35 or under, except for research students, and the course must be CRICOS-registered and at least 92 weeks long. A one-year Master's can fall short of that length. Study in a designated regional area can add extra work time and PR points.
Skilled occupation lists change from time to time. A job that is on the list today may not be on it in two or three years. We would rather you pick a course that fits your long-term career than one chosen only because it looks safe for PR.
From 2 October 2026, a student can include a partner or children only if studying a PhD, sponsored by DFAT or Defence, receiving a foreign government scholarship, or an eligible student from a Pacific or ASEAN country. Family members also cannot be added after the student visa is granted, with no exceptions. Applications lodged before that date follow the old rules. If this matters to your family, decide before you apply.
Education loans, savings accounts and fixed deposits are accepted. Post-office savings, co-operative bank accounts, shares and mutual funds are not. Money in a provident fund can be moved to a savings account with proof of source. Which relatives can sponsor, and how much income they must show, differs by university. Check this before you choose where to apply.
For most Bachelor's courses, IELTS 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5. For most Master's courses, IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0. Some courses need more, and most universities also accept PTE. The score itself is not waived, but you can usually supply it before you accept the offer rather than at the start.
Every case needs a genuine student story: why this course, why Australia, and how it fits your plans. A strong file can still struggle if that story does not hold together. Some universities review it on paper only. Others add an interview. We work with you to build the statement, and the same document is usually reused at the visa stage.
It can. Some universities do not accept applications from certain states or districts, and others ask for higher marks or more documents from them. Some have no regional limits at all. This is decided university by university and can change, so a student turned away at one university can still be welcome at another.
After you accept the offer, you pay the tuition fee named in the offer letter. You must then hold both a health cover certificate (OSHC) and a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) before you can lodge the visa. We usually plan to lodge about 6 to 8 weeks before your intake. Processing times change, so we confirm the current picture with you.
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Get your free Profile AssessmentUnited Kingdom
Most taught Master's degrees take one year. That saves time and money on tuition, but the UK also has strict rules on funds, interviews and who can come with you. It works very well for some students and badly for others.
Many of the rules are set by each university, not by the country. Two students with the same marks can get different answers.
After your degree
The Graduate Route lets most graduates stay and work without a job offer. It is 2 years for applications made before 1 January 2027, and 18 months for applications made on or after that date. PhD graduates keep up to 3 years.
The Skilled Worker visa needs a licensed employer to sponsor you and a minimum salary. Long-term settlement is hard to reach, so we do not build plans that depend on it. We would rather you choose the UK for the degree and the experience it gives you.
No. For the visa, funds must belong to you, your parents or a legal guardian. Money held by grandparents, uncles, aunts or siblings is not counted. Plan your funding around this before you choose a university.
At least 28 days before you apply for the visa, and the bank certificate must be recent. Only certain account types are accepted, such as savings, fixed deposits and an education loan in your name. Post-office schemes, PPF and share investments are not accepted. Check this early, because it cannot be fixed at the last minute.
Most students do. Some universities accept an English-medium degree instead, but only if your own college is on that university's list. A waiver gets you past the paperwork. It does not replace being able to speak English with confidence at an interview or at the border.
Many universities hold their own credibility interview before they issue your confirmation (CAS). The visa office can also call you for one. Prepare for it either way. Be ready to explain why you chose this course and university over others, and how you will pay.
For courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, only students on PhD-level research courses or certain government-funded scholarships can bring dependants. A standard taught Master's does not qualify. If this matters to your family, decide before you apply.
It can. Some universities limit applicants from certain Indian states, sometimes only for certain courses, and some ask for higher marks from specific state boards. This is decided university by university, so a good profile can still be turned away at one and welcomed at another.
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Get your free Profile AssessmentDubai
Many courses start from a wide range of marks, and some even accept students after Class 10 or 11 through a foundation route. There is no blocked-account requirement. The limits sit on the family side: spouse cases, and no dedicated post-study work visa.
Most campuses are branches of a foreign university. Many are in Dubai, but some are in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah or Abu Dhabi.
After your degree
Dubai has no post-study work visa. If you find a job, the study visa can be converted to an employment visa. There is no separate permit for job-hunting after graduation. Other long-term residence programmes exist in the UAE, but they have their own rules and are not part of a normal student plan.
Because the system is so open at the start, it is easy to underestimate what comes after. Think about your plan for the first year after graduation before you choose a course.
Not in the way some countries ask. Dubai does not use a blocked account. Instead you pay a first instalment, about 25% to 50% of first-year tuition, along with the visa fee. The balance is paid after you arrive. The visa checklist also asks for the sponsor's bank statement for the last 6 months. Check the current amount with the university.
Check that the campus is licensed locally to operate. In Dubai this is the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). Also check that the parent university is accredited in its home country. Some well-known campuses sit outside Dubai, in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah or Abu Dhabi.
Usually, yes. IELTS, PTE and TOEFL are accepted, and some universities waive the test under their own conditions. Home-based or online editions of these tests are not accepted. Only test-centre editions count, so book accordingly.
With a no-objection certificate from your university, part-time work is possible. We tell students to plan for up to 20 hours per week in term. Some sources suggest longer hours during official breaks. The exact limit depends on your permit, so confirm it with your university. Do not plan to cover tuition from it.
Our information is that spouse cases are not accepted for students in Dubai. We do not have a clear answer on every visa type. If this matters to your family, check it before you apply, or speak to us first.
Your entry visa is valid for 90 days. After arrival you get an entry stamp and then complete your Emirates ID, a medical fitness test and biometrics. Your visa lasts 1 year and is renewed each year while you study. You will need to show that you are still enrolled.
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Get your free Profile AssessmentCanada
Canada offers real work experience after study and a wide choice of universities and colleges. It also has several steps that must be done in the right order, and some of the rules have changed in the last two years.
Marks and English requirements are set by each university or college. The visa steps are national or provincial, so they apply to everyone.
After your degree
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) lets many graduates work in Canada after study. A Master's degree can give up to 3 years. You must graduate from a DLI, meet a language score (CLB 7 for a Bachelor's or Master's), and apply within 180 days of getting your final results. Programmes shorter than 8 months do not qualify. Graduates of certificates and diplomas must also be in a field on IRCC's eligible list. Bachelor's, Master's and PhD graduates are not subject to that list.
Permanent residence can come later through Express Entry or a provincial nominee programme. Each province sets its own streams, and the Express Entry categories change from year to year. We do not build plans that depend on PR. We would rather you choose a course and a province that fit your career.
Not as a strict rule. The old fast-track scheme that required it has ended. Most students still buy one, because it is a clear way to show a year of living costs. You must also pay your first year of tuition and keep the receipt. IRCC requires proof of CAD 23,448 for one year of living costs (CAD 24,617 for Quebec). Most students show this with a GIC, and the bank confirms the exact GIC amount. It changes from time to time, so confirm the current figure on canada.ca.
It shows you fall within your province's share of Canada's study-permit limit. Most study permit applications need one. Since 1 January 2026, Master's and PhD students at public universities do not. Private institutions and other levels of study still do. Your institution requests it, and an application filed without a required PAL is returned. Quebec uses a different document, the CAQ. Some cases are exempt, so we check yours.
Funds can come from you, your parents or your grandparents. Accepted sources include savings, fixed deposits, an education loan, and PPF or GPF balances that can be documented. Six months of bank history is the safer target. Three months can work in some cases. Large recent deposits raise questions, so plan this early.
Up to 24 hours a week off campus during term, and full-time in scheduled breaks, if your programme is 6 months or longer at a DLI. A co-op programme is different. It is full-time paid work built into the course, usually 3 to 12 months, and it needs the right permit. Ask each college how its co-op works.
A spouse can apply for an open work permit if you are on a Master's of 16 months or longer, a doctoral programme, or one of a short list of professional degrees. It is a separate application with its own fee. A child already in Canada with you can attend school without a separate permit. A child applying from overseas needs their own. As of October 2026, confirm on canada.ca. If this matters to your family, decide before you apply.
IELTS, TOEFL and PTE are accepted, at the score your programme asks for. Duolingo is not accepted for the study permit, even though some institutions take it for admission. Applicants to Quebec may also need French testing, depending on the language of the programme. Have your score in hand before you begin the application.
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Get your free Profile AssessmentSingapore
Singapore has public universities and a large group of private institutions. The rules on work, fees and the degree you receive change a lot depending on which one you pick. Many private institutions teach a degree awarded by an overseas partner university.
There is no single fixed amount of funds for a student pass. What you need to show depends on your course and its cost.
After your degree
Singapore has no separate post-study work visa. After graduating you move straight onto a work pass if you find a job and the employer applies. Graduates may get a visit pass of up to 89 days after the student pass is cancelled. Graduates of public institutions can apply for a 1-year pass to look for work. Neither pass is automatic.
The Employment Pass has a minimum salary and a points test, and the S Pass for mid-level roles has its own salary floor. These levels rise with age and change over time. Entry-level graduate pay can fall below them. We do not build plans that depend on staying long term.
No. Singapore does not publish one amount for all students. The funds you show depend on your course, its tuition and living costs. Your institution will tell you what it expects. Plan this with your family early, because the amounts differ a lot between a diploma and a Master's.
EduTrust is a quality certification for private institutions. Only EduTrust-certified private institutions can host a student pass. Public universities and polytechnics are approved by name. If you are looking at a private institution, check its certification before you pay anything.
It depends on the institution. At approved public institutions, students may work up to 16 hours per week in term and full-time in vacations. At private institutions, part-time work is normally not allowed unless your course has a built-in internship. Ask the institution in writing before you decide.
Your institution does, once you accept the offer. You complete an online form and send your documents, ideally 4 weeks before the course starts. The authority then takes about 3 to 4 weeks. You receive an in-principle approval letter first and travel on that. The digital student pass is issued after your medical check and original documents are submitted.
Not always. Many private institutions teach courses for an overseas partner university that awards the degree, in the UK, Australia, Germany or the USA. Two institutions with similar fees can give you very different degrees. Ask who awards the degree and where it is recognised.
At public institutions, the Ministry of Education offers a grant that lowers your tuition. In return you agree to work for a Singapore-registered company for 3 years after graduation. Breaking the bond means repaying the grant plus interest. You can decline the grant, pay full tuition and have no bond. Think this through with your family.
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Get your free Profile AssessmentNetherlands
Dutch universities teach many programmes in English and the visa process is run by the university for you. Two things catch students out: how your Indian degree is rated, and the English test rules.
Marks and English requirements are set by each university. Check them for the exact course you want.
After your degree
Graduates of Bachelor's and Master's programmes get one year to look for work. The length is the same for both levels. It is a short window, so choose a course with a clear link to jobs.
Staying longer depends on finding an employer who can sponsor you. We do not build plans that depend on settling in the Netherlands. We would rather you choose it for the degree and the experience it gives you.
Your university does, once you send the documents it asks for. Because of this, your paperwork must meet the university's own deadline, which is earlier than the government's. For a September start, students who need an entry visa are often asked to be ready around 1 June. The immigration office usually decides within 60 days. After approval you collect your entry visa within 3 months, and it is valid for 90 days. Check your university's dates.
You show one year of living costs plus the balance of your tuition. The official 2026 minimum is about €1,131 a month, around €13,570 a year. Many families plan around €15,000 to leave a buffer. Funds should be at least 3 months old, with the source explained. Family support, savings, fixed deposits and education loans are accepted. A few universities ask students from certain countries or regions to pay a guarantee upfront, so check the one you choose.
Yes. At the universities we checked, only IELTS or TOEFL is accepted. PTE, Duolingo and IELTS waivers are not. You also need the score and your final marksheet at the time you apply, so there is no conditional route. This stops some otherwise suitable students, so take the test early.
The Dutch system rates foreign degrees against its own two tracks. An Indian B.Tech is compared to a Dutch applied-sciences degree by default. It is compared to a research-university degree only with at least first class from a top institution. One university publishes its test: a 4-year Bachelor's with 75% or more, and a college that held the highest NAAC grade when you graduated. A 3-year degree is accepted only as an Honours degree from a top institution. Other universities decide case by case, so we check this before you apply.
Research universities teach mainly through lectures and self-study, with a focus on theory and research. Applied-sciences universities teach through projects and require several internships, which makes a Bachelor's four years instead of three. Choose by how you learn and what job you want. Some universities also verify your diploma after you apply. If you hear nothing within a few weeks, contact them. Do not wait for them to chase you.
You collect your residence permit, then register with your municipality if you stay more than 4 months. That gives you a citizen service number (BSN), which you need for a bank account, health insurance and any job. You must also earn at least 50% of each year's credits. If you do not, and have no good reason, the university can report you to the immigration office. This can affect your permit.
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Get your free Profile AssessmentIreland
Ireland is an English-speaking country with strong universities and a clear process. The visa file is checked closely, so your documents, funds and reasons for choosing the course need to line up.
Each college sets its own marks and English requirements. Two students with the same marks can get different answers.
After your degree
The Third Level Graduate scheme gives Honours Bachelor's (Level 8) graduates 12 months. Master's (Level 9) graduates and above start with 12 months, and can extend to 24 months only by showing they are pursuing suitable graduate-level work. It is not an automatic 24.
Staying longer needs an employment permit, which depends on a job offer and a minimum salary. We do not build plans that depend on settling in Ireland. We would rather you choose a course for its career value and treat the graduate window as a chance to gain experience.
Two things. First, pay your course fee before applying: in full if it is €6,000 or less, or at least €6,000 if it is higher. For a Bachelor's, pay the full first year. Second, show ready access to €10,000 for year one, and a further €10,000 for each later year. Savings, fixed deposits, sponsor income and education loans are accepted. Gold, chit funds and cryptocurrency are not. Keep source of funds clear and avoid sudden large deposits.
Ireland is moving from a list of approved programmes (ILEP) to a quality mark for providers, called TrustEd Ireland and run by QQI. Visas will only be granted for courses at an authorised provider. We check a college's status before we suggest it. You can also check at qqi.ie.
A spouse cannot accompany you on the student visa route. If this matters to your family, decide before you apply.
You apply online, then give biometrics at the VFS centre. A bank-detail verification link is later emailed to you or your sponsor, and your file waits until it is completed, so keep net-banking access ready. You also need a police clearance certificate for every country you lived in during the last 5 years, issued within 6 months of applying. Apply for it early. As of October 2026, confirm steps and fees on the Irish embassy and VFS pages.
It varies by college. IELTS is the most widely accepted. TOEFL is not accepted at some colleges, and PTE is accepted at very few. A few universities, including Trinity, UCD, UCC and University of Galway, currently accept TOEFL Home Edition. They treat this as time-limited, so check before you book. No college we work with gives a full English waiver.
Within 90 days you must register for your Irish Residence Permit with Immigration Service Delivery in Dublin. The fee is €300, paid by physical debit or credit card, not mobile pay. Bring your passport, registration letter, fee receipts, medical insurance and proof of funds. The card lasts 12 months, so you renew each year of study.
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Get your free Profile AssessmentFrance
France has a government pre-screening step that every student must clear before a visa application can even begin. Many courses are taught in English, and most do not ask for French. Public universities charge modest tuition. Private business and engineering schools charge much more.
The rules differ a lot from one school to the next. Marks, backlogs and work experience requirements are set by each institution.
After your degree
Indian graduates are on a short list of countries with an agreement with France on professional mobility. This allows a temporary residence permit of 12 months after a qualifying degree. It can be renewed once for another 12 months, up to 24 months in total. The renewal is not automatic and needs proof that you are looking for work.
The permit is for Master's-level degrees and some specialist programmes, not for a plain Bachelor's. It also depends on the course being eligible, so check this before you choose a school. After a job offer, other permits may open up. We do not build plans that depend on them.
For most courses, no. Many programmes are taught in English and do not ask for French. A few programmes do. For example, at least one Grande École track asks for B2-level French. Learning basic French still helps with housing, shopping and part-time work.
Yes. For a stay of more than 90 days you must register with Campus France online, attend an academic interview and receive clearance before you can start the visa application. Poor answers at this interview are a common reason for refusal. Prepare to explain why this course fits you, not just why the school is well known.
France sets a minimum of €877.50 per month, which is about €10,530 for a year. This came into effect on 1 August 2026 and replaced an older, lower figure. Older guides online may still quote the old number. Tuition due is shown on top of this. Check the current figure on official sources before you apply.
Yes, up to 20 hours per week. Many programmes also include an internship of a few months as part of the course. Part-time pay usually covers only some daily costs. Do not plan to fund your tuition from it. One engineering school we know of does not allow part-time work, so ask each school.
Along with tuition, you pay the €105 CVEC student contribution. You also need health insurance with at least €30,000 cover, and we suggest arranging it for the full year. After you arrive you must validate your visa online within 3 months. Ask your school about housing early.
Many schools accept a letter from your college showing English was the medium of teaching, together with a minimum mark in Class 12 English. Where a test score is asked for, most schools do not accept PTE or Duolingo. Business programmes may also ask for a GMAT or GRE score. This differs by school, so check before you book a test.
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