With globalization becoming an integral part of our lives, the demand for overseas education has risen sharply. This rise is also attributed to the highly competitive Indian educational scenario prompting students to seek better avenues. The best of brains are unable to figure in the final lists of IIMs and IITs because the seats available are limited and the applicant-pool extremely large. For instance, 270,000 aspirants took the CAT, the annual test conducted by the IIMs, in November, 2008 for the 1800 seats available*. Even the students seeking undergraduate degrees face stiff-competition as the cut-off percentage for admission eligibility is shooting up by the day. Studying abroad is therefore, becoming a more viable and a much desired option.

Although enhanced future job prospects remain the predominant reason for students, there are several other distinct advantages of studying abroad especially in advanced countries. The universities abroad provide quality education as they have highly qualified faculty comprising of experts. They have state-of-the-art facilities like well-equipped laboratories, and well-stocked, expansive libraries. Educational opportunities abound as the campus is always abuzz with seminars and meets that enhance global networking.