The benefits of studying STEM courses abroad are closely related to the commonly heard adage 'think outside the box'. Innovative thinking and the development of an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving are strongly promoted among students enrolled in STEM courses.
STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math, is promptly growing to be a significant area of cooperation in both education and the global economy. The main driver of this expansion is that the coming decade's employment market will undoubtedly centre on STEM subjects while also requiring 21st-century skills like cultural awareness, analytical thinking, inventiveness, and problem-solving.
Acknowledging the difficulties, numerous colleges and institutions have been striving to increase study abroad possibilities for STEM students by flexibly advancing curriculum, developing new programmes, and making STEM curricula more adaptable.
Similar to how STEM education benefits the employment market, STEM graduates have distinct benefits over their non-STEM peers. Additionally, due to the benefits of studying STEM courses abroad, STEM graduates have a higher chance of finding employment than their non-STEM peers.
That said, STEM graduates are likely to make more money, hold better jobs, and be more inclined to immigrate than other graduates who do not come under the STEM umbrella. The advantages of studying STEM abroad are beneficial to a professional in all aspects of their life. This article mainly focuses on the advantages of pursuing STEM abroad along with a list of top countries offering STEM courses for international students.
Post Study Work Opportunities for STEM Graduates
One of the main reasons to study STEM abroad is the greater number of post-study work opportunities it offers. In this case, the first step shall be to decide in which sector and in what manner, the student would like to go ahead. As a prospective student of STEM courses abroad, one may expect to be welcomed by a number of benefits. Here are some options one may explore:
MNCs
International STEM course graduates have offers awaiting them from top IT, Healthcare, Commerce, Edu-tech, Med-tech, and Soliciting- agencies, firms and companies. The graduates are often offered managerial or consultant-level positions, while undergraduates pursue Senior Executive or Assistant level job profiles.
Research
Students may also decide to go towards a more study and experiment-oriented field of Research and Development. There are numerous global research institutes that accept undergraduates as interns or assistants and graduate students as fellows of the centres. Eligible students may get registered and simultaneously pursue the required further higher education.
Teaching
There is also an option to go into more student-oriented teaching and research career options after completing STEM abroad. As a pedagogy pursuer, students may establish an industrial career as an author or individual researcher (theoretic) of the field while they hone the future of the industry simultaneously.
From shortlisting top universities to visa assistance, our study abroad experts can get you into your desired university and simplify your study abroad journey.
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Higher Salary for STEM Graduates
As STEM graduates from abroad, students will be able to attract lucrative remuneration offers at the international level. STEM graduates have been known to enjoy a healthy employability level of 56% with fluctuations on the basis of destination country and course. They have a minimum annual salary of USD 55,000 and also enjoy a pay scale ranging from 24% to 28% to graduates of other specialised streams. Salaries of certain top STEM jobs abroad are:
Job Profile |
Average Annual Salary (in USD) |
---|---|
Data Scientist |
130,000 to 195,000 |
Economist |
115,860 |
Mathematician |
110,000 |
IT Manager |
195,900 |
Psychologist |
167,000 |
Mechanical Engineer |
113,238 |
Civil Engineer |
87,353 |
Systems Analyst |
126,780 |
Environmental Engineer |
126,190 |
Biologist |
74,491 to 98,581 |
Web Developer |
90,000 |
Financial Analyst |
74,146 |
Computer Programmer |
122,600 |
Longer Stay Back Period - STEM vs Non-STEM Courses
In any top country for STEM, the stay back period is proportional to the potential of a particular class of students. The stay back period of STEM graduates in countries ranges from two years to four years, whereas the same ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 years for non-STEM graduates.
Course |
US |
UK |
Australia |
Canada |
---|---|---|---|---|
STEM courses (Stay Back Period) |
Up to 2 years |
Up to 3 years | Up to 4 years |
3 to 5 years |
Non-STEM courses (Stay Back Period) |
Up to 1 year | Up to 1 year | Up to 1.5 years |
0.8 to 2 years |
Permanent Residence after Pursuing STEM Courses Abroad
What outstanding students will gain as a STEM graduate abroad shall further help them in increasing their chances of immigration or permanent residence not only in the study abroad destination but across the world.
The percentage of STEM graduate immigrants is higher in countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, etc. in comparison to home or local graduates. The local degree holders are about 15%-17% lower in numbers in comparison to the immigrant graduates. This shows the need and acceptance of immigrant graduates in these countries and international STEM graduates may easily benefit from them.
United States: In the case of the US, STEM graduates and entrepreneurs might get a direct pathway to a green card. A bill was recently passed by the House of Representatives to give a new national interest waiver in order to restore faith in the country's immigration system.
United Kingdom: The UK points-based system provides simple, effective and flexible arrangements for skilled workers including STEM graduates from around the world to immigrate to the country. PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job contributes to extra 20 points in the system.
Canada: According to CIC News, immigrants make up a large share of university-educated workers in STEM fields.
Related Reads:
Stay Back Period and Post Study Work Visa for STEM vs Non-STEM Courses |
All About Pursuing a STEM Degree Abroad: Scope, Advantages, Job Prospects |
Specialised and Personalised STEM Curriculum Abroad
While opting for a course, the learning process itself becomes an area of concern. It is important that the course can be adjusted to the needs and life of the student and provide them with methods which provide better education and learning opportunities. Most study abroad STEM courses have the following characteristics:
Combined Theoretical Process
While the basic introduction to STEM courses abroad is dominated by theory, there is also the highly significant element of practical application. Controlled lab experiments are conducted by creating real-life situations which allow students to stimulate their minds towards possibilities and crafting solutions.
Practical Training
As the STEM course advances to its completion, the method of teaching also shifts from theory to practice. Most of the STEM courses are designed in a manner that the last semester (or last durational divide) of the course is wholly practical training either in the form of internship or research. The general practical training period of STEM courses for students in countries like the US, UK and Canada is at least one year. While the other courses offer a practical experience of around six-eight months.
Internships
As a student pursuing STEM courses abroad, the student will be motivated to apply for both academic as well as internships. STEM universities abroad aim to push students to take up these internships during their semester breaks and in the latter part of the course, they prefer these internships to be part-time jobs for STEM students. This provision helps international students remain in touch with their course at all times while gathering practical experience.
In the US, Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) allows students to stay back in the country for a longer period. During this period, F1 visa holders who received STEM degrees may get a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. Similar options are also available in the UK, Canada, Germany, and Australia.
Social Contribution
Many schools, especially those established around natural resources and indigenous communities, often use their knowledge and experimentations for and upon these surroundings. As enrolled students in the related STEM course, students can join the community. Oftentimes, student-centric discoveries or inventions and local developments are attributed to these college communities. It is also helpful in climbing the career ladder faster.
Customisable Courses
The biggest challenge comes with the fact that students may have diverse interests. It is possible that their professional strengths call for a STEM course and personal hobbies include subjects in arts or commerce. In this case, STEM universities offer students options to customise their courses and classes as per their interests and profile.
Top Countries Offering STEM Courses
While students may be aware of the benefits of studying STEM abroad, they should also know which country is the best to study STEM. The table showcases the top study abroad destinations for STEM, the top global rank of their institutes, and the number of institutions ranked in the top 100 for each STEM field.
Top global ranks and a number of institutes in the top 100 institutes of the world of the best study abroad destinations for STEM courses as ranked by Times Higher Education and QS Rankings are:
Countries | Global Rank | Science | Technology | Engineering | Mathematics |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
USA | #=2 | 32 | 26 | 35 | 30 |
UK | #1 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Canada | #=18 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
Australia | #33 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
Germany | #32 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Switzerland | #15 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
STEM Courses in USA
STEM courses in the US have become widely known in the sectors of education and immigration for their importance in identifying qualified candidates for high-tech jobs.
The country is popular for its advancement and research in the fields of STEM. Moreover, the overall market is contributed by over USD 2.3 billion of investment generated by STEM. There are over 30 US universities for STEM among the world's top universities.
Some of them include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Harvard University, California Institute of Technology, Berkeley and Stanford University.
STEM Courses in UK
The UK's market is indebted to STEM fields by over GBP five billion annually. As per an estimate, even the slightest shortfall in STEM graduates can cost the industry over GBP 1.5 billion annually. The top universities of UK for STEM courses like the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College of London, London Business School, and UCL are included among the best universities for STEM courses in the world.
STEM Courses in Canada
Canada is a dream study abroad destination for many STEM course aspirants. Students will find the country to be welcoming and Canada's stay back period is the longest for the STEM graduates, which spans over a period of three years. Some of the best universities to study STEM courses in Canada are the University of Ottawa, McMaster University, McGill University, University of Victoria, University of Toronto, Quebec University, and the University of Waterloo.
STEM Courses in Australia
Australia is among the countries with the highest STEM-related research activity, especially in the fields of natural sciences, indigenous resources, and marine biology. Some of the best universities to study STEM courses in Australia are the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University, the University of Sydney, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of South Wales.
From a practical standpoint, studying STEM abroad has several benefits. As the world becomes more globally interconnected, students are getting inclined towards STEM programmes. This development can be attributed, in part, to nations' current efforts to enhance their STEM education programmes to stay competitive in the global economy. This has caused an increase in the number of top-notch STEM courses offered abroad, drawing students from all around the world.
Get in touch with our study abroad experts to find out more about STEM courses abroad and how to prepare an impressive application to get into top STEM universities. You can also write to them at abroad@collegedekho.com.
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