Studying abroad, especially for Indian students like me, means targeting the famous destinations like the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and Australia (believe me, once you say you’ve admission to any of these country’s universities, your relatives will die of jealousy).
But but but, the problem arises when these “famous” destinations are not providing you with what you’re looking for other than just education – quality of life, good scholarships, access to multiculture, and most importantly post-work jobs and employment opportunities.
But but but, the problem arises when these “famous” destinations are not providing you with what you’re looking for other than just education – quality of life, good scholarships, access to multiculture, and most importantly post-work jobs and employment opportunities.
Below are some off-beat destinations around the world other than the Sharma ji’s favorite countries where you’ll be able to get a world-class education, access to financial hubs, and unique cultural experiences in places that aren’t as mainstream.
If you’re considering a career in finance, business, or tech, here are six study destinations that should be on your radar: Dubai (UAE), Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore and Germany.
1. Dubai, UAE: A Modern Hub for Education & Business
Let’s talk about my first favorite destinations, Dubai! (or mini-India as we can call, as you find Indians in every nook and corner of it).
Dubai is positioning itself as an education hub, with branch campuses of top universities from UK, US, Canada, Australia, India (yes you read it correct!) and every corner around the world.
Universities being around the globe, and relatively new, most of them offer exchange years or semesters in their home country along with easy scholarships.
Not only this, almost all of them allow PGs to work alongside study with evening or weekend schedules or part-time options.
The country has major international companies that have regional headquarters here.
As we all know, the country is the safest place on earth! So be ready to walk around the streets at 2 am fearless unlike India or any other country!
The country is a cosmopolitan hub with events running round the corner. (You’d need to find ways to say no, as every month, every week, there’s something happening in Dubai!)
Dubai offers a very easy student visa process. Easy enough that it’ll come in hardly 15 days, you don’t need to visit anywhere and neither required to “Show money” for application.
UAE in general, has hardly 10-15% Emirati population, making 90% expats running the country, hence diversity at its peak!
If the above still not convince you, let me add the icing to the cake – TAX FREE ECONOMY! Yes, you read it right, it’s 0% personal income tax so you pocket whatever you earn!
So why not grab the opportunity before it’s taken!
Some of the top Universities & their campuses in Dubai:
- University of Birmingham Dubai
- SP Jain School of Global Management
- American University in Dubai
- Heriot-Watt University Dubai
- Middlesex University
- University of Wollongong
2. Switzerland: Wealth and Swiss watches
Ranked as 4th on the Global Financial Centers Index (2024 edition), the country offers several benefits to be chosen as a study abroad destination other than beautiful locations, amazing weather, watches or chocolates!
The country has a thriving economy with a low student population, great post-study employment opportunities with low unemployment rate, amazing quality of life, great cultural mix with almost 40% expats and home to some major multinationals like – Nestle, Zurich Insurance, Adecco and Roche.
Cities like Geneva and Zurich are key locations for some premier institutions, with the Swiss Stock Exchange being in Zurich.
The country is on track to build a top-notch education system, so why not go for it?
Some of the top major universities to target in Switzerland:
- ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Rank 7)
- EPFL (Rank 36)
- University of Zurich (Rank 91)
- University of Basel (Rank 124)
- University of Geneva (Rank 128)
- University of Bern (Rank 126)
3. Hong Kong: The Gateway to Asia’s Financial World
Hong Kong is an ultra-modern, highly globalized city where East meets West. The country is now a leading financial hub with strong degree of academic competitiveness, Hongkong is ranked as 3rd easiest place in the world to do business as per World Bank Doing Business 2020 report.
So look at the underrated destination, my future entrepreneurs!
The country is a premier trading hub between the rest of the world and Mainland China, attracting major multinationals. The place offers you great social life, a pool of scholarships, government grants and easy loans as its in the race to become education hub as well!
Post-grads are now allowed to work part-time, offering flexibility, along with large scale building of hostels to attract more students, dynamic cultures with both east and west.
Check out the top Universities in Hongkong:
- The University of Hong Kong (Rank 26)
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) (Rank 47)
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Rank 60)
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Rank 65)
- City University of Hong Kong (Rank 70)
4. Singapore: Affordable Excellence
Singapore is an integrated setup of both eastern and western world; the country is a financial powerhouse and is a tech-driven city.
The country is one of the safest places in the world with amazing transportation system and easy student visa process.
A lucrative option for those who are targeting multinationals, as the country is now becoming the Asian Headquarters of companies like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Dyson, etc.
Singapore is a fantastic choice for students looking for affordable tuition (cheaper than UK or US) with subsidized fees and government grants, quality education, and global networking opportunities.
The universities usually offer 16 hours per week of working hours during academic term which increases to full time during breaks.
The official languages include English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, making it easier for you to bond!
So why not target one of Asia’s booming economies?
Some of the Top Universities in Singapore are:
- National University of Singapore (NUS) (Rank 8)
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU) (Rank 26)
- Singapore University of Technology and Design (Rank 429)
- Singapore Management University (Rank 545)
5. Germany: Europe’s Financial Powerhouse
Germany, a country where you can find education for almost free at some universities!
Don’t miss the opportunity of being in safe economy, in the heart of Europe without burning a hole in your wallet!
The country offers high-quality education, with some highly ranked universities, and amazing quality of life.
Frankfurt being a global banking center is an excellent choice for finance students. The country has a cutting-edge tech-driven industry and offers easy access to the rest of Europe.
Other important benefits include vibrant social life, post study work visa, English taught programs, and working while you study!
Top Universities to target in Germany:
- Technical University of Munich (Rank 37)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Rank 54)
- Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (Rank 87)
- Freie Universitaet Berlin (Rank 98)
- RWTH Aachen University (Rank 106)
Thus, Think Beyond the Obvious Choices!
Studying abroad is about more than “famous names” or “rankings”—it’s about affordability, career opportunities, and quality of life. These five destinations offer world-class education, booming industries, and strong post-study work opportunities unlike conventional routes like UK, US, Canada or Australia.
If you’re planning your next big academic move, maybe it’s time to think beyond the usual choices and consider one of these rising study hubs.
Countries like Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, and Dubai hold significance in the financial markets as emerging financial and educational hubs providing world-class universities.
Benefits such as strong financial and tech ecosystems, multicultural environments, and excellent post-study employment prospects are something worth exploring them for.
Whether you’re looking for affordable tuition, thriving job markets, or a vibrant social life, these destinations offer a compelling mix of academic excellence and real-world opportunities.
So, if you’re planning to study abroad, don’t just follow the crowd—choose a destination that aligns with your career goals, lifestyle preferences, and long-term ambitions. The world is full of opportunities beyond the usual choices; why not take the road less traveled?
Which of these destinations excites you the most? Let me know in the comments!
And I’ll see you in the next blog.
This is so insightful! Looking forward to reading more of your blogs :)))