In August 2014 alone, around 35,000 students from India joined various American universities, with the major outflow of students to American universities from Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai, and Pune not far behind. The increasing demand for Indian students for Master’s courses in America has been driven by a resurgent US economy and student-friendly US government initiatives.
As even the White House has recently pointed out, science and engineering in America create the innovative processes and services that make the US economy the most productive in the world today. The revival of the American economy from 2011 onward has fueled the growing demand for working professionals in the fields of engineering and computer science. To meet this demand the American government is encouraging international students to join American universities for Master’s as well as doctoral programs. It has introduced a special category called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and liberally provides visas for students in this category. These students also have a special quota for the work permit (H-1B visa) and are also allowed to work for 29 months after completing their master’s without a work permit under what is called Optional Practical Training (OPT) . This has provided a golden opportunity that Indian students have been quick to capitalize on.
Another vital factor fueling the outflow of Indian students to American shores is the generous financial assistance provided by American universities to their students. This brings the actual cost of education in America down to around 15 to 20 lakhs. Fortunately, most Indian banks and specialized institutions providing loans for education offer liberal loans of up to 20 lakhs for students joining American universities. Since the salary offered after completing a master’s degree in America is in the range of $65,000-$100,000 students generally repay their entire loan amount within two years of getting a job. So, if you are thinking of an ‘MS in US’, now seems to be a pretty good time to go.
For more information and help on applying to American universities for an MS in US, click here.