Completing Class 12 is indeed an important milestone. However, a long and exciting journey awaits ahead. It is now time to choose the career path that would best align with your interests, academic background, and future goals. The first step in this direction is to opt for a line of study at the Undergraduate level that would help lay the foundation for a progressive career.
Higher education abroad presents diverse opportunities for students from India and other parts of the world. Besides improving your career potential, pursuing a course from overseas also enables you to embrace diverse cultures. This provides a significant learning experience for students.
This article discusses some top courses to choose abroad after 12th standard. It also highlights the high-ranked universities that offer these programs, their fee structure, admission criteria, and career opportunities upon graduation.
Choosing a course to study abroad after the 12th can be quite a tough decision because there are tons of choices. Overseas education offers a variety of options to interested students. Some of the most popular courses after Class 12 that appeal to students choosing to study abroad are:
Engineering Courses
Business and Management Courses
Information Technology (IT) Courses
Health Sciences Courses
There may be a variety of other courses to choose from for studying overseas. However, the ones listed above are generally the ones that most international students opt for.
In the following sections, let us look at each of these study disciplines in detail.
Engineering is one of the most popular study domains abroad. The following Engineering disciplines are high in demand among students travelling abroad for education after the 12th:
Civil Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Mechatronics
Materials Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
The following table details the top universities to pursue Engineering abroad, the popular Engineering courses offered at these universities, their average tuition fees, and the duration of Engineering programs.
Top Engineering Universities Abroad | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Avg Tuition Fees | Approx USD 243,264 ( Read more insights here ) |
Avg Course Duration | 4 years |
Popular Engineering Courses | Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering |
Industry demand and job prospects
Graduates of Engineering courses abroad that are pursued after 12th are eligible to apply for the following job positions:
Expected Job Role | Avg Annual Salary (approx) |
Biomedical Engineer | USD 83,140 |
Aeronautical Engineer | USD 101,657 |
Nanotechnology Engineer | USD 1,25,772 |
Robotics Engineer | USD 109,566 |
Data Scientist | USD 1,56,524 |
Related Sources: https://www.indeed.com/career/biomedical-engineer/salaries
https://www.indeed.com/career/aeronautical-engineer/salaries
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/us-nanotechnology-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,26.htm
https://www.indeed.com/career/robotics-engineer/salaries
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/us-data-scientist-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,17.htm
This is yet another popular discipline among international students. Bachelor of Business Administration or BBA is the most demanded course for students in this domain. The course is offered by many global universities at the Undergraduate level after completing Class 12. The program generally lasts for about 3-4 years (depending on curriculum design).
Some other popular management and entrepreneurship programs to pursue abroad after 12th include:
Applied Management
Business Finance
Financial Accounting
Human Resource Management
International Business
The table below details the top universities abroad for business and management courses overseas (after 12th), their popular courses in the field, average tuition fee, and average duration.
Top Universities Abroad for Business & Management | Stanford University |
Avg Tuition Fees | Approx USD 234,480 ( Read more insights here ) |
Avg Course Duration | 4 years |
Popular Courses | Bachelor of Science in Economics - Marketing and Communication |
Industry demand and job prospects
Graduates of Business and Management courses abroad that are pursued after the 12th are eligible to apply for the following job positions:
Expected Job Role | Avg Annual Salary (approx) |
Business Development Manager | CAD 90,031 |
External Auditor | CAD 60,051 |
Human Resources Officer | CAD 68,807 |
Sales Executive | CAD 90,085 |
Arbitrator | CAD 56,398 |
Related Sources: https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/toronto-business-development-manager-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IM976_KO8,36.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/canada-external-auditor-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IN3_KO7,23.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/us-nanotechnology-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,26.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/canada-sales-executive-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IN3_KO7,22.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/canada-arbitrator-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IN3_KO7,17.htm
The field of IT is fast evolving, and this creates a huge demand for courses in the domain. The demand for studies in IT can be seen not only within India but everywhere in the world. This is evident in the variety of IT courses offered at international universities at all study levels. For students pursuing Undergraduate courses in IT, a Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) is widely popular.
The course is offered for 3-4 years (depending on the curriculum design). Some of the most popular subject options offered as part of BCS courses to students include:
Software Engineering
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Information Systems
Machine Learning (ML)
Cloud Computing
Students can choose to opt for any of these specialisations based on their academic interests and career goals.
The table below details the top universities abroad for IT courses overseas (after 12th), their popular courses in the field, average tuition fee, and average duration.
Top Universities Abroad for IT | University of Technology Sydney |
Avg Tuition Fees | Approx AUD 132,816 ( Read more insights here ) |
Avg Course Duration | 4 years |
Popular Courses | Bachelor of Business Information Technology (Professional) |
Industry demand and job prospects
Graduates of IT courses abroad that are pursued after 12th are eligible to apply for the following job positions:
Expected Job Role | Avg Annual Salary (approx) |
IT Project Manager | GBP 61,519 |
Software Engineer | GBP 52,589 |
Data Scientist | GBP 52,782 |
Cybersecurity Analyst | GBP 39,132 |
Web Designer | GBP 29,123 |
Related Sources: https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/london-it-project-manager-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IM1035_KO7,25.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/uk-software-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN2_KO3,20.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/uk-data-scientist-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN2_KO3,17.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/uk-cybersecurity-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN2_KO3,24.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/uk-web-designer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN2_KO3,15.htm?clickSource=searchBtn
This is yet another popular domain for studying abroad. Students graduating from health sciences courses are eligible to apply for attractive jobs in the medicine and healthcare sectors.
Bachelor of Nursing is one of the high-demand courses in this domain overseas. The course generally lasts for 3-4 years (depending upon university and curriculum design). Some other popular programs for healthcare abroad include:
BPharm
BSc Nursing
Bachelor of Health Sciences
Bachelor of Orthoptics
MBBS
The table below details the top universities abroad for Health Sciences courses overseas (after 12th), their popular courses in the field, average tuition fee, and average duration.
Top Universities Abroad for Health Sciences | Harvard University |
Avg Tuition Fees | Approx USD 246,924 ( Read more insights here ) |
Avg Course Duration | 4 years |
Popular Courses | Bachelor of Arts in Psychology |
Industry demand and job prospects
Graduates of Health Sciences courses abroad that are pursued after the 12th are eligible to apply for the following job positions:
Expected Job Role | Avg Annual Salary (approx) |
Dentist | EUR 96,190 |
Nurse | EUR 45,919 |
Physician | EUR 126,894 |
Pharmacist | EUR 76,887 |
Medical Specialist | EUR 47,549 |
Related Sources: https://ie.indeed.com/career/dentist/salaries
https://ie.indeed.com/career/nurse/salaries?from=top_sb
https://ie.indeed.com/career/physician/salaries?from=top_sb
https://ie.indeed.com/career/pharmacist/salaries?from=top_sb
https://ie.indeed.com/career/medical-specialist/salaries?from=top_sb
Choosing a course to pursue after the 12th can be quite a difficult yet important decision. It determines your future career path. It is therefore important to take into consideration some vital factors before making this decision:
Make sure that your career choice best aligns with your interests and passion. When you’re passionate about a field of study, you are more likely to stay dedicated to that path. It also encourages you to work harder and chart out a rewarding career path in the area.
Know your strengths academically and also identify the areas that need more improvement. An honest self-analysis can help you easily choose the study discipline you are most likely to pursue.
The standard entry requirements specified by most international universities for courses after 12th are as follows:
Official academic transcripts of higher secondary education from a recognised Indian school accredited by the applied university
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Valid student visa for the chosen abroad destination for study
Letter of Recommendation (LOR) by teachers
Valid passport for travel to the desired study-abroad destination
Updated Resume/CV
Standardised test scores, such as GRE/GMAT and others (if so asked by the applied university)
Proof of English language proficiency tests such as IELTS
1. How can I study abroad after 12th from India?
To be eligible for studying abroad after class 12, you must produce a completion certificate of higher secondary education from a recognised school in India. Additionally, some Undergraduate courses may require the scores of standardised entrance tests and proof of English proficiency test, such as IELTS.
2. Can I study abroad for free after the 12th from India?
Yes, many international universities offer scholarship programs to international students interested in studying abroad after 12th. Do check with your study-abroad consultant at IDP for complete details on the various scholarships suitable for you.
3. Which course after the 12th is the best for jobs abroad?
Some of the top courses after class 12 that can help obtain rewarding jobs overseas for international students include:
Bachelors in Biotechnology
Bachelor of Accounting and Finance
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Diploma in Information Technology
Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA)
4. How to get a 100% scholarship to study abroad after the 12th?
Do your research well on the universities abroad that offer 100% scholarships to international students. Also, a good academic record helps boost your chances of securing a 100% scholarship. Make sure that you also meet all the desired eligibility requirements for a scholarship at the university you apply to.
5. What is the eligibility to study abroad after the 12th?
All students applying for courses overseas must have completed their class 12 and submit a certificate of completion of higher secondary education. Most international universities require completion of class 12 from a recognised high school in India and also one that is accredited by the specific country that you apply to. Moreover, all international students must produce proof of English language proficiency tests, such as IELTS.
6. How much money is needed to study abroad after the 12th?
The average cost of studying abroad may vary from one country to another. It also depends on the course pursued, and the university opted for. On average, the approximate cost of pursuing a Bachelor's degree in the US ranges between USD 20,000 and USD 40,000 per annum.