A detailed guide on the top courses to study abroad after the 12th of 2024

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.

Study Abroad Courses After 12 th

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 Courses

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)
Stanford University
Harvard University
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Princeton University

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
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Applied Science

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

Business and Management Courses

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
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
University of Pennsylvania
University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

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
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Business, Economics, and Management

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

Information Technology (IT) Courses

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
Monash University
RMIT University
Swinburne University of Technology
Western Sydney University

Avg Tuition Fees

Approx AUD 132,816 ( Read more insights here )

Avg Course Duration

4 years

Popular Courses

Bachelor of Business Information Technology (Professional)
Bachelor of Information Technology
Bachelor of Information Technology - Cyber Security

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

Health Sciences Courses

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
Stanford University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Princeton University
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Avg Tuition Fees

Approx USD 246,924 ( Read more insights here )

Avg Course Duration

4 years

Popular Courses

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience

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

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Course After 12th

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.

Eligibility Criteria for Studying Abroad After 12th for Indian Students

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

FAQs

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.