Thousands of students from India aim to study abroad after completing their 12th board exam. 

But the challenge most of the students face in doing so is that they do not always have strong financial support. Many assume that it is hard to manage the expenses of studying abroad.   

This is the reason students often lookout for opportunities and ways to study abroad for free after the12th.  

But is it truly possible?  

The answer is yes. It can be difficult to get such opportunities but it is very much possible.  

How can we say this with so much confidence?  

Because we know many Indian students are doing it. They pursue education in global colleges or universities for free or in exchange for a very small amount.  

Are you now wondering how to study abroad for free after the 12th?  

Read the blog and get all the information you need.  

Checklist to meet to study abroad after 12th for free from India  

Here are the important points that can help Indian students to study abroad for free.  

  • The first step is to ace tests like IELTS, PTE, or any other language proficiency exam with a good score.   
  • In the second step, it is essential to take standardized tests like GRE and GMAT to prove academic skills. This helps students to land in good colleges with scholarship opportunities. 
  • The student has to choose a country where the lifestyle is less expensive. 
  • Once the country is selected, the student must choose a course. A student has to choose a course that is related to their previous education. It helps them in receiving scholarships and student visas easily. 
  • Choosing a trustworthy scholarship is important. Often, students are asked to show financial proof when they are applying for scholarships. Thus, it is important to keep those documents handy. 
  • A personal statement or an essay to scholarship authorities helps students. If the letter defines the previous achievements and future goals skillfully, the chances of receiving scholarships increase for the students. 

These are the significant factors that can help aspirants study abroad for free.  

Ways to study abroad for free after 12th  

Choose a Country  

Students come across many options when they decide to study abroad. This often confuses them. To avoid such confusion, a student must select the country first where they aim to pursue education.  

Studying abroad for free or with a bare minimum of expenses is tough. Thus, students who aim to receive quality education for free need to select a country carefully.   

Listing out the prospective countries is the first step. Identifying country-specific colleges and universities comes as a second step.   

Countries that are less expensive and have good academic infrastructure are best for students.  

After reaching a new country, the first hurdle is always managing the living expenses. Thus, students must plan better to manage their finances. While part-time work is a feasible option for many Indian students, many Governments do not allow students to work for long hours. Thus, it is wise to choose a less expensive country.   

Here are some of the countries where Indian students can choose to study.  

Germany  

Germany is very famous for its free education. There are many good colleges and universities in Germany. Some of the institutions are even ranked among the best colleges or universities in the world. The cost of living in Germany is less compared to any other European country. Thus, Germany can be a great option for students who want to study abroad without spending much. 

Norway  

Norway is famous for its natural beauty and low-cost good quality education.  

The biggest advantage of Norway is that no matter which nationality a person belongs to, he/she can get free education in the public universities of Norway.  

Austria  

The academic fees in Austria are not completely free. But the fees here are quite less compared to many other big countries. Despite being less expensive, Austria has universities that offer quality education. We can also say the same thing about the living expenses. A student can easily bear the living expense in Austria with a part-time job.  

Thus, students who choose to study abroad after 12th must consider this nation.  

Choose a college or university  

After choosing a country, students have to choose a college or university. When choosing a college or university, students must consider a couple of things before making the decision.  

First, they must decide on the course. The second is understanding the course fee structure. One more important thing remains; students can also check if the college provides any type of scholarship. 

If these three elements match with students’ expectations, they must choose the college.  

Students always have the option of choosing between Public and Private universities. While Private universities are often expensive, students should aim to get admission to Public Universities.   

Here are some of the best universities:   

  • University of Cologne (Germany)  
  • Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany) 
  • University of Helsinki (Finland) 
  • UiT The Arctic University of Norway 
  • University of Oslo (Norway) 
  • Aalesund University College (Norway) 
  • University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Austria) 
  • University of Vienna (Austria) 
  • University of Salzburg (Austria) 

Receiving Scholarship  

The best way to study abroad for free is to apply and get a scholarship. There are many scholarship opportunities available that help students continue their education abroad.  Receiving a scholarship can be tough but students can try for it. Scholarships can help students with a stipend or one-time allotted money. That can be used for college fees, living expenses, medical check-ups, etc.   

Often, colleges or universities grant scholarships to students. But, if that is not the situation, students can apply for other scholarships. There are many Government and Private Scholarships available for students who pursue education abroad after the 12th.   

Here are some of the best scholarships students can check out.   

  • Tata Scholarships  
  • Great Scholarships India 
  • Commonwealth Scholarship 
  • Inlaks Scholarship 
  • Chinese Government Scholarships  

Enriching Internships  

Another way of managing living expenses abroad is finding good internships. It is one of the best ways a student can earn money to ensure smooth living. While on one side internship helps young students earn money, on the other side, it helps in skill development. During the under-graduation program, it is always better to gain experience in internships.  

 It helps students to learn many new things, which they can’t learn through theoretical knowledge.  

Here is an important tip for students who aim to join internships. Before starting to work on a farm, a student must check the background of the company. They must also ask for a written contract as a part of onboarding. These two steps can help students avoid fraud and unnecessary complications.  

Opt for part-time jobs  

Living expenses abroad can be expensive. Therefore, even if the other expenses can be taken care of, living expenses sometimes are hard to manage. Be it room rent, food, clothes, travel, etc. come under living expenses. To manage it all at ease, students sometimes lookout for part-time jobs. These jobs help students to manage their expenses independently. Some Governments of foreign countries allow students to work on a part-time basis some days a week.  

If a student wishes to study abroad for free, then they have to handle their college fees and living expenses. 

While scholarships can help them to manage college or application fees, their living expenses can easily be managed with part-time jobs or internship opportunities. 

All they have to do is to plan better and prepare better to get the best learning opportunity abroad.