The West was always the default higher-educational destination for aspirational Indian scholars, ever since the days of Gandhi and Nehru. But only in recent years did we start looking northwards and eastwards, in the Asian yard for taleem. And a rich and diverse landscape it has proved to be. More and more Indian students are opting for the variety of courses being offered in the Asia Pacific which comprises of China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore, the lattermost country, of course, has held an impressive higher-education portfolio among Indians for long.
As in everything else, China is determined to leave a formidable footprint in education. It now spends almost four per cent of its massive GDP on education. Several of its universities are highly ranked, and a lot of the degrees are taught in English. Despite this, after finishing a degree, it is nearly impossible to get a job unless you are competent in Mandarin and written Chinese. Universities like CEIBS (China Europe International Business School) are well regarded for business education.
Top Hong Kong Colleges
| Rank | Name of College / University | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Hong Kong | 9/F, Knowles Building Pok Fu Lam Road, Pokfulam, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong |
| 2 | Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| 3 | Chinese University of Hong Kong | Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong |
| 4 | City University of Hong Kong | Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| 5 | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | 11 Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| 6 | Hong Kong Baptist University | Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| 7 | Lingnan University | 8 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories,Hong Kong |
| 8 | Open University of Hong Kong | Ho Man Tin Campus, 30 Good Shepherd Street, Kowloon City, Hong Kong |
| 9 | Education University of Hong Kong | Tai Po Campus, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong |
| 10 | Hong Kong Shue Yan University | 10 Wai Tsui Crescent, Braemar Hill Road, North Point, Eastern, Hong Kong |
| Rank | 1 |
| Name Of College / University | University of Hong Kong |
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Tables attribution: Copyright: www.prep4future.org
Japan offers a few undergraduate and several Masters degrees in English as well. Tokyo University and Kyoto University are well known for their courses in science, technology and the Arts. Waseda University is the one to go for business. For several Universities in Japan, you will, instead of sending in your grades, need to write a common entrance exam for foreign students.
Top Hong Kong B-Schools
| Rank | Name of College / University | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Hong Kong | 9/F, Knowles Building Pok Fu Lam Road, Pokfulam, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong |
| 2 | Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| 3 | Chinese University of Hong Kong | Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong |
| 4 | City University of Hong Kong | Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| 5 | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | 11 Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| 6 | Hong Kong Baptist University | Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| Rank | 1 |
| Name Of College / University | University of Hong Kong |
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Tables attribution: Copyright: www.prep4future.org
Despite its reputation for being expensive, education in Japan is quite affordable, and living costs for students is relatively reasonable. Also, the Japanese government has begun offering more scholarships to incentivise more international students to come to Japan to study.
Students at the National University of Singapore
South Korea wants to go the Japan way too. The country has a good reputation for courses in science, engineering and business. And it’s eager to take international students. A recent trend has seen more courses being taught in English as well, and Universities like Seoul National University and Sungkyunkwan University have good reputations for Business courses.
A plus side is that the fees in South Korea are very affordable, and living expenses are manageable. But to get a job in South Korea, as in Japan and China, requires proficiency in Korean.
Top Singapore Colleges
| Rank | Name of College / University | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National University of Singapore | 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, 119077, Singapore |
| 2 | Nanyang Technological University, Singapore | 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore |
| 3 | Singapore Management University | 81 Victoria St, Singapore 188065 |
| 4 | James Cook University Singapore | 149 Sims Drive, Singapore 387380 |
| 5 | Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) | 501 Stirling Rd, Singapore 148951 |
| 6 | Singapore University of Technology and Design | 8 Somapah Rd, Singapore 487372 |
| 7 | Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts | 80 Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189655 |
| 8 | Singapore Institute of Technology | 25 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 179104 |
| 9 | Curtin University | 92 Jln Rajah, Singapore 329162 |
| 10 | University of Nevada Las Vegas | 105 Cecil St, 1606 The Octagon, Singapore 069534 |
| Rank | 1 |
| Name Of College / University | National University of Singapore |
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Tables attribution: Copyright: www.prep4future.org
Hong Kong is another great and more common option amongst Indian Students. It’s relatively easy for Indian students to get a Hong Kong visa. The tuition fees is slightly more expensive, and living expenses are on the higher side as well, but several universities offer scholarships, including those aimed directly at Indians students. It is also easy to get a work permit after graduation, though the job market is extremely competitive. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong are well regarded for science, technology and business.
Then there’s Singapore, another popular choice amongst Indian students. The country has a large Indian Community too. Fees and living costs in Singapore are high in the Asian context, but the level of education is high. Both the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University are highly ranked and well regarded for most subjects, especially in Business. Singapore is also friendly in getting jobs though the market is highly competitive.
Top Singapore B-Schools
| Rank | Name of College / University | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National University of Singapore | 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, 119077, Singapore |
| 2 | Nanyang Technological University, Singapore | 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore |
| 3 | Singapore Management University | 81 Victoria St, Singapore 188065 |
| Rank | 1 |
| Name Of College / University | National University of Singapore |
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Tables attribution: Copyright: www.prep4future.org
Finally, if you are considering subjects like medicine, you might want to look at the Philippines, which offers good medical education at a reasonable price. If you are looking at Business, look at China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore or Japan, as all offer excellent MBAs.
The Asia Pacific is a region that Indians need to consider more seriously in terms of education, they are our close neighbours and offer good a quality of education at an affordable price.
By Harini Prasad, Co-Founder, www.prep4future.org
