All About Pursuing a STEM Degree Abroad: Scope, Advantages, Job Prospects

Among all courses that international students opt to study abroad,  STEM courses are the most preferred choices. STEM degree programmes are the courses offered by various universities and colleges in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Several academic disciplines fall under the STEM category like Astronomy, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Biology, Statistics, etc.

Although STEM is the most preferred courses to study abroad, many aspirants get discouraged quite easily to pursue it from an abroad university owing to various reasons like lack of appropriate information, cost of study, the fear of additional semesters for programme completion, etc. However, what the STEM aspirants miss out on are the advantages of studying STEM course from abroad universities.

If you are interested in pursuing a STEM course from abroad then the following information will help you to be sure about your choices and guide you to choose the STEM course and country for higher studies. 

Highlights of Studying a STEM Degree Abroad

Given below in the table is an overview of studying a STEM degree abroad:

Admission Requirements for STEM Courses Abroad 

Candidates looking to earn STEM degrees from foreign universities must be aware of certain things in the first place. Firstly, the prerequisites and admission process for STEM course varies country wise. Here we have taken examples of the top three countries to understand the eligibility criteria to apply for STEM courses: 

Also Read:  Top Countries to Study a STEM Degree

Advantages of Studying STEM Courses Abroad 

Over the past few years, there has been a steep rise in the number of students showing interest in pursuing STEM courses from abroad. One of the reasons is that various countries have noticed the lack of qualified graduates who can combat the shortfall of the capable workforce that led them to invite students from all across the world to opt for STEM degree programmes offered at universities or colleges.

According to the National Science Foundation of the United States of America, now is the right time to develop STEM capabilities in students beyond a level that met the needs of a highly technological and information-based society.

Every activity we do revolves around Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, which is why the importance of STEM courses has been noticed by students, professionals, entrepreneurs, scientists and technologists from across the globe. Most experts state that students should be allowed to explore STEM and its concepts to enable them to become passionate and push them to take up a job in a STEM field. 

The other advantages why you can consider applying for a STEM degree abroad are as follows: 

• STEM degrees abroad introduce the students to the latest technologies from the very beginning which train them to look for ingenious solutions when they confront real-world problems.

• Students are taught by trained experts and academicians who are passionate about their areas of study and are not showing up just for their paychecks. This passion rubs off on the students, benefiting them immensely in future.

• Students do not have to wait for a certain period to start applying their knowledge. They are allowed to start working immediately after obtaining their degrees as they are encouraged to “Learn by Doing” instead of simply following lectures and books.

• STEM jobs are highly competitive and even during a pandemic crisis like Covid-19, finding a job means standing out from the crowd. An international STEM degree means the candidates bring a variety of qualities to the table such as the ability to work on a global scale, communicating cross-culturally, comfortable in travelling, etc. Such attributes are more valued by companies which offer the international STEM degree holders an edge over their competitors/peers.

• In today’s world, companies have become more open-minded and thus they work with various international agencies to stay ahead in the neck and neck race. The whispers about creativity and innovation have now become louder. Today, wherever talks regarding innovation and creativity pop up, the STEM field professionals are always included. International experience for STEM students always paves the way for making connections and growing a network.

Admission Requirements for Bachelors in STEM Abroad

Following is the procedure to apply for STEM courses at the undergraduate level:

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must have passed 10+2 in Science stream with PCM or PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Maths/Biology) from a recognised board of education. Biology is mandatory for Biotechnology courses.

• Must have taken the SAT and obtained a minimum of 1200 on the test. However, some universities have gone test-optional amid the pandemic.

• Must have taken one of the accepted English language proficiency tests such as the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic.

• Must have obtained no less than 6 on the IELTS, 80 on the TOEFL or 50 on the PTE Academic.

Application Process:

• The first step towards applying for a STEM degree admission is to take entrance exams like the SAT and TOEFL or IELTS.

• Apply to universities according to their fee, scholarships, entrance exam scores accepted, experience and various other criteria.

• Submit all the important documents.

• Send the entrance test scores to the university.

• Write your statement of purpose (SOP) with a little bit of research about the university you are applying to and explaining why you wish to take admission to the programme (your choice of STEM programme) offered by the University.

• Submit your admission application request and wait until the feedback is received from the University regarding the same.

Documents Required:

• Letter of recommendations (3 x Nos)

• Degree/Provisional Degree

• Mark sheets/academic transcripts

• Passport

• SOP

• Test score reports

 Admission Requirements for Masters in STEM Abroad

Following is the procedure to apply for STEM courses at the postgraduate level:

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must hold a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as a three-year Bachelor's degree in Science honours for programs in Science; four-year Bachelor's degree in any technological or related field for programs in Technology; four-year Bachelor's degree in any Engineering or related field for programs in Engineering; and three-year Bachelor's degree in Mathematics for programs in Mathematics.

• Must have obtained a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in Bachelor's degree.

• Must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) although not all grad schools ask for GRE scores.

• Must have taken an accepted English language proficiency tests among the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic.

• Must have obtained no less than 6 on the IELTS, 80 on the TOEFL or 50 on the PTE Academic.

• Many universities also require STEM applicants to have work or teaching experience in the field.

Application Process:

• Shortlist universities and check their respective eligibility criteria.

• Take the required exams including the GRE, TOEFL, IELTS and/or PTE Academic.

• Apply to the universities.

• Submit all the required documents and pay the required application fee.

• After being accepted, which will be notified through your registered email, apply for scholarships, education loans and sort your finances.

• Apply for visa.

Documents Required:

• Letter of recommendations (3 x Nos)

• Degree/Provisional Degree

• Mark sheets/academic transcripts

• Passport

• SOP

• Updated CV

• Employment certificate, if any

• Test score reports

Also Read: Best Universities in the USA to Pursue STEM Course

Top 5 Countries to Study a STEM Degree

With almost all countries recognising the importance of STEM education, it can get a little confusing to decide which country to select to pursue a STEM degree. Here are the top five countries across the world that are renowned for their STEM education:

To know more about the best countries to study a STEM degree, click here.

Top STEM Specialisations Abroad

With a wide spectrum of STEM majors offered at top universities in the world, finding the ideal course for you can be taxing. Here are the top 10 STEM specialisations with the highest demand across the world:

Popular Universities Abroad Offering STEM Courses 

Check the list of universities abroad offering STEM courses:

Also Read: Top Countries to Study MS in Computer Science

Top STEM Scholarships for International Students

Universities across the world offer scholarships to students applying for a STEM degree. Let us look at a few of them:

Scope of Studying STEM Courses Abroad 

Based on the degree completed under STEM, one can apply for different job roles in the STEM field. Following are some of the popular job roles along with the average salary offered in countries like the USA, Canada and the UK: 

With more than enough reasons why students should pursue a STEM course from abroad institute, we move on to the list of best countries from where a student can pursue a STEM course.

For more information on STEM courses and admissions to universities abroad, you can write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com.