If chosen correctly, Part-time jobs can act as an entry point into the foreign job market. After their graduation, students will be able to bag a part-time extended work experience or full-time work if they select a part-time job which aligns with their course of study. The majority of countries offer post-study work visas once students graduate from their respective colleges. Such visas allow students to stay there and put their talent and use their knowledge into the local job market.
Increase in the number of students travelling to study abroad
It was recently revealed by the government that there has been an increase in the number of students availing education loans to study abroad from 2012-2013 by 215 per cent. Recently, in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Finance shared that educational loans were availed by around 4.61 lakh students from 2012-2022. From 2012-2013 to 2021-2022, there was a massive jump in the number of students taking education loans from 22,200 to 69,898 respectively.
Moreover, it was shared by the Ministry of Education that the number of Indian students who go abroad for higher studies has increased from 4,44,553 students in 2021 to 750,365 in 2023. Therefore, it is seen that the numbers have increased in large quantities. However, the biggest deciding factor is the question of whether or not it is feasible to head abroad from an economic perspective.
Generally, the cost of a higher education degree in the United States may be around Rs 40 to 50 lakh. A similar or even higher expense is seen in the UK, Canada and Australia. A similar amount is required to study in other European countries which are some of the most popular study-abroad destinations for students from India. However, is there any possibility to repay the loan amount by working on a part-time basis in these Western countries?
Work hours permitted in the US, Canada and European universities
A student is allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester in the UK. Similarly, in the United States, a student is allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester. Considering the net cost of one year, for students, it might make it more difficult to earn their daily expenses along with allocating some money aside for savings.
Compared to the United Kingdom, in the United States, Australia and Canada, the master’s program offered are for two years. Also, the cost of tuition fees is relatively higher. It is only one year of post-graduation in the United Kingdom. When compared to the rest of the world, the tuition fees in that way are economical, except the European countries which include Spain, Germany, etc.
However, one must not forget that a language barrier is posed for students in such countries. Therefore, the UK becomes a favourite destination for Indian students as the tuition fees are comparatively less than in other countries. As of now, along with their studies, Canada allows full-time work hours to students. Similarly, unregulated work hours are allowed by Australia too. However, this facility will be available only till June 30, 2023.
Students at the University of Adelaide claim that they get to work 40 hours per week. This helps them to comfortably take care of his expenses. However, the struggle to balance work and studies exists. Currently, a pay of approximately AUD 20-21 is provided for 18-year-old students in Australia.
Moreover, Germany allows students to work full-time for 120 days or part-time for 240 half days. Also, students are allowed to work 20 hours per week in Russia as well as in New Zealand. Similarly, students are allowed to work 964 hours per year in France.
Some countries do not allow part-time jobs for students
However, in some countries such as Singapore, students from India find it hard to find a part-time job. Moreover, some private universities in Singapore do not allow students to avail themselves of part-time jobs. This is because universities want students to focus on their courses. However, there are also major employment issues because some employers take note of the study visa. Therefore, it gets difficult to acquire a part-time job.
Above all, in Singapore, part-time jobs pay very less in Singapore. For an hour, students usually get paid SGD 5-7. This is not enough as, for a single room with shared facilities in the faraway areas of the city, the monthly rent is SGD 600 per month. For a year, the tuition fee is approximately 10000-12000 SGD. Therefore, part-time jobs do not help much in survival. Paying off education loans is, however, out of the league.
However, some other countries that have higher minimum wages also have higher costs of living. The highest per-hour minimum wage for international students is offered by countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Luxembourg, the UK, France and Germany. However, a higher minimum wage means a higher cost of living in the country. Moreover, students must also be aware of the other determining factors involved such as inflation in the desired country, work hours allowed and cost of living.
Paying off education loans through part-time jobs by students
The prices of studying abroad have increased highly after Covid-19 due to the increase in the cost of accommodation, prices of food, etc., among other costs across the world. In such a situation, it is definitely a necessary task to pay off an education loan by working abroad in part-time jobs. Everything depends on the opportunities a student gets in those countries abroad. It also depends on the possibility of availing themselves of a part-time job in order to cover the maximum expenses for living.
However, if the option can be picked from a pool of choices, parts of Europe can be the cheapest option for students from India. All the developed countries which include the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia, possess a similar range of ratios of living expense. There is a bleak difference in money that is spent by the students on living expenses.
Minimum wage earned through part-time jobs in abroad
The minimum wage that one could earn in the UK is 11 pounds/ hour. Similarly, one could earn 21 dollars/ hour and 15.5 dollars/ hour in Australia and Canada respectively. Moreover, one can earn 11.30 dollars/ hour and 10 dollars/ hour in Ireland and the USA respectively. However, the earnings change depending upon the city in the USA.
A student from London states that her tuition fee was nearly Rs 2,271,636.57 and that she stays in student accommodation. She has to pay nearly Rs 12 lakh for the period starting in September 2022 till July 2023. This amount comes down to 290 pounds per week. The accommodation fees include energy, WiFi, heat, a bathroom, a private room and a common kitchen. Her monthly expenditure is 200-250 pounds per month for groceries and miscellaneous items.
An Indian student studying in the UK stated that some students who are currently studying abroad believe that by simply working part-time for up to 20 hours per week, it is difficult to pay off their education loan. However, it must be noted that the part-time job does not help in covering the education loan. On the other hand, it supports international students in bearing their daily expenses very well. Such daily expenses include all other minor costs, bills etc.
Gaining entry into the job market through part-time jobs
If chosen correctly, Part-time jobs can act as an entry point into the foreign job market. After their graduation, students will be able to bag a part-time extended work experience or full-time work if they select a part-time job which aligns with their course of study. The majority of countries offer post-study work visas once students graduate from their respective colleges. Such visas allow students to stay there and put their talent and use their knowledge into the local job market.
Therefore, before choosing the destination, it is very important to be aware of the type of part-time jobs and the working hours that are available in different countries. Students are able to access local job markets through these part-time jobs. This teaches them about the working of various companies. Also, the students are able to build references and contacts in the chosen field. This can serve as a major plus point for future jobs.
Moreover, students must be keen in choosing the country that would provide them with global exposure along with considering their financial and economic stability. This will help them in improving their education as they will be less burdened with the thought of repaying their loans after completing their graduation.
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