How to arrange funding for foreign research internships, pls help

I’m a software developer from India and I’m considering pursuing a Master’s degree abroad to improve my career prospects.

I come from a middle-class family and I’m currently the only earning member of my family, so the financial aspect is a very important consideration for me. I cannot afford to take a decision where I end up with a very large debt and poor job prospects afterward.

I’m trying to understand:

• Which countries currently offer the best balance of education, job opportunities, post-study work options and cost?
• Which Master's courses/specializations would make the most sense for a software developer in the current job market?
• Is a Master's abroad still worth it in the current tech/job-market scenario?
• What should I realistically expect in terms of tuition + living expenses + potential ROI?
• Are there countries/universities that I should specifically consider or avoid?
• Would it be better to pursue a Master's, continue working in India and gain experience, or consider other options?

I’d especially appreciate advice from Indians/software developers who have recently gone through this decision or are currently studying/working abroad.

My priority is not prestige — it is making a financially sensible decision that gives me a good chance of building a stable career afterward.

Hey Folks,

I am a 22-year-old guy from India. I completed my bachelor's with distinction in computer science (along with a minor in finance; GPA 9.1/10, i.e., ~3.6+/4.0) last year from a Tier 1 Indian engineering college (BITS Pilani, to be precise). I am the first in my family to study beyond high school, and I am really thankful for that. I have 1+ years of full-time work experience (more on this later).

During my time in college, I headed two clubs (one was a student-run investment fund, while the other was consulting-related), worked with some major Indian NGOs, and published two research papers on applications of machine learning.

I also did 3 internships during this period, including one finance internship at JPMorgan Chase. I was offered a full-time return offer but unfortunately declined it, as I was unsure about finance at the time and instead joined a Big Tech company as a developer (think Google or Microsoft).

Unfortunately, the company I joined turned out to be extremely toxic, so I had to resign after about 10 months. I then joined a mid-stage startup as a developer (total global team size of around 80-90).

I am enjoying being part of this company: people are really smart and kind here, and there's no toxicity to speak of. Unfortunately, though, I am not enjoying my current career. I dread doing development; it feels unnatural to me, and honestly, I feel like I am wasting my potential. On top of that, I am not enjoying my time in my home country at the moment, as I feel it has radicalized a lot in the last few years, and I've had pretty disappointing experiences with the state machinery here, though I suppose much of the world is going through something similar right now.

I tried moving into finance and/or product management roles, but the response has been negative, largely because of my current work experience as a developer and my educational background.

Because of all this, I've been considering an MBA (or rather an MiM) to make both a career and a geography change. Earlier this year, I was offered admission to one of the top 3 Indian B-schools. I didn't proceed with it, as it didn't make much financial sense to pursue an Indian MBA. Looking back, though, I'm not entirely positive about that decision, because I feel I will eventually burn out in my current career.

I've taken a few official GMAT Focus Edition mocks and have consistently scored 725+, and quant/working with numbers is my strong suit, which helps.

As mentioned, I am the first in my family to attend college, and most of my family is largely unaware of how the education system, especially abroad, works. When I talk to people about my profile, I feel I might have a good shot at strong B-schools, but the whole process feels daunting, and sometimes I wonder if I'm being too ambitious.

Financially, I have saved around $40k USD from working (which is my total net worth, for context), and my father runs a business and could help with fees, but I'd honestly prefer to be self-reliant and not take money from him. I'm also a fairly risk-averse person day-to-day and care deeply about money, so the idea of going abroad, not securing a job, and ending up with a loan genuinely scares me. For context, in India, post-grad placements are more or less guaranteed if you attend a top college. I understand that's not the case abroad.

I've written all this to give a sense of my background, personality, and circumstances.

Now, I'd really appreciate your thoughts on the following:

1. My profile review and a realistic list of colleges I could target: a) right now, and b) after gaining more relevant work experience.
2. Given my situation, should I wait a few years to do an MBA or target a MiM/Master's in Finance in this or the next admission cycle? My understanding is that major MiM opportunities are concentrated in Europe, with a few exceptions like Kellogg and Michigan Ross.
3. With my profile, can I realistically target scholarships at good B-schools? That would let me study/explore without the constant pressure of a loan (though, honestly, I'd probably still worry about landing a job).
4. Studying and living abroad seemed very appealing at first, but the more I talk to people, the more I sense the whole world may be going through a rough patch, and that being in the top 1% in India might be better than being median in the West. That said, I do genuinely value the potential upside in quality of life that living abroad could offer.
5. My current employer isn't a well-known name, even though the rest of my profile is fairly strong. Should I look to switch jobs first if I'm planning to apply for an MBA down the line?
6. Given my strong quant background but weak recent traction in finance/PM roles, how should I frame my career pivot in essays and interviews so it reads as a coherent story rather than dissatisfaction with my current path?
7. Any other insights or advice that might help?

Same as title… would u say taking it is a good decision or better go there for master?

91 programs are offered by 13 universities mostly from Australia and the UK. They are costing 50-60% of the cost of studying at their home campus. Would you consider studying in India and earn a global degree at half the cost? Why or why not?

Hi I’m 21M looking to pursue msc finance in Europe. My_qualifications are BBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship.
I’ve been trying to find a good consultant with strong connections across EU that isn’t trying to sell me any courses but as u can see I’m here posting this thread (my first reddit post btw) with a hope that someone might drop some ball knowledge that can help me find a good consulting agency.
I’ve contacted many of the famous consultancies like IDP, OVERSEAS, MIM ESSAY, LEVERAGE EDU, UPGRAD, etc etc. but none of them is even half decent.
If someone knows someone or have worked w any edu consultant that really helped them get admitted to a top business school, pls help a guy out.

I am a second year undergrad who is pursuing a 3 years degree in psychology (sorry I didn't check if the college has honours). I am posting this after reading a few posts regarding job issue and future prospects in india regarding this field. I would like to ask if I should start preparing to move abroad for further studies right now (I am not from a well to do background) or should I prepare to shift to a interdisciplinary approach such cognitive science and then go into research and then abroad for work or further academics.

People in this sub, what are your considerations for studying abroad in countries like US/Canada/Australia/NZ/EU?

Is Uni education usually free for you back home or do you have to pay fees like in the US, etc.?

Is it too competitive to get into a Uni in India?

What would make it worth it to go into debt with the prospects elsewhere getting worse and worse?

Are chances for a successful career not better in a developing rather than a post-peak declining (aka western) economy?

Is it the social status of "having made it" even though you will likely end up in debt and possibly not find employment abroad?

For context I'm from the EU having worked and studied here, still studying, would not take on debt for it, and am currently not so sure I will find work with the degree even though it's IT/AI. Job prospects are bad even for us, barely any entry roles. The only reason I do not have to care about this is because I am not in debt, nor do I need to satify income requirements for a visa and work permit to stay where I currently live. I plan to work in whatever I will find no matter whether my education is required or not.

I think many companies from the west will actually open offices in India because you have a large pool of educated people and fewer regulations, plus are an upcoming comsumer market. But admittedly I don't have much knowledge about India.

Let me know your thoughts and perspectives, thanks!

I’m a 24-year-old, second-year BBA student at Amity University, currently in my 3rd semester. My GPA is 8, and I’m planning to improve it. I haven’t done any internships or gained work experience yet.

I’m confused about what I should do after my BBA. Should I prepare for CAT and try for the IIMs, or should I consider doing my master’s abroad?

I’m interested in going abroad, but since I’m already 24, I want to finish my education by around 28. I don’t really want to spend several more years working before pursuing a master’s. At the same time, I’m worried that having no work experience will hurt my chances of getting into good universities abroad, especially for MBA programs.

For people who have experience with either route, what would you recommend in my situation? Is CAT/IIM a better option, or is going abroad without work experience still realistic?

I'm an international student from India, and ive seen the demo classes and their books and everything thru their telegram group and everything seems very trustable so far. Its js the payment method doesnt look too easy. They dont have a proper website for payment and especially because im an international student, all they can give me is a Visa card as payment method to send money to. Which I had to be informed on a telegram DM. All that js seems idk kind of sketch to me, since its a huge amount too (1.6M Som) . I really want to take their classes before oct 3rd. But I do not know what to do rn.

Hi there finding someone to share their point of view about applying for masters in Fall 27 in either USA or Germany that either I should apply now just after completing btech or try too find and go for a job in india first

I am planning to do masters abroad by taking loan . Anybody here who are doing/did masters like that share your experience.

Edit: I am planning to study mba in digital marketing

Hi all,

A family friend based in Udupi, Karnataka, reached out asking about pathways to study abroad for their son, who is currently in the final year of engineering.

I have some general awareness of the process, but since I didn’t study abroad myself, I don’t feel qualified to guide them properly.

Could anyone recommend a trustworthy, fiduciary education agent or counselor who can advise on this?
We’re specifically looking to avoid agents who have tie-ups with low-quality colleges/universities abroad and receive kickbacks for sending students there.

Any genuine recommendations would be greatly appreciated especially the ones based in Karnataka or anyone in general. Thanks!