Study Abroad Reality Check: Saurabh Arora on Cost, Scholarships, and Mistakes

Why study abroad is a necessity, not just a choice

India produces around forty million students annually, and even with rapid expansion of IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS, the country would need over fifteen hundred new institutions opening every year to accommodate them.

Saurabh Arora, founder of University Living and SABIE, argues on this.

The structural gap is the real reason study abroad has become a necessity for many, not simply a lifestyle preference.

That said, he is clear it is not meant for everyone, nor something everyone can afford.

The cost gap has narrowed

An undergraduate degree abroad typically costs 1.5 to 2 crore rupees across four years.

Compare that to top Indian institutions like Ashoka, FLAME, and Amity, now charging 15 to 30 lakhs, up from five to ten lakhs a decade or two ago.

The gap between domestic and international options has shrunk considerably, and scholarships, grants, and sponsorships mean study abroad is not reserved for wealthy families alone.

Ask why before asking where

Saurabh's core framework: decide why you need to leave India before deciding where to go. 

A legitimate reason is wanting a course or specialization genuinely unavailable domestically, such as a combined Psychology and Physics honours program.

 An illegitimate reason is following friends or trends without a clear academic or career rationale.

Match your field to what the country needs

Government priorities shift every four to five years, and those shifts determine visa ease, scholarships, and post-study opportunities.

Australia's focus has moved from mining to banking to agriculture technology today. 

Dubai is actively building toward becoming an international education hub by 2033.

Choosing a field aligned with a country's current priorities significantly improves outcomes.

The emotional cost, and resetting expectations

Homesickness, financial strain, and discrimination are real parts of studying abroad that deserve honest discussion.

Saurabh compares education to an SIP investment that compounds over roughly fifteen years, not an overnight return.

Students expecting a fifty lakh investment to convert instantly into a high-paying job are setting unrealistic expectations.

Do the research

Saurabh warns against counselors who push destinations for commission rather than fit.

He recommends alumni conversations, educational podcasts, and AI tools like SABIE to get honest, firsthand information before committing to any country or university.

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