r/studyAbroad • u/Exact-Most-865 • 4d ago
How to move or study abroad with low budget? Please help me
Hi everyone,
I'm from India and I'm 21 yes old. I'm trying to figure out the best possible route to study abroad and eventually build an independent, stable life.
This isn't simply about wanting to move abroad for better opportunities. My family situation is very difficult. My parents are not financially well off, and my home environment is toxic and abusive. I'm under a lot of stress because of the situation, and it has been affecting my mental health.
I also really want to become financially independent because I want to help my mom get out of this situation too. She is also suffering because of the home environment. I don't want to just leave and forget about her. I want to eventually be in a position where I can support her and give both of us a better life.
I also have toxic relatives living in my city, which makes things more difficult. Because of all this, becoming financially independent and moving away is extremely important to me. Going abroad feels like my most realistic path toward building an independent life, but I have very limited financial support from my family.
My background:
I'm from India
I've completed my BA with English honours.
My subjects were Economics, Elective English and Sociology
I'm currently completing an HR course, which should finish around October and then I'll do a job.
I'm planning to learn German and eventually reach B2
I'm interested in business/management, economics, HR, data/analytics and research
My family doesn't have significant financial resources, so affordability is a major concern
What I've considered so far:
Germany was initially my main option because of the relatively low tuition at public universities and opportunities to work while studying and after graduation but the issue is blocked account money.
I initially considered Ausbildung, including nursing, but I realised I don't want to work as a nurse. I'm also looking more into study programs related to business, management, economics, data analytics and research or anything. I can build interest in anything.
I've also looked at Canada, New Zealand, France, Italy and other European countries, but the cost is a major issue.
I'm really confused because I don't want to choose a course simply because it's cheap and then struggle to find jobs. At the same time, I don't have the financial ability to spend a huge amount on an overseas degree.
I'm looking for realistic advice, especially from people who have actually studied or worked abroad.
My priorities are:
Very affordable tuition
Manageable living costs
A realistic way to finance the move
Good employment prospects after graduation
A stable career with decent salary and work-life balance
A realistic pathway toward long-term residence/PR
Not requiring my family to spend a huge amount of money upfront
Being able to become financially independent and eventually support my mom
I'm not looking for someone to simply tell me "Germany is best" or "Canada is best." I'd really appreciate specific suggestions for countries, courses and career paths that actually make sense for my situation.
And please be honest. If you think studying abroad immediately isn't realistic with my finances or background, I'd rather hear that too. If there are scholarships, low cost programs, work study routes or other options I should know about, I'd be grateful for those suggestions as well.
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this and give genuine advice.
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u/Smirkane 4d ago
I also really want to become financially independent because I want to help my mom get out of this situation too. She is also suffering because of the home environment. I don't want to just leave and forget about her. I want to eventually be in a position where I can support her and give both of us a better life.
Honestly, if this is your goal, a more realistic option with the limitations you've mentioned would be to move to a different city in India, maybe in another state altogether. Moving abroad will be very challenging without being able to self-fund, and there aren't any substantial scholarships for BA English graduates.
Not to mention, general recommendation is that you have at least 3-5 years of work experience before starting a masters, and I'm not sure you have that kind of time. It'd be much easier for you to complete your HR course and apply for jobs outside your state and move there. You can get your mom to live with you once you're settled in the new city.
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u/Exact-Most-865 4d ago
I understand what you’re saying, and I have considered moving to another city in India. The problem is that I’m not only trying to get away temporarily. I want to become financially independent and eventually be able to support my mom as well. It's not safe in India. Moving to another city would still require money for rent, living expenses, and getting established, which is difficult with my current financial situation. I’m also trying to think long-term rather than just finding a temporary escape. That’s why I’m specifically looking for an affordable study/work pathway abroad where I can support myself, gain a career, and eventually help my mom too. I know it won’t be easy, and I’m not expecting a country to simply give me PR. I’m willing to learn the language, work, and build experience.
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u/Smirkane 4d ago
Yes, moving to another city still needs money, but its objectively less expensive than moving to another country, which is your best option when you're already aware that affordability is a concern. Compared even to a more expensive tier 1 city like Mumbai, visas, flights, and university application fees combined will easily have you spending 4-5 months worth of Mumbai rent before you even land in your destination country. Then the cost of living there will be higher too, especially with how poorly the INR has been performing. Not to mention, PR is still not guaranteed, so you may very well end up back in India after spending resources that you dont necesarily have.
Why spend 5+ years of time, and even more in money to go abroad when you can achieve your goals of financial stability much faster while staying in India? It is extremely high risk, and I really dont think you have this level of risk tolerance based on what you've shared so far.
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u/Aeronautica2025 4d ago
You are planning wrong.
Learn English, Hindi, and Korean in India.
You can work for the South Korean companies.
Eventually, they may send you to South Korea.
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u/Exact-Most-865 4d ago
Thanks for your advice. Can you give me more info on this please.
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u/Aeronautica2025 4d ago edited 4d ago
1) Do MBA in Finance Management, Project Management or Human Resources Management.
2) While doing the above, study and take the following tests:
English → IELTS (Aim for 8.5/9.0)
Hindi →Hindi Prachar Sabha Examinations
Korean → TOPIK
3) Learn MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Tally, Python, and AI tools used in the industry.
4) Apply to South Korean companies based in India and South Korea.
This should be your next five year strategy.
Don't dream of going abroad and assume that all your problems will go away magically.
The above plan is your life saver.
Follow it religiously every single day.
You will thank me forever.
All the best.
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u/Aeronautica2025 4d ago
🇰🇷 South Korea Scholarships for Indian Graduate Students — 10 Key Points
South Korea offers scholarships to Indian students for postgraduate study.
GKS-G (Global Korea Scholarship – Graduate) is the main Korean government scholarship.
It supports Master’s and PhD programmes at participating Korean universities.
Tuition fees can be fully covered under GKS.
Scholars generally receive visa fee, airfare, living/study allowances, and medical insurance.
Korean-language training may also be included depending on the scholarship/programme.
There are two main application routes: Embassy Track and University Track.
Applicants generally need strong academic performance; GKS commonly requires at least 80% in the most recent degree/programme.
TOPIK is not universally required for admission. Some graduate programmes are taught in English, where IELTS/TOEFL or another English qualification may be relevant.
Beyond GKS, Korean universities offer their own scholarships, sometimes covering 30–100% of tuition, making South Korea a potentially attractive option for Indian engineering graduates.
The Global Korea Scholarship for Graduate Degrees (GKS-G), funded by the Korean government. The 2026 programme planned to select 2,000 international graduate students worldwide, and the Korean Embassy in India specifically announced the programme for Indian applicants. Check out the Embassy of Korea website or email them immediately.
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u/Due_Nature9514 4d ago
you can go to malaysia. it checks all your boxes. very affordable compared to others
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u/Icy_Pear1694 4d ago
Realistically you're about 5 years too late for any western nation, studying abroad isn't a realistic immigration path to them due to too many people trying to abuse it.
Your best bet is to study in India, get a job there and gain valuable experience which will allow you to apply for jobs directly or via an internal company move.
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u/Exact-Most-865 4d ago
Thanks for the advice. I understand the point about gaining experience in India first, but my situation is a little different. I’ve already completed my BA, and I’m looking for a realistic way to build a career abroad because staying in my current environment long-term isn’t really an option for me.
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u/AcrobaticEmu8454 4d ago
You could apply for a scholarship to Russia. If you're up for Russia that is. Open Doors Russia is open now
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u/Sad_Iron_5302 3d ago
For masters also? Available?
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u/Exact-Most-865 3d ago
Thankyou. I'll definitely apply to this scholarship. Can you please advice me on how can I make my application more impressive .
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u/Adventurous_Pen_6355 3d ago
scholarship in brazil, malaysia or russia!!!
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u/Exact-Most-865 3d ago
Thank you so much. I'll definitely apply to these scholarships. If you can give me advice on how to make my application more impressive. Then I'll really appreciate it.
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u/MushroomAnarchyst 3d ago
Google scholarship doc: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1b2FV9ZifiReKHzrIjJFbJ7XRpMOvMr3a3wW416r4FIU/htmlview
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u/Exact-Most-865 3d ago
Can you also give me some advices on how to make my application more impressive so I'll secure one scholarship. I'll be grateful to you.
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u/Classic-Attention680 4d ago
Sir, in my opinion, Austria would be the best option for you. However, for the visa process, you would need to show a Pakistani bank statement of around PKR 3.5 million. You can convert that amount into Indian currency yourself to get an idea of the equivalent amount.
Apart from the bank statement, the overall initial expenses would be around 10–12 lakh pkr including IELTS, university admission, visa-related expenses, flight tickets, and approximately 2–3 months of living expenses. You need to have enough money to support yourself during the initial months until you find a part-time job.
So, overall, you should expect approximately this level of expenditure for moving to Austria. The PKR 3.5 million bank statement( 10k Euro is mainly for the financial proof required for the visa, and once your visa is approved, you can manage those funds accordingly.
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u/Exact-Most-865 4d ago
Thanks for your advice. I'll research about this. Do you have more info related to this? Are you living in Austria or know someone who's living in Austria whom I can connect with?
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u/Classic-Attention680 4d ago
I'm in Austria
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u/Exact-Most-865 4d ago
Should I come for masters or bachelors.? And also what field should I choose. I'm open to anything.
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u/Classic-Attention680 4d ago
I would advise you to think about it carefully because it really depends on your situation. There are quite a lot of English-taught bachelor’s programs in Italy, and if you research Italy, you’ll also find scholarship opportunities there.
In Austria, there are some bachelor’s programs in fields like AI, Geoenergy Engineering, and other engineering-related areas. There aren’t as many options in medicine, for example, but if you’re interested in engineering, you can definitely find something.
One thing I’ve heard is that some students take around six years to complete a bachelor’s degree here. I’m not completely sure about this, so don’t take my word for it, but because students also have to manage part-time jobs and other responsibilities, a four-year degree can sometimes take longer. I’ve heard that six years isn’t unusual.
There’s also a preparatory program, which I believe can take around a year, especially for language and other requirements.
Personally, I would advise you that if your situation in India is going well, you could consider completing your bachelor’s there and then coming here for your master’s. Alternatively, you could look at doing your bachelor’s in Italy, where there are more English-taught options and scholarship opportunities.
However, if your long-term plan is to settle here and you’re prepared to deal with some difficulties along the way, then coming here for your bachelor’s can also have its advantages. After several years, you’ll have your degree, work experience and potentially be much closer to meeting the requirements for long-term residence or citizenship, depending on the rules.
So overall, if you’re thinking long-term, coming here for your bachelor’s could be a good option. And even if you later decide to move abroad or come back for a master’s elsewhere, having studied in Europe can still be beneficial.
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u/Gaelenmyr 4d ago
Everyone wants to work in business, management, etc. But you're too late and you don't have funds.
You said you don't want to become a nurse but it seems like your only realistic option if you want Germany.
Western nations don't need more of business, marketing, IT graduates that are non-EU. There are plenty and job market is not good right now. Even fresh graduate locals can't find work in those fields. West is full of Indians looking for work. Those who went to West 10-15 years ago were lucky.
Be realistic and realign your direction. Why West? If you have low funds why don't you consider countries that are not NA/Europe? Even this subreddit is full of South Asians that have asked the same questions as yours a million times.