An introduction to bachelor degrees
An undergraduate academic degree awarded by a college/university is called a bachelor’s degree. The duration of this degree could be anywhere between three years to seven years, depending upon the university, discipline and country you are pursuing it in.

Importance of bachelor’s degree

  • The minimum qualification for most jobs today is a bachelor’s degree. Without a bachelor’s degree it is difficult to find a decent job, let alone one that pays well. Hence, bachelor degrees play an important role in countering unemployment.

  • Even if you get a job without earning a bachelor’s degree, the job security would be from minimal to none. Acquiring an undergraduate degree gives you an edge over your contemporaries, especially since you have gained formal education.

  • Bachelor degrees offer specialized training in your choice of concentration that helps you find a job that suits your qualifications and excel in.

  • Interning is an integral part of pursuing a formal degree. This makes up for a great opportunity to build your professional network and collaborate with people who can contribute to your work life. You can also strengthen your network by attending job fairs and career development conferences.

  • A bachelor’s degree is the stepping stone to achieving higher professional ambitions. In case you want to acquire an advanced degree in a particular concentration, it is essential that you have a bachelor’s degree qualification.

  • Money is one of the motivating factors that contributes to job satisfaction. Since it is rather impossible to earn a good package without professional education, having a bachelor’s degree can assure that you land a well-paying job in the industry you desire.

Types of bachelor degrees

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA): In this course of study, pertaining to liberal arts, science or both are covered. The duration of this undergraduate degree is generally three years, however, this may vary depending on the country you are pursuing the course in.

  • Bachelor of Engineering (B.Tech/B.E): This degree is awarded to students by an accredited university after the completion of a three to five year study course. In this undergraduate academic degree, the focus is on mathematics and science. It branches out to different subcategories, such as Marine Engineering, Civil Engineering, Software Engineering, etc.

  • Bachelor of Architecture (BArch): This undergraduate degree emphasises on helping students acquire professional skills that are essential to become an architect. A BArch degree usually takes five years to complete, however, it may vary depending on the university and country you are pursuing it in.

  • Bachelor of Economics (BEc): This undergraduate degree emphasises on social sciences and incorporates both its qualitative and quantitative aspects. A BEc degree includes subjects like microeconomics, econometrics, political economy, macroeconomics, etc.

Reasons to study bachelor’s degree abroad

  • International exposure: Taking up a bachelor’s degree abroad presents you with the opportunity to study in a global, cross-cultural environment. This helps in giving you a different perspective and makes you familiar with a new culture. 

  • High-quality education: If you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree from a reputed university abroad, chances are that the quality of education is also impeccable. One of the major factors contributing to students’ choice of studying abroad is the high quality of education universities abroad offer.

  • Expand your network: Studying abroad offers you a platform to interact with like-minded people from different walks of life. This helps you in building a strong network and interact with people from varied cultures.

  • Global career opportunities: If you take up a bachelor’s course abroad, the chances of you landing a job with an internationally-recognised organisation increases exponentially. Not only would you have received education from international faculty but also gained experience of dealing with situations in a global professional setting.

Pre-requisites for studying bachelor’s degree abroad

The entry requirements for a bachelor’s degree might vary from university to university, however, the basic criteria is as follows:

  • Entrance test score;

  • Higher/secondary education certificate;

  • Language-proficiency test score;

Scholarship/funding opportunities

  • University scholarships: Many universities across the globe offer scholarships to students that range from student-specific scholarships to merit-based scholarships. These scholarships are awarded at the discretion of universities after carefully screening the applications.

  • Bank-approved education loans: Depending on your financial status and academic merit, many private and government-owned banks offer education loans to students who want to study abroad. Though getting loans from a bank is considerably easy if you provide an admission letter and collateral, the interest rates on education loans are pretty high.

  • Non-banking Financial Corporations (NBFCs): Many NBFCs in India, such as Credila, Avanse, Auxilo, Incred, etc., offer education loans to students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree abroad.