Bhubaneswar, Sept. 27: A day-long fair for students interested in exploring options to study abroad was held here today.

Over 2,000 aspirants attended the event and directly interacted with representatives of 15 universities from different parts of the world to gather information on various courses, fee structures, scholarship schemes, incentives and other regulations that need to be followed for admission into a foreign educational institute.

The organisers said about 150 students from Odisha went abroad for higher studies every year.

However, this year, going against the trend of moving to the US, England or Australia for higher studies, most of the aspirants appear to be interested in colleges and universities in Ireland and New Zealand, as their immigration policies and job opportunities are better. Besides, these countries are considered safer, more peaceful and affordable. The tuition fee ranges between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh.

“The number of students opting for universities in Ireland and New Zealand has been higher this time,” said convenor of the fair Swayam Prakash Jena.

Another trend that has been visible this year is the growing preference for master’s courses. Experts said students must see beyond college rankings and enquire about the academic strength of the department, projects being handled and interested sponsors. This apart, students should also consider the climatic conditions of the chosen country.

“Education opportunities abroad are abundant for students, who achieve good scores in Toefl, GRE and GMAT. There are sufficient scholarships and sponsorships to help students who are worried about the financial implications,” said Jena.

Afroza Parvin, a biotechnology student, said she wished to study M.Tech at a reputed international university. “The universities are offering every help from their end and, so far, it looks convincing. The vital things that need to be considered are the institute’s reputation and costs,” said Parvin.

“Besides academic advantages, international education provides us the chance to experience life abroad. However, safety is a major issue, especially for girls. Parents need to be convinced that the place where we would staying is safe,” said Akshata Mojghekar, another student.

“Indian students are doing well in foreign universities. The flexibility in the course curriculum there comes in handy for them. Also, a lot of banks have been offering education loans to encourage students to pursue higher studies abroad,” said Lauren, a representative of International College, Ireland.

Some of the participating institutes were Latrob University, Australia, Southern Institute of Technology, New Zealand, Campus France and Esigelec, (both France), and London School of Commerce.