Studying abroad could be a childhood dream for many, there could be various reason for one to prefer pursuing their education in a foreign country such as educational quality, new cultural and language experience, family pride, multiplied job opportunity, and most of all the freedom one acquires to explore their life while they stay away from there home town. But, has COVID-19 come as an obstacle for students who were aspiring to study abroad? Well, the answer is certainly no. According to a survey conducted by school connect about 91 percent of Indian students are keen on pursuing their education abroad as soon as the relaxation is announced.

UNESCO has reported that, In 2018, there were nearly five million international students out of which 750,000 students were from India. However, COVID-19 has postponed the dream of studying abroad for many. The pandemic not just postponed the abroad education plan but has also forced the students to rethink their educational destination. Earlier, Indian students had preferred to travel to the USA, Canada, UK, and Australia for higher education. But, the novel coronavirus has compelled them to consider other destinations such as Germany, New Zealand, and Ireland.

Although many countries have restricted international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities in Ireland, UK, New Zealand, and Australia have opened the admission for the 2021 academic year. These countries are awaiting the latest updates on COVID-19 to commence their classes, if the situation is not feasible for on-campus learning the universities might initiate the course through online classes.

Study Programs Offered for International Students Post COVID-19
Australia
Australia is renowned for its wide range of specialized programs offered at varied disciplines such as graduation, post-graduation, and research level. Considering the coronavirus, the country's teaching method has made a transition to online for every student that also includes an international student who resides offshore in the current situation. Thus, Australian Universities has taken webinars, lectures, tutorials, assignments, and test on the virtual model to continue providing quality education amid the pandemic.

Australia universities have a massive scholarship offered to international students. These scholarships vary such as faculty-specific, bursaries, and merit-based ones. Additionally, the universities are also offering COVID discounts for international students taking up online classes. They are providing other facilities to minimize the COVID impact on international students' education.

Canada
Canada universities' high-quality education at affordable fee structure and its valuable work experience opportunity has made Canada universities most sought after among the student dreaming to study abroad. Citing its popularity, Canada universities' have taken their courses online such courses that have gone online are Health Care Program, Marketing Management, MBA, Artificial Intelligence, Global business management, Information Security Management, Urban Planning and development, Electronics and Embedded Systems Development, Machine Learning, Renewable energies, Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Project Management, and Hospitality management.

On scholarship offered to international students:
-Canada Universities' have waived off insurance and other non-tuition components – CAD 500 to CAD 1500.
-Scholarship based on merit, academic excellence, and extracurricular activities – CAD 1000 to CAD 15000.
-Language skills scholarship – Based on IELTS score – CAD 500 –CAD 1500
-About 10-15 percent of first-semester tuition fees have been cut down at some institutions.

United Kingdom
In the UK certain universities are accepting applications for 2021 such universities include the University of Dundee, University of Sunderland, University of Exeter, University of Hertfordshire, and more. They are also offering scholarships and bursaries for international students.

The courses that have gone virtual in the UK include Business Management, Finance and Management, Marketing and Management, Global Media Economics, LLM General Law, International Business Finance and Economics, Media, Culture and Society, Data Science, Advanced Computer Science, Health and Psychology, Sports Management, Cyber Security, Medicine, and Public Health.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our regular routine it's not the end of the road, but it has indeed triggered us to find a way out in the difficult situation. Abroad education is no exception as the universities are not just finding measures to continue their classes but are also offering added benefits to encourage international students to continue pursuing their higher education without any hindrance.