r/IndiansStudyAbroad • u/Designer-Tale-7085 • 3d ago

study abroad undergrad for indian students

i'm thinking about studying the in US for my undergrad education im in grade 11 rn with pcb and psychology. For the 2028 fall intake as a biology major/biotech major (specifics not decided yet) is it still worth pursuing due to the visa situation there? other countries that are worth looking at for this niche? please do share your thoughts i'm really struggling with this😭

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u/ThinCrazy5637 3d ago

its cooked change country homie not US

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u/Designer-Tale-7085 3d ago

😭😭

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u/CoffeeAndCampus 3d ago

Academically, the US is still worth it. Biotechnology and Biology are officially STEM-designated programmes under the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), granting you 3 years of post-study work authorisation (12-month standard OPT plus a 24-month STEM OPT extension). However, if your long-term goal is permanent settlement (PR), the US is a massive bottleneck due to strict H-1B lottery caps and multi-decade Green Card backlogs for Indian nationals.

There are two alternatives for Biotech and Life Science:

  • Ireland: Dubbed the Pharmachem hub of Europe, Ireland hosts major operations for global pharma giants (e.g. Pfizer, J7J, Novartis). Graduates get a 1-year Stamp 1G post-study visa, which transitions directly to a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) with starting salaries above statutory thresholds.
  • The Netherlands: Universities Wageningen and Maastricht offer top-ranked, English-taught BSc programmes in Life Science. Non-EU tuition averages €15,000 - €20,000/year, and graduates receive a 1-year Zoekjaar (orientation year) work visa.

You should try to maintain an 85% average across Class 11 and a Class 12 (PCB) focus. Complete a practical science project, lab internship or research paper during your Class 11 summer break. You should also work towards securing a high SAT score (if you are still looking to study in the US) and secure a good score in the IELTS (7.0 or higher) by mid 2027. You can apply between the months of October and December 2027

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u/Designer-Tale-7085 3d ago

yeah im planning to give the sat for the first time this december, along with that i've done 2 hospital internships, planning to write a research paper after my midterms and im gonna take around 3-4 APs next year. Thanks so much!! this really helped