Karnataka’s ‘Study Abroad’ scheme draws 5,000 students

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Vocational Training and Skill Development Corporation (KVTSDC) on Friday hosted an international education expo at Hotel Lalit Ashok, bringing together representatives from 60 global universities.

To ease financial hurdles, several public and private sector banks participated, offering education loans at competitive rates. Karnataka Bank has assured the state of rolling out the most student-friendly loan packages, the KVTSDC said in a release.

Addressing the event, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, said the government’s initiative aims to democratise overseas education.

“Studying abroad is no longer a privilege of the wealthy. With this scheme, even students from economically weaker families can pursue global education without financial barriers. This is the first-of-its-kind scheme in the country,” he said.

The support will extend beyond India, with students receiving welfare services, academic progress monitoring, and legal aid in host countries. The expo also provides free guidance—from university selection to post-departure assistance—without agency fees, officials added.

Students can register for the programme online at studyabroad.ksdckarnataka.com.