STEM Courses

The vast academic discipline of Science is filled with colossal prospects for those who are passionate enough to build a career in it. From Medical Science to Information Technology, you can explore an array of lucrative opportunities in both the private and public sectors. When it comes to the varied branches of Science, an infinite number of specializations and sub-disciplines can be discovered. STEM courses encompass the programs offered in the four major disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These are crucial technical fields that are replete with a plethora of career paths aimed at facilitating innovation in every aspect of our world. If you are planning to pursue a program in the field of Science, here is a detailed blog elaborating the different STEM courses offered across the globe in different sub-fields of Science as well as the eligibility criteria specified for Indian students wanting to study these programs.

What is STEM?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The reason behind coining this acronym was to develop a curriculum that broadens the scope related to these four subjects and promote job-oriented courses in these academic disciplines. With an assorted range of specialisations sprouting out of the vast domain of Science, the demand for these short-term STEM courses has consistently increased with countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, etc. offering plentiful courses to students around the world.

Also Read : STEM Courses in Canada

Why Pursue STEM Courses?

But gone are the days when knowledge itself used to mean everything. In today’s time, you should not only have the knowledge of your subject but also have a firm grasp on the practical application of it. You must be able to correlate different ideas from different fields and use ingenious techniques that would lead you to the path of innovation.

Hence, the vision behind here is to nourish young minds from early on in their lives. To not just impart knowledge and make students a product of a conservative education system that upholds the idea of cramming and prefers good scores but inspire them to question the pre-set ideas, challenge what’s already established and discover the unknown. This vision is supported by the adoption of application-based teaching methods that primarily focus on practical learning.

Also Read : STEM Courses in USA

Advantages of STEM Courses

Bright Future

The economic industry in the twenty-first century has altered as our incomes rise and technology takes over. Companies are now searching for graduates that are curious, innovative, enjoy trying new things, and can solve complicated challenges.

Better Job Opportunities

Several countries around the world are making it simpler for STEM graduates to get work, including the United States, Ireland, and New Zealand. In Ireland, for example, you can work and stay for two years following graduation. Then you’ll be able to apply for a Permanent Residency. Even the countries’ institutions assist STEM students in a variety of ways. Students can study from outstanding teachers, use cutting-edge technology, and intern or work with industry leaders such as Google, Tesla, and Netflix.

You can live anywhere on the globe

Obtaining a STEM degree from a prestigious university will qualify you for citizenship in any country on the planet. For example, New Zealand offers an exclusive website for foreign immigrants with specific skills. You will have a higher chance of obtaining citizenship in Canada, the United States, Singapore, Australia, Ireland, Switzerland, or even Norway (which is stunning). If not, the type of career you take on may take you on exciting adventures around the world.

Be the first to hear about new Inventions

One of the main reasons students choose to study abroad is to gain access to cutting-edge research and to learn from world-class professors. And these are just a few of the incredible advantages of STEM education. Universities ensure STEM students have access to the most up-to-date lab equipment and encourage them to collaborate with their professors.

Better salary trends

STEM students are taught 21st-century abilities and have an easier time finding work, it follows that these students will be paid more. This indicates that a STEM graduate may expect to earn anywhere between INR 60 Lacs and INR 90 Lacs per year.

It’s crucial to remember, however, that if you get a degree from a well-known university, you’ll be able to earn more than someone who gets a degree from a lesser-known university.

Also Read : STEM for Girls by IBM

Eligibility and Requirements to Study STEM Courses

Let’s continue by learning about the STEM criteria and eligibility for international students who want to pursue studies overseas. The criteria for a STEM programme are as follows:

• English language proficiency scores
• Aptitude test scores
• Minimum academic requirements
• Work experience

Let us talk about each STEM requirement in detail below:

English Language Proficiency Scores

The most fundamental prerequisite for STEM degrees is proficiency in English. IELTS and TOEFL have minimum score requirements of 6.0 and 80, respectively.

Aptitude Test Scores

Scores on the SAT, ACT, or GRE depending on whether you’re applying for undergraduate or graduate degrees are another fundamental criteria for admission to a STEM school.

Minimum Academic Requirements

The following are the minimum academic criteria to obtain a STEM degree:

• Science: 10+2 along with 3 years bachelors course in Science (for PG STEM courses)
• Technology: 10+2 along with 4 years technology related bachelors course
• Engineering: 10+2 along with 4 years bachelors course in various engineering specialisations
• Mathematics: 10+2 along with 3 years mathematics related bachelors course

Work Experience

Work experience is a critical component of STEM eligibility for programmes leading to master’s degrees in the subject. Depending on the curriculum, the minimum amount of work experience necessary is often between one and two years.

Women in STEM

Historically, women have been observed to have shown less engagement in tech-oriented courses. STEM is also aimed towards changing the “age-old notions of what is deemed fit for women” and providing them with a platform to explore their interests in the field of Science. It also celebrates the achievements of notable women like Marie Curie, Lisa Meitner, Rosalind Franklin, etc.

STEM Courses in USA Universities

The USA is the most preferred study destination because of numerous reasons. From the top class faculties, IVY league schools to the universities offering STEM courses. You have an option to choose from over 300 courses under the STEM category in USA. Here is the list of top 10 universities for STEM courses in USA:

• California Institute of Technology 
• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Massachusetts
• Arizona State University
• University of Dayton
• Pace University
• University of South Florida

Also Read : Free Online Course on Machine Learning by ISRO

STEM Courses in Indian Universities

The Indian education system is not far behind in offering STEM courses. Most opted STEM courses in India include Data science, financial technology, MBA, quantitative economics etc. Here is the list of the top 10 universities offering STEM courses in India:

•  IIT Kharagpur
• IIM Bangalore 
• IIM Ahmedabad 
• XLRI Jamshedpur
• NMIMS Mumbai
• ISB Hyderabad
• Amity University
• IIT Delhi
• IIM Calcutta
• Jawaharlal Nehru University

Also Read : Harvard’s 5 New Free Online Courses for Programmers

STEM Courses in Canada

Right from quality education to the world-class facilities, it has to offer, Canada is considered to be one of the best options for students planning to apply abroad. Education in Canada is mostly public-funded. However, like other countries, there are several private universities as well. Three degrees offered by the Canadian Education System are Bachelor’s, Masters and Doctorate. There are many STEM courses in Canada offered by colleges and universities and it often becomes difficult for students to choose from the multiple options offered to them. Check out our blog on STEM Courses in Canada to know more!

STEM Courses Online

Online education has changed the pattern of education. Students are able to connect to the world-class faculties without moving physically to that location. There are prestigious universities offering STEM courses online through Coursera, MOOCs, or any other platform. Here are the popular STEM courses online:

• Boston University
• Cornell University
• New York University
• University of California, San Deigo
• University of Michigan
• North Carolina State University
• University of Sheffield
• University of Chicago

STEM Courses for Teachers

As the popularity around the STEM courses is rising, the need for STEM tutor is on rise as well. Wondering what is a STEM tutor? A teacher that teaches the subjects from the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The STEM courses are not just for university level, many education system have adopted STEM subjects in secondary and post secondary level as well. Teachers can either do specalization in one subject or opt for general STEM Courses. STEM courses for teachers are easily available online. Some of the popular courses are :

• Introduction to Family Engagement in Education by Harvard University
• Teaching Critical Thinking through Art with the National Gallery of Art by Smithsonian
• Leaders of Learning by Harvard University
• Inclusive Teaching: Supporting All Students in the College Classroom by Columbia University
• Understanding Classroom Interaction by University of Pennslyvania

Also Read : STEM for Girls by IBM

Top 10 Universities for MBA STEM Courses 

Is  it possible to have a program such as MBA STEM courses? With the gaining popularity around the STEM courses, many universities around the world have started offering STEM MBA. Combing the two most popular and sought after courses together means attracting students across the globe. MBA STEM courses is basically a mixture of business subjects and skills with focus on application approach like STEM. Here is the list of top 10 universities offering MBA STEM courses:

• Columbia Business School
• Stanford GSB 
• NYU Stern
• Yale SOM
• Wharton Business School
• UC Berkeley Haas
• MIT Sloan School of Management
• Wisconsin School of Business
• Charlton College of Business
• Whitman School of Management

Also Read : Study in USA for Indian Students After 12th

STEM Careers and Salary

There is no specific list of job profiles because the field is vast with unlimited career opportunities. From managerial roles to the statistician, there are many high end paying jobs for STEM graduates.The average salary ranges between Rs.15 lakhs to Rs.25 lakhs depending on experience, skills and knowledge. Here are the popular job profiles and salary:

Job Profiles	Salary
Mathematician/Statistician	₹400000
Biochemist	₹400000
Civil Engineer	₹308136
Environmental Engineer	₹446183
Geoscientist	₹598539

Also Read : STEM Universities In USA

Non- STEM Courses: Alternative Choices

Other than the commonly chosen programs in the four STEM disciplines, there is a wide range of alternative programs offered in a multitude of specialisations from Ethical Hacking to Renewal Energy. Below mentioned are some of these specialised that you should definitely know about:

• Chef and Flavour Chemistry
• Water Resources Engineering
• Ethical Hacking
• Forest Engineering
• Machine Learning
• Video Game Programming
• Statistics

Thus, offered with the aim to break away from the unconventional Science majors, STEM courses are extremely beneficial for those wanting to explore several technical domains and specializations in a shorter duration. STEM education is becoming increasingly important in countries around the world especially global leaders like the US, where youngsters are encouraged to pursue STEM programs at an early age. If you are planning to pursue a course in STEM abroad, you can reach out to our Leverage Edu experts and we’ll guide you in selecting a suitable course and university with the help of our innovative AI Course Finder, that matches your interests and preferences and helps you explore the career opportunities that this integrated domain of Science and Technology avails.