Getting into a good MBA college in India or abroad is of prime concern for any student or a professional seeking MBA studies.

Almost 2,70,000 students took the Common Admission Test, or CAT, this year, aiming to study at one of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIM). But with only 1,800 seats and official results not due until January 9, candidates can't celebrate just yet.

Considering the ratio of MBA aspirants in India vis-�-vis the top B-school seats it makes good sense for those who do not get through the top B-schools in India, to look at options outside the country rather than end up in a  tier-2 institute in India. This would provide them higher returns on their investment besides off course a global learning atmosphere and work opportunities abroad.

John Gabriel, chief marketing officer for test prep company IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd, describes two types of MBA colleges in India, one that create leaders and the other that acts more like finishing schools. For students who can't crack the first type, Gabriel often steers them to institutes outside the country.

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Since most B-schools abroad require work experience from applicants, Singapore, in particular, is an appealing choice for Indian candidates. Most are one-year programmes and students are admitted on academic record, rather than entrance tests, so these are more accessible options for fresh graduates.

Studying in Singapore is an exciting option to study and pursue a career and has an ideal environment for Indian Students. Some of the advantages of studying in Singapore are:

1. Quality of Educational Institutes

Singapore has some of the best educational institutions in the Asia-Pacific Region. The Singapore education system promises a global experience that draws from the latest and the best in knowledge from around the world.

2. Affordable education

Singapore is one of the most economically viable alternatives if you wish to pursue your international education. The total expense of the fee and living costs in most educational institutes compare favourably with institutes offering MBA in India and range between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh only.

3. International batch-mates

In Singapore you will have students from more than 30+ countries as your batch mates. This enables you to take advantage of the rich inter-cultural environment and excellent global networking opportunities.

4. Work Permits for students

Students have permission to work for 16hours a week while pursuing studies, to support themselves economically.

5. Job Opportunities

Singapore is the Asia-Pac regional headquarters for most global organisations and is therefore a hub of major economic activity. There are 26,000 international companies in Singapore where students can look forward to excellent professional networking as well as job opportunities in one of the best business environments in Asia.

6. Safety

Singapore is the safest city for students. The government of Singapore has a non-tolerance policy towards drug abuse and ragging in campus.

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You can also apply for a PR status in 2years and settle down in Singapore. Besides, the experience gained in Singapore is at the Asia Pac level and is always welcome back in India in the case of student wanting to return.

Also, since Singapore is culturally closer to India, it is a better choice for students who have never been outside the country. "If India's top business schools total around 5,000 seats," Gabriel says, "for the 5,001st guy, it's unfortunate, so we talk to them about the world.

The process of applying to an institute abroad requires the students to choose the right universities and institutes which suit their profile, be it academic or professional, request for application forms, prepare for group discussions, gear up for personal interviews, keep a track of dates and send completed forms with required documents. This whole process is not only exhaustive but also very crucial to procuring the right MBA in the right institute.

IMS is a service provider for Canada [Images] and Singapore education.