Eligibility to Pursue STEM Courses Abroad 2024-25

Coined by the US NSF – United States’ National Science Foundation, STEM is the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Having received an overview of STEM Education, let us move forward to understand the basic requirements for pursuing this field.

Like every other field pursuing higher education in STEM would require the applicants to have a basic level of understanding of any of the fields. Whether national or international, an applicant needs to meet the criteria of minimum educational qualification to apply to a STEM programme. Check out common eligibility criteria or STEM courses offered in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia. 

Eligibility to Study STEM Abroad

As an international applicant, you need to have test scores of the mandatory standardised examinations to study abroad. These may vary according to the country you choose to study in as well as the level of degree you aspire to pursue – bachelors or masters. The more you score higher are the chances of being enrolled in the recognised institutions.

It is important to note that, like every other field, the eligibility a master’s course would differ from that of a bachelor’s course in STEM. Let us understand the eligibility criteria in detail at both bachelors and masters level:

Eligibility to pursue Bachelors in STEM Abroad

The basic level of qualification that is twelfth-grade education in Science along with a few standardised exams would make you eligible for pursuing a bachelor’s degree in STEM abroad.

Exams required to pursue Bachelors in STEM abroad

You need to crack a few mandatory exams with a set a minimum score that is acceptable by abroad universities. These may vary with the acceptance rate of universities:

Aptitude Test: SAT

The SAT subject test is not mandatory. Nonetheless, having an SAT score in your account would give you an edge over the other international applicants. A minimum of 1200 SAT score is accepted by average universities abroad.

English Language Test: IELTS/TOEFL/PTE

Cracking at least one of the three English language test is a mandate for all the international applicants from non-English speaking countries. This is to ensure that you would be able to grasp the teachings done in English medium and that you will fit into the international student body.

Minimum Scores required:

• IELTS Score: 6 band
• TOEFL Score: 80
• PTE Score: 50

Either of the three exams will do. Again, the higher you score in these eligibility tests, the chances of getting enrolled in good universities increase substantially.

To see which exam you need to crack with how much score to apply to a good university, check out the list of abroad colleges offering Bachelors in STEM:

• Bachelors in Science Colleges Abroad
• Bachelors in Engineering and Technology Colleges Abroad
• Bachelors in Mathematics Colleges Abroad

Minimum Academic Qualification for Bachelors in STEM abroad

To pursue a bachelor’s degree, your school education should have exposed you to the basics of the field of study. Suppose you were to pursue a Bachelor of Computer Science, then you should have studied Computers in your school. Similarly, if you aspire to study Biomedical Engineering for your bachelors, then you must have studied both Biology and Mathematics in your twelfth grade.

Subject-wise eligibility requirements to pursue an undergraduate course in STEM is as follows:

• Science: 10+2 in PCM or PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology)
• Technology: 10+2 in or PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)
  • Biology mandatory for Biotechnology courses

• Engineering: 10+2 in PCM with (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)
  • Biology mandatory for Bioengineering courses

• Mathematics: 10+2 in PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)

Minimum 12^th score accepted by the abroad Universities may vary with country. To be precise, the least accepted score by the abroad universities will have to be more than 60%. Needless to say, higher percentage calculates to a higher GPA thereby increasing the chances of getting admission in the better universities.

Eligibility to pursue Masters in STEM Abroad

The eligibility criteria to pursue a master’s degree in STEM would require the applicants to have a basic level of education in the field of study. With this, you need to qualify with an acceptable standardised test score. In some countries, professional experience related to the field of study is also mandatory.

Let’s discuss the three aspects in detail:

Exams required to pursue Masters in STEM abroad

The exams required to pursue a master’s degree in STEM are as follows:

Aptitude Test: GRE/GMAT

Some colleges are strict about a GRE score yet in some colleges a GMAT score may also be accepted. Though many colleges do not require a GRE or GMAT exam score for international students, it is recommended that take GRE to secure a seat in an above-average college.

English Language Test: IELTS/TOEFL/PTE

Since the medium of teaching is purely English in universities abroad, having appeared for at least one of the English language test is an absolute compulsion for the international applicants.

Minimum Scores required:

• IELTS Score: 6 band
• TOEFL Score: 80
• PTE Score: 50

These are average scores accepted by average and some above-average universities abroad.

Every college has a defined set of standardised exams that they accept. Check out the list of Masters of STEM Colleges Abroad to see which exams they accept:

• Masters in Science, Engineering, and Technology Colleges Abroad
• Masters in Mathematics Colleges Abroad

You may also check your eligibility for a particular course in your chosen university by clicking on the ‘Rate My Chances’ button against your chosen course and university at Shiksha. Check out how Shiksha counsellors rate student chances of getting into a college abroad.

Minimum Academic Qualification for Masters in STEM abroad

To become eligible for pursuing a master’s degree in STEM, you must hold a bachelor’s degree in the same field. Suppose you were to pursue Master of Computer Science or Computer Programming, then your minimum qualification should be Bachelor in either Computer Engineering, Computer Application, or Computer Science.

Subject-wise eligibility requirements to pursue a graduate course in STEM is as follows:

• Science: 10+2 with 3-year formal bachelor’s education in Science Honours
• Technology: 10+2 with 4-year formal bachelor’s education in any Technological or related specialisation
• Engineering: 10+2 with 4-year formal bachelor’s education in any Engineering or related specialisation
• Mathematics: 10+2 with 3-year formal bachelor’s education in Mathematics Honours

The minimum score bachelor’s score required to pursue Masters in STEM abroad would be 60%. Abroad universities do not check the percentage of your bachelor, they need a CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average). If your CGPA calculates more even with a 60% score, you may be eligible to apply to some good universities abroad.

Learn how credential evaluation works.

Professional Experience for Master in STEM abroad

The United Kingdom as well as many European countries such as Germany, France, Sweden, Ireland, and the Netherlands, give preference to applicants with a minimum of two years of work experience. Though some colleges accept candidates without any work experience, if you want to study at the topmost universities, it is better to gain relevant professional exposure before applying. There is no minimum professional experience required to study in countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.

If you are sure about pursuing STEM, you may want to learn about STEM Scholarship.

Important Point to Note: If you choose a field that you have never studied in your past at all, then the admission would be very difficult, especially abroad. It would be nearly impossible to explain the admission committee as to why you want to study a particular field if you have never encountered anything related to it in the past.

There is a set of documents which you need to make the application in abroad universities. These include your academic transcripts, backlog certificates, and Statement of Purpose (SOP). SOP serves the purpose of stating your desire to pursue a certain course.

If you require assistance on the study abroad process, you may register on our website and enjoy our free-of-cost services to actualise your abroad education dream.

All the best!