Nordic Centre in India was pleased to participate in the #TimesStudyAbroadConclave 2026, contributing to a panel discussion on the transition from international study to professional life.
An important part of preparing for an international education is thinking beyond the degree itself. Many Nordic universities are embedded in wider ecosystems of research, innovation and collaboration with industry and society. Depending on the institution and programme, students may encounter opportunities to engage with research environments, companies, applied projects, entrepreneurship, internships, thesis collaborations and professional networks during their studies.
For international students, this makes it valuable to begin thinking about their longer-term career trajectory from the start of their university journey rather than only at graduation.
Once admitted, students can look beyond the curriculum and ask: How does the programme connect with research, innovation or the wider professional environment? What opportunities are available to gain relevant experience? How can they build professional relationships while still at university? And what additional skills — including local language skills where relevant — could broaden their future options?
Academic achievement remains central, but participation in the wider university ecosystem can also help students develop experience, networks, adaptability and an understanding of the professional environment around them.
International education is ultimately about more than a qualification. It can also provide opportunities to engage with new ideas, institutions and ways of working, while developing relationships and perspectives that continue well beyond graduation.
NCI thanks Times Internet Languages Live and the Times Study Abroad Conclave 2026, as well as the fellow panelists, for an engaging conversation on this important dimension of the international student journey.
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Christabel Royan
