Vijayawada: The cost of pursuing a master’s degree abroad has increased steadily over the past decade for Indian students, driven by both rising tuition fees and the depreciation of the rupee against major currencies.
The cost of overseas education has come into focus after the recent death of Chandu Iraganaboyina who died by suicide in Chicago, reportedly after finding it difficult to secure a job and to service the debt that he raised to fund his education.
Concerns are being expressed by many on the stress under which the students are suffering in a dicey job market in the USA. Several students are facing similar problems in all major countries.
A comparison of fee structures between 2016 and 2025–26 across key destinations—the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and Germany—shows a consistent upward trend, though the extent varies by country and type of institution.
In the United States, tuition fees have risen moderately in dollar terms but sharply in rupee terms. At the University of Texas at Austin, annual tuition for computing-related master’s programmes increased from about $28,000 in 2016 to around $45,000 in 2025–26, reflecting a 61% increase in dollar terms and nearly 130% in rupee terms.
Similarly, at New York University, fees rose from $45,000 to $70,000, an increase of 56% in dollar terms and about 123% in rupee terms. The dollar value has shot up from Rs 67 to Rs 95 between 2016 and 2026.
In the United Kingdom, fee increases have been sharper. At University College London, MSc computing fees rose from £20,000 in 2016 to £38,000, marking a 90% increase in local currency and about 166% in rupee terms. Similar trends were observed in other countries like Germany and Europe also.
While the Ireland has witnessed one of the steepest increases, particularly in computing programmes, reflecting a 100% jump in euro terms and about 205% in rupee terms lakh) in 2025–26, reflecting a 100% increase in euro terms and about 205% in rupee terms. In Germany, though the public universities such as Technical University of Munich continue to charge minimal tuition fee, the overall cost of education has risen due to higher living expenses and mandatory blocked account requirement pusing the cost higher by more than 128% in rupee terms.
In Australia, fee growth has been comparatively moderate. At University of Melbourne, computing-related master’s fees increased from AUD 35,000 in 2016 to AUD 52,000 in 2025–26—an increase of 49% in local currency and about 74% in rupee terms.
