Guest Interview · Careers
He’s visited 25+ countries and 100+ universities and mentored thousands of students. On the NEXIS podcast, Global Reach founder Arun Nagar breaks down what studying abroad really takes — and why it’s not just for the rich.
Every student dreams big, but few know how to build the bridge between ambition and opportunity. Arun Nagar has spent his life being that bridge. Founder and CEO of Global Reach and founding charter president of TiE Siliguri, he transformed how his city thinks about global education.
In conversation with NEXIS students, he shared the honest playbook for studying abroad from a tier-2 city — and dismantled the myths along the way.
The biggest myth: “it’s only for the rich”
The single biggest misconception Arun faces daily is that overseas education is only for the wealthy. “That’s completely a myth,” he says. He has students who study abroad for as little as ₹10 lakh, and points to Germany — where public-university tuition can be essentially free and students can work to cover living costs.
“Everybody can go. You just need to do a little bit of homework. You can get scholarships and find universities whose tuition is as low as Indian fees.”
Three things to check before you go global
Ask Arun what he’d assess in a student, and he names three:
- Clarity of purpose. Know why you want to go.
- Exposure or settlement? Decide whether you want experience and then return to India, or to settle abroad — because that determines which countries (and post-study-work visa options) make sense. Switzerland, for instance, is excellent for hospitality but has no post-study work visa.
- Funding. Arrange tuition through an education loan and manage living costs with part-time work. Be realistic about your profile — “everyone wants to go to Harvard, but it’s not that easy.”
India vs global education
Having studied in Pune and at the University of Manchester, Arun is blunt about the difference: practical, real-time learning. “This is why I’ve been supporting NEXIS — the approach is completely practical.” He notes that abroad, curricula are updated almost every six months to match industry needs.
While in India much of the syllabus goes un-updated for five or ten years. “We have degrees, but we are not employable. Along with degrees, we need real-time skills.”
“Geographical location is no more a barrier. With the right mindset — and with AI tools and content — you can grow from any small part of India.”
— Arun Nagar, Founder & CEO, Global Reach
▶ Watch the full story on the NEXIS YouTube channel.
Education loans: smart risk or trap?
Is a student loan an EMI trap? Arun’s answer is about homework, not fear. “If you do proper homework and take a loan for the right university and the right degree with a track record, then of course you should.” What’s a trap is borrowing randomly for “any Tom-Dick-Harry university” without understanding your future.
He shared the story of Gitika — a tea-garden worker’s daughter from the Dooars who, through an education loan and part-time work, completed her master’s in the UK. “Global dreams don’t need a metropolitan city — just the right guidance.”
Geography, mindset and AI
On AI, Arun is refreshingly calm: “It’s not AI versus humans — it’s AI plus humans.” Just as those who learned computers thrived and those who didn’t faded, those who learn AI will multiply their productivity.
“Work that takes four hours can take one — treat it like a tool to enhance your productivity, and there’s nothing to be scared of.” It’s a mindset NEXIS shares, weaving practical AI tools into everyday learning (more in first semester at NEXIS).
- Studying abroad isn’t only for the rich — some students go for as little as ₹10 lakh, and Germany can be near-free.
- Check three things: clarity of purpose, exposure vs settlement, and funding.
- Global education wins on practical, frequently-updated, skills-first learning.
- An education loan is a smart risk only with proper homework; AI is a productivity tool, not a threat.
Build a skills-first foundation in Siliguri
Whether you go global or build at home, real-world skills come first. See how NEXIS builds them.
Frequently asked questions
Is studying abroad only for rich students?
No. According to Global Reach’s Arun Nagar, some students study abroad for as little as ₹10 lakh, and countries like Germany offer near-free public-university tuition with part-time work covering living costs.
What should I decide before studying abroad?
Three things: your clarity of purpose, whether you want exposure or to settle (which affects post-study-work visa options), and your funding plan through loans and part-time work.
Is an education loan a trap?
Only if taken randomly without homework. For the right university and degree with a strong track record, it can be a wise, calculated risk.
Will AI replace jobs?
Arun Nagar frames it as “AI plus humans,” not “AI versus humans.” Learning to use AI multiplies your productivity; treat it as a tool.
Based on a NEXIS student podcast interview with Arun Nagar, founder & CEO of Global Reach and founding charter president of TiE Siliguri. Details on costs, visas and loans are his views — verify specifics before making decisions.
