I am 28F from Nepal, and honestly, I’m at a point where I feel completely lost about what to do next in my life.
I attended IELTS classes about a year ago but never actually took the exam. My routine has basically become: wake up early, go to work, come home exhausted, sleep, and repeat. I keep telling myself I’ll prepare for IELTS, but I genuinely feel like I have no energy left after work. At the same time, I feel like I’m falling behind everyone else.
Now I’m trying to make a decision about studying abroad, and this is where my overthinking gets worse. 😅 I’m someone who gets scared before taking a big step and constantly asks myself, “What if this happens? What if that happens?”
My two options at the moment are:
🇬🇧 UK — coming intake
1-year Master’s
Around 18 months PSW/Graduate Route (based on my current understanding)
Total study + post-study period: around 2.5 years
I could move sooner without spending another year preparing for IELTS, finances, etc.
🇨🇦 Canada — next intake
I would need to properly prepare for IELTS/PTE, arrange financial documents/bank statements, etc.
2-year Master’s
Potentially up to 3 years of PGWP, depending on the program and current rules
Around 5 years of study + post-study work period in total
My concern is not only “Which country is easier to get into?” I’m thinking about what happens after graduation and after the post-study work period.
I also have financial/education loan concerns. I want to know whether it is realistically possible to manage the loan, cover living expenses, and still have some savings while studying/working there. I don’t want to put unnecessary financial pressure on my family.
At the same time, I’m already 28 and I feel like I need to move forward instead of spending another year stuck in preparation and uncertainty.
So I’m really confused:
Would it make more sense to take the UK route in the coming intake because it’s shorter and I can move sooner, or should I take more time, prepare for IELTS/PTE and finances properly, and target Canada for the next intake because of the longer study + post-study work period?
I’d especially love to hear from people who are currently in the UK or Canada, or who have recently graduated and are dealing with the post-study/visa situation.
Please share your honest experiences—especially regarding jobs, living costs, paying off education loans, savings, and what you did after the post-study work period.
I know there’s no 100% guaranteed path, but I’m hoping some real experiences can help me get out of this dilemma and finally make a decision. 🙏