Is Zakat obligatory upon a student who has set aside money for studies, especially if it is abroad?

When a Muslim's wealth reaches the nisab (minimum threshold) and a full year (hawl) passes over it, zakat becomes obligatory on it. The fact that it is designated for studies or marriage does not prevent its obligation, because it is wealth that has the potential for growth (nami bi-al-quwwa), and the conditions for zakat — complete ownership, the nisab, and the hawl — have been met.