Till a few years ago, studying abroad was considered the biggest dream of millions of Indian students. Families saved to send their children abroad, agents’ offices were crowded and thousands of students flew to Australia, Canada, Britain and America every year. But now the picture is slowly changing. Expensive fees, rising expenses and difficult visa rules have stopped the steps of many students.

The recent IDP report “Emerging Futures” has presented a big picture of this changing thinking. The report shows that now Indian students are not just dreaming of going abroad, but are taking decisions very thoughtfully.

43% students left their dream due to fees

According to the report, 43 percent of Indian students who abandoned their plans to study abroad said that the fees are now out of their reach. At the same time, 32 percent students cited rising expenses and food expenses as major reasons. Apart from this, 28 percent students believed that getting a student visa has become more difficult than before. The same concern was visible not only in India but also among students all over the world. About 50 percent of the students said that tuition fees have increased so much that studying abroad is no longer easy.

Now I don’t just want a degree, I want a career.

The report shows that the thinking of Indian students has changed a lot. Now they are not just running after a foreign degree, but are also seeing whether they will get a job after completing their studies or not.

About 41 percent of Indian students said that the biggest advantage of studying abroad is good career and job opportunities. Whereas 31 percent students said that better education and good education system is necessary. 27 percent students want such courses which are directly related to industry and job.

Business and engineering most preferred

The report also revealed that the first choice of students going abroad is still business related courses. About 24 percent students chose business and administration studies. After this, engineering and technology came second, which were liked by 20 percent of the students. Health and medicine were chosen by 18 percent students, while good interest of students was also seen in courses related to computer and mathematics.

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Trust in big and renowned universities

Today’s students are giving more importance to brand and ranking rather than taking admission in any college. About 65 percent of the students said that they want to study in world-ranked universities. Fewer students showed interest in polytechnics, community colleges or smaller institutions. This clearly means that students are now linking the university’s identity with their career along with the degree.

Which country is trusted the most?

Britain emerged as the most trusted country for students to study abroad. About 85 percent of the students believed that UK can prepare them for better skills and career. This was followed by Canada and Australia, where students’ confidence was 84 and 83 percent. America and New Zealand were also included in the choice of students. However, students’ confidence in some new countries was less. Student confidence remained very low in countries like Germany, China and France. UAE remained at the bottom, where only 47 percent students expressed confidence.

Why did Australia become the first choice?

Australia is being liked the most among Indian students. According to the report, 41 percent students said Australia as their first choice. The biggest reason for this is the job opportunities there, the study environment and the international education system. Whereas UK was liked for good studies and strong education system. Students are also choosing Canada and America because of better job and networking opportunities. New Zealand is being preferred for work permit and good job options after studies.

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