Indian students’ study abroad preferences have shifted, with the surprise emergence of the European Union as their top choice, while the popularity of Canada and the United Kingdom has declined significantly, according to a recent survey.
The findings of the annual Study Abroad Trends Report produced by higher education and upskilling-focused Indian edtech company upGrad represent a marked contrast to the last annual report.
Based on data gathered from over 25,000 aspirant students across India’s largest cities (42.8%) and what is referred to as tier 2, tier 3 or smaller cities (57.2%) in India, the findings indicate a drastic decline in Canada’s appeal with only 9.3% participants now viewing it as their dream destination.
On the other hand, there has been a remarkable increase in interest in EU countries, with 48.8% of students indicating the EU is their top preference, compared to the United States at 27.6% and the UK at 9.5%.
The shift is significant because 75% to 80% of Indian students going abroad for education two years ago chose the ‘big four’ destinations — the US, UK, Canada, and Australia and New Zealand, according to Bengaluru-based consultancy firm Redseer.
The 11.34% decline in the popularity of the UK, revealed in the upGrad report, is linked to changes in visa regulations, in particular rules that restrict visas for students’ with accompanying dependants. According to data from the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, Indian student applications dipped by 4% this year compared to the previous year.
Commenting on changes to visa and immigration policies, Ankur Nyati, president of the ‘study abroad’ segment of upGrad, said: “Canada has put a two-year cap on international student visas while also doubling the minimum required proof of available funds to CA$20,635 [US$15,300], effective 1 January 2024.
“Meanwhile, the UK placed restrictions on student visa dependants as well as increased income requirements for spouse-partner visas.
“… EU countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and France offer a much more immigration-friendly environment as well as affordable education and attractive post-study work visas.”
Inclination towards Europe
The upGrad survey reveals that Indian students’ growing inclination towards Europe, which has 5,000 universities across 44 countries, is motivated by affordability, quality of education and the prospect of employment and residency.
Among EU countries, Germany witnessed the most significant increase in demand, with 32.6% of participants selecting it as their dream destination, followed by Ireland (3.9%) and France (3.3%), while 9% of students opted for other EU countries for higher studies.
The survey indicates an increasing emphasis on affordability. With 41.1% of participants in the upGrad survey are from middle-class family backgrounds, and with two thirds of them relying on education loans to fund their studies abroad, Germany, which does not charge international students high tuition fees has become a particularly attractive option.
The most sought-after courses include management, followed by computer science, IT, engineering and medical science.
Canada’s declining popularity
According to the 2023 Indian Students Mobility Report published by student accommodation consultancy University Living, and education consultancy OneStep Global, Canada consistently attracted the highest number of Indian students for four years in a row between 2018 and 2022, ahead of the US, the UK and Australia.
According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), about 41% of the nearly 550,000 new study permits issued by Canada in 2022 were held by Indian students. But the recent sharp decline in Canada’s popularity can be partly attributed to the country’s rising living costs, accommodation crisis, cap on visas and a difficult job market.
Political tensions between India and Canada which erupted last year also appear to have had an impact on student choices.
The IRCC processed about 60,000 fewer study permits for Indian students from July to October 2023 compared to the same period last year.
Rajshekhar Tubachi, founder of Maven Consulting Services, with branches in southern India, said Indian students are interested in countries such as Germany, Ireland, and France “due to Europe’s reputation for providing affordable, high-quality education and numerous industrial prospects after graduation”.
He added: “The decreasing interest in the UK and policy measures like the removal of the dependant visa scheme underlines this significant change in direction. Europe is becoming more popular, but the United States and Canada still attract many Indian students.”
New options
Pushpak Banerjee, currently doing a graduate degree in business management at a private college in Lucknow, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, is among those students from India planning to apply to universities in Europe.
“Many of my friends are actively considering new options like Europe for higher studies. The availability of programmes in English-language in many European higher education institutions has turned the continent into a sought-after educational destination for Indian students,” he said.
Vijay Sharma, an engineering student in Faridabad in Haryana state, expressed a preference for Germany or France as his top choices.
He said: “Students are avoiding a politically-sensitive country like Canada. I come from a middle-class family. With a limited budget at my disposal, I would prefer a more economical destination compared to the UK, Canada or the US. The tuition and living costs in Europe are comparatively more affordable.”
During his visit to India in January, French President Emmanuel Macron said France was expecting to grant 30,000 student visas to Indians annually, marking a significant three-fold jump in visa numbers.
A new scheme which will launch in September called Classes Internationales will enable Indian students to be taught French as well as academic content from highly reputed French universities before they start their chosen degrees at French universities, according to a joint statement released on 26 January.
Another student, Fahmida Hussain, is planning to go to Germany for a masters. “The significant draw lies in the combination of affordable tuition, high-quality education, internationally recognised degrees, and exposure to a global learning environment,” she told University World News.
