The Evolving Landscape of Studying Abroad in 2024. Amid geopolitical tensions and tightened immigration policies, the allure of overseas education remains undiminished, especially among Indian students. Despite navigating through the challenges posed by COVID-19 disruptions, and diplomatic strains with countries like Canada, the pursuit of a foreign degree continues to hold immense value for students.
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Increasing Trends in Indian Student Mobility
Forecasts from ICEF Monitor suggest a significant growth in the number of Indian students seeking education abroad, with enrollment expected to exceed two million by 2025, up from roughly one million in 2019. The latest “Beyond Beds and Boundaries: Indian Student Mobility Report 2023” by University Living illustrates the astronomical direct spending of Indian students on international education, which reached $47 billion in 2022. This value is expected to increase to as much as $70 billion by 2025. Exploiting this booming industry, study-abroad consultants have welcomed technology improvements, incorporating AI and digitization into their services while emphasising transparency in their procedures.
The role of study abroad consultants
Kunal Mehra, the managing director and CEO of Crimson Education India, emphasises the increased availability of study-abroad advisors for students from India’s tier 2 and tier 3 cities. These advisors offer crucial advice on developing a distinct personal brand for university applications abroad. They also help students navigate financial aid and scholarship possibilities, which contributes to the growing number of Indian students studying overseas.
Challenges in the Overseas Education Landscape
However, the panorama of international education is not without obstacles. Major destination nations, including Canada, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, have changed their immigration regulations to shorten the application process. In the United States, strict measures have been implemented to combat fake universities, resulting in significant wait times for student visas ranging from 100 to 325 days. Meanwhile, beginning January 2024, the United Kingdom will only offer dependent visas to international students pursuing postgraduate degrees, resulting in a last-minute visa rush among undergraduates. Canada’s political problems with India have caused many students to postpone their applications from January to September. Furthermore, Australian colleges have recently prohibited students from certain Indian states, including Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, due to an increase in fraudulent applications from these areas.
Indian students are enthusiastic.
Despite ever-changing dynamics, students’ desire for abroad study remains steadfast. Mamta Shikhawat, creator of Grading, an abroad study platform, says, “Despite the changes, we receive over 30-40 queries per day.” She emphasises that present Indian students are exceptionally prepared, with many having definite ambitions even before passing their board examinations, indicating a thorough awareness of their academic and future choices.
Industry Responses and Technological Advancements
However, the path is not without obstacles. Raghwa Gopal, CEO of Canada-based global education consultancy M Square Media, discusses how the recent Indo-Canadian political tensions have affected their business. “We have seen a 30% reduction in our India business mainly because of the slow visa processing,” he said. Despite the hurdles, Canadian schools continue to welcome Indian students, although with delayed application and visa procedures.
Undergraduate STEM degrees and postgraduate management courses continue to be popular among Indian students. Sanjana, who is taking a Master’s degree in Management at the Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands, emphasises the value of international education because it differs from the traditional Indian academic scene. She emphasises how it is a welcome change from the rigorous CAT exam preparation culture common in India.
In response to employment market demands, countries are forming collaborations with institutions around the world to solve skill shortages. Gopal mentions the collaboration between Caribbean and Canadian institutes to train medical experts solely for Canada, which offers a potential path for aspiring doctors globally.
Furthermore, the education consulting industry is utilising technology to increase transparency and address illegal immigration problems. Gopal demonstrates how they utilise AI to detect fake documents and streamline verification processes, preserving the integrity of student visa applications.
Similarly, Grading uses technologies to avoid fraud and provide transparency throughout the application process. Shikawat emphasises the value of transparency in maintaining the sector’s credibility and profitability.
Future Prospects for International Education
Looking ahead to 2024, Kunal Mehra, managing director of Crimson Education India, sees a bright future driven by technology and rising middle-class aspirations in Asian countries such as India. He sees an increase in international education exploration by families looking for better prospects for their children.
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