What the statistics say about Indian students and their choices to study abroad

Article – Suneet Singh Kochhar, CEO, Fateh Education

Today, there is no limit for students to study anywhere in the country and abroad, hence their chances of making their dreams come true and getting world class education have increased. Every year millions of Indian students go abroad for higher education, far away from home. In choosing where to study, they take into account the best prospects and personal interests and also look at the presence of people from different cultures, quality of life, safety, clean environment, fair policies for foreign students and the development rate of that country. Be good too.

Apart from this, before choosing a university, many factors like its ranking, recognition, education system, cost of education and employability are considered. However, not only the student has the right to choose, but universities also have strict admission conditions and only students who fulfill those conditions get admission in the degree program of their choice.

As far as figures are concerned, the figures of the Ministry of External Affairs show that in 2022, more than 13,00,000 Indian students were studying in 79 countries of the world. According to this, the countries which have attracted more Indian students include the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, Canada, Ireland, United Arab Emirates and Germany.
Every year, universities in these countries receive and process a record number of applications and then set aside a certain number of seats for foreign students to give them the space and opportunity to develop their profiles and competencies as per their interests. Despite this, many such factors will be discussed in detail in this article, from which country is leading on the chart of Indian students to what are the factors influencing their choice.

politics of data

It is important to say here that not every country is the same and there are many factors that bring diversity into them, ranging from statistics like how many universities there are in a country to how old and how highly ranked these universities are. The ratio of quantity to quality works behind this. There are many other factors that cannot be ignored such as more technology intensive courses are in trend today, and in this context countries like Ireland which may have less universities but it is the bastion of Europe for the IT firms of the world. Therefore, it is not advisable to blindly rely on statistics but give importance to the overall experience that students get in terms of practicality and education while pursuing a degree.
So if one assesses the student statistics, keep in mind that more than 4,00,000 students have gone to the United States for higher education and about 3,982 of these students have been placed in degree-granting post-secondary institutions.

More than 55,000 students are studying in 130 universities of Britain. At a glance, the figure for UK may seem low, but if compared, more students gave preference to UK. Therefore, while choosing the university of his dreams, a student has to understand this politics of data and not follow the crowd.

Available sources and resources

Many countries in the world have built their reputation by exceeding the expectations of students as apart from popular countries like UK, Canada or Australia, students are also looking for options like Ireland. However, the only thing common to all these countries is their resourcefulness, which symbolizes the quality of education, abundance of research, vibrant environment, welcoming of foreigners, ease of transportation and the country’s connection with world-class enterprises. There are some other basic resources that students wishing to study abroad prefer like earning while studying, healthcare, opportunity to experience the rich history and culture of the country while studying and professional opportunities etc. Support facilities before and after arrival abroad such as medical insurance, educational assistance, cultural festivals and educational workshops etc.

Ancient and highly ranked universities from all over the world

Once you have selected a course as per your background, you are ready to choose from the best universities. For this, first of all you should mark the ranking and evaluate the reputation of the institute all over the world. By looking at the data of QS World University Rankings 2024, one can list the potential institutions that epitomize excellence in every sense from academic research to academic structure.

Check out the following chart to see some of the world’s most sought-after universities with world-renowned reputations.

UK USA Germany Canada Australia Ireland

University of Cambridge – 2nd

Massachusetts Institute of Technology – 1st
Technical University Munich – 37th

University of Toronto – 21st

University of Melbourne – 14th
Trinity College Dublin – 81st

Oxford University – 3rd

Harvard University – Fourth Ancient
Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich-54th McGill University-30th
University of New South Wales – 19th

Imperial College London – 6th

Stanford University – 5th
University Heidelberg – 87th
University of British Columbia – 34th
University of Sydney – 19th

University College London – 9th

University of California – 10th
Freie Universität Berlin – 98th
Australian National University – 34th

University of Edinburgh – 22nd

University of Chicago – 11th
Monash University – 42nd

However, students nowadays do not limit their search to the key points of the QS rankings such as metrics of sustainability, international research and employability but also look at other factors such as the institutions’ long-term history of excellence etc. Names like Oxford and Cambridge are not only ranked high, being in the top 5 places in the world, but their authenticity is also impressive, as they strike a balance between traditional and contemporary and their standards are so high that the world follows . In this context, the centuries old Oxford University and Cambridge University can be seen. Other century-old universities include big names like Harvard, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Trinity College Dublin.

higher education experience

The prospect of studying abroad brings excitement, nervousness and excitement all at once. We get ready to immerse ourselves in a new culture, meet people from different backgrounds, and travel through unfamiliar places. There are challenges like adjusting to life there and speaking their language. At first everything may seem quite difficult. However, as one gets used to the new schedule, the real learning curve begins.

Everyday lectures, assignments, collaborative projects and research become routine and students become comfortable with it. We believe it is important for students to understand every ‘how, what and why’. The questionnaire may include how I will learn, what I will learn, who will teach and guide me, what my career prospects will be and how the university will support me.

Once you have concrete answers to all these questions and other such concerns, you as a student will understand where you belong and what is best for you. Additionally, aspects that may be prioritized include employment ratio, scope of cultural and extra-curricular activities and college festivals and educational programs. Additionally, seminars and workshops, laboratories and libraries and collaborative projects and field visits as per course requirements enhance the student experience. It is noteworthy that studies in international universities also take place outside the four walls of the classroom.

Taking advantage of language, culture and lifestyle

India is a multilingual country. People here are able to communicate with everyone through the English language. Once this language used to rule over us and today we have the right over this language. Learning it since childhood and using it throughout life has become a part of the Indian lifestyle. Therefore, Indian students gravitate towards English speaking countries. In such a situation, countries like UK, Canada, Australia and United States of America are at the top of their charts.

On one hand, language is an emotional aspect and on the other hand, the cultural importance of that country is also no less in shortlisting a country for foreign education. Today’s young Americans aspire to make dreams come true or walk down Royal Street, so the traditional image of their country of choice also matters.

We go through emotional turmoil of living in a new environment and seeing diverse cultures and lifestyles. When a person moves away from his culture and remains isolated, he develops mental openness to the customs, history and politics of an interdependent world. Gradually by understanding different cultures, developing cooperation skills and accepting diverse lifestyles, he learns that our life is not bound by any person’s beliefs and limitations. Now their attention turns to more global issues and a rapidly changing landscape that holds the potential for rapid growth. Even today’s enterprises want to progress not by drawing boundaries but by erasing boundaries, hence they prefer candidates who have global experience.

peace and security

Whenever, we hear news of racism, cultural attacks or occasional shootings, we shudder with fear and many such incidents test our conscience. With crime increasing even in countries like the United States, New Zealand and Australia, people are becoming more cautious while choosing a country for higher education. In such a situation, security concerns arise while sending your child to these countries. In these cases, countries like Ireland or Denmark are the safest, as they top the World Peace Index. However, the thing to consider here is whether his approach towards education, while being peaceful, also works for the students.

checklist for indian students

In a country where studying abroad is considered the key to success, investing in professional skills is important. Accordingly, students have created their research mantra and their checklist. Some recent research suggests that Indian students consider several factors as paramount such as cost, location and PR. Apart from this, factors like scholarships, cost of living and career services also help them in weighing and taking the decision. This checklist results in several points to consider such as course accreditation, university collaboration agreements, course coverage and employment rates, etc.

Another important factor for students while choosing the appropriate institution to study abroad is the graduate visa route. This route can give them valuable industry experience and also an opportunity to be aware of the latest trends and technologies prevalent globally.

As far as industries are concerned

Today’s world system is integrated as well as unique, because each country has a special reputation for some of its industries. When choosing a career, students need to assess their dreams of growth and success and know the industries that are in line with these objectives. Accordingly it is important for them to research the center of the industry and its global impact. For example, if a student is interested in finance, London’s Financial District will provide ample opportunities to work with relevant industry leaders and prestigious firms. Concluding my thoughts, I would like to say that while choosing an educational institution, students must keep in mind how high are the chances of progress and support in the profession they choose.