Europe:There was a time when students zeroed in on the US Canada and Australia as their chosen destinations to study abroad. the recent years we have come across an increasing number of South Asian students who are choosing European countries for higher education instead of the ones that were previously popular.
Countries like Ireland Germany and France are attracting students as the universities of global repute there are offering better educational avenues as compared to others. Also, since the cost of living is less in comparison to the US, Australia or Canada, these European countries with their lowered tuition fees have opened better avenues for South Asian students opting to study abroad. Bhargav Modi Business Director at EduGo Abroad has outlined several reasons why Europe is becoming the preferred destination for South Asian students.
Aspiring for a liberal lifestyle these South Asian students also consider the fact that European countries are believed to provide an evolved and enhanced lifestyle. the amenable policies towards international students enable them to migrate not just to study but to find a livelihood as well in the countries they study. The peaceful environment and acceptability of migrants are important factors that make European countries a haven for students.
FLEXIBLE COURSE OPTIONS AND REDUCED ENTRY BARRIERS
Another reason why more students are opting for Europe is the plethora of options available when it comes to choosing a course of their choice. Students in streams like tech and STEM find the experience quite rewarding as the course curriculum designed by universities is in sync with the needs of the times. At the same time students are also able to reap the benefits of picking emerging courses like Luxury Brand Management which are non-tech.
They give an edge to the students who are competing in an already saturated job pool since their degree stands out amongst the freshers. Also IELTS or other qualifying or proficiency-related exams are not a must-have thereby increasing the chances of a student getting accepted by a university. With fewer hoops to cross Europe becomes an achievable target for the average student as well.
scholarship programmes like Erasmus help students to get their tuition fees funded. Indian students have consistently bagged this scholarship thus ranking amongst the top 3 nationalities in this regard. Not to forget the Schengen visa grants access to many countries within Europe. which is invaluable in today landscape. It not only enables them to travel but also explore more opportunities all across Europe.
EUROPE STRATEGIES TO MEET SOUTH ASIAN STUDENTS ASPIRATIONS
Europe is ready for this changing trend and the interest of South Asian students. Due to the sustained demand for international education, we can only expect this interest to further rise in the future. For this, plans are underway to introduce more targeted hybrid and blended programs that will enable more students to get exposed to European education.
Pathway programmes enabled by university partnerships, short-term certificates and non-degree programmes are also expected to gain popularity as the focus begins to shift towards not just immigration but learning new skills and improving the overall academic experience. With so many factors enticing South Asian students European countries are bound to see an even higher interest from the student community who aspire not just for a better educational experience but also for job opportunities in the country they study.
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 declining popularity
According to the2023 Indian Students Mobility Reportpublished 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 popularity can be partly attributed to the country 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 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 calledClasses Internationaleswill 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 toldUniversity World News.
