How has the recent pandemic affected the Indian student’s dream to study abroad?

The global pandemic dramatically altered the perspective of Indian students looking to study abroad. However, with a normalizing landscape, both countries and universities have made changes to make the entry and admission processes easier, suggesting that pandemics are temporary, but education is here to stay. Consequently, there has been a resurgence in Indian students applying abroad for higher education.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected industries globally, and the education sector was no exception. With severely restricted international travel, students faced travel difficulties even as universities restricted their international students intake. However, with comprehensive health standards and immunisations being implemented, the global higher-ed industry also started recovering. The empowerment and upward mobility offered by education could not be underestimated and was evident in how the sector bounced back.

Impact of COVID-19: Time to go beyond classrooms

The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions affected how we learn, work, and live. From schools to universities, the education system was revamped to accommodate remote learning and meet diverse student needs. Another key shift was centered around the need for practical education beyond the academic degree. The fallout of these changes raised questions regarding the value offered by traditional universities in India.

This further confirmed the relevance of an international education for many students. Especially as colleges abroad evolved to better appeal to industry and amalgamated opportunities for students to gain work experience through co-op programs. What remained unchanged were the added benefits of studying in a different country, outside one’s comfort zone, which also promoted life skill development from communication to greater self-awareness, empathy, adaptability and cultural sensitivity.

Upcoming trends in the education sector

The perceived value of an international degree is reflected in the surge in the number of applicants applying for foreign education, which has risen this year and is projected to cross previous benchmarks. Clearly, students’ aspirations for obtaining higher education degrees abroad have rebounded strongly.

Additionally, many governments have reintroduced several measures to attract overseas students to their universities even as the pandemic restrictions have been eased. The Canadian government modified its laws, allowing international students to complete their studies at Canadian universities in a virtual format along with a provisional extension on PGWP (Post Graduation Work Permit). Most recently, the US government added 22 more subjects under the STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training) programme for international students that further allows them to live in the US for 36 months post completion of their studies. And lastly, the UK extended their post-study work visa from 6 months to 2 years to attract more international students.

(On the institutional-level front, several elite US universities have opted to go test-optional, meaning that applicants are no longer required to submit standardized test scores like the SAT or ACT. Part of this endeavour is to ensure all candidates have a fair opportunity to apply and achieve admission, regardless of the availability of test centres in their region.

Long-term investment

International degrees from elite universities are seen as a long-term investment by students and parents alike. Reputed colleges also offer valuable exposure as they help broaden horizons, inculcate an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, and provide cutting-edge knowledge and skills. This is best reflected in global rankings. Universities and colleges in the United States lead most ranking tables for business management, engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences studies while Australia offers some of the best courses in accounting, psychology, engineering, and tourism.

The most significant advantage of studying abroad is the unrivaled opportunity to be taught and mentored by the world’s top academic faculty and subject experts. Students at an international university can also tap into research assistantships, apprenticeships, and summer internships with top global companies like Google or Facebook or smaller cutting-edge start-ups and boutique firms, which add much-needed industry exposure and perspective.

With global education back on track after the two-year hiatus, students are now aspiring for best-in-class education and exposure again. This resurgence in interest and opportunities among the world’s top universities is converging to make this abrupt slump in applicants to higher education courses abroad a nearly forgotten chapter in history.