New Delhi: A large group of Indian students are keen on seeking higher education in the US, according to a recent survey. About 69 per cent of respondents made the US their top choice for overseas education despite high expenses, safety, and security reasons.
Other countries such as the UK saw an interest of 54 per cent among Indian students, 43 per cent in Canada, and 27 per cent in Australia, according to the Oxford International Student Global Mobility Index (SGMI).
According to the Bureau of Immigration statistics, 7.65 lakh students went to different countries to pursue their education till October 2023.
Data showed that many make their decisions based on overall university rankings on websites (51 percent), university web pages (50 percent), search engines (49 percent), and social media sites (42 percent).
However, such was not the case with Indians as they would also trust the higher education agents to make such decisions.
Around 71 percent of the Indian respondents would also seek advice from their parents and guardians to make this choice, which explains why many choose the US despite varied opinions. Some students (44 percent) would take opinions from their friends on the subject too.
The survey ranked the US as the most preferred study destination followed by the UK as the second most preferred one.
“It is interesting to note that despite apprehensions surrounding affordability and safety, the allure of quality education and esteemed universities persists as primary drivers,” said Mohit Gambir, Managing Director, Oxford International Education Services.
He added that it is noteworthy to look at how parental influence plays a pivotal role in higher education.
“As aspirations intertwine with opportunity, the narrative of global student mobility continues to evolve, reflecting a mosaic of motivations and influencers shaping the educational journey,” Gambir said.
For affordable course fees, 28 percent of Indian students selected the UK for higher education, followed by Australia (20 percent), Canada (18 percent), and the US (9 percent)
