Specialized Courses Abroad: Over 50% of Indian Students prefer.

Posted October 26, 2021

Summary: More than half of Indian students who plan to study abroad prefer specialized courses over a university’s reputation.

Indian Students Choose Specialized Courses

When it comes to picking a university, 52 percent of Indian students planning to study abroad choose specialized courses above institutional prestige, according to the findings of the ‘Education Overseas–An Evolving Journey’ survey, which Western Union commissioned and NielsenIQ carried out. According to the report, these students “seek obscure but increasingly prominent courses that frequently search outside Ivy League universities that cannot provide these courses,” according to the report.

Specialized Courses of Preference

The following subjects are taking precedence over typical university courses in the minds of 52 percent of college students:

Data Analytics.
Artificial Intelligence.
Digital Marketing.
Cyber Security.
Ethical hacking and ecotechnology.

Students’ Qualifying Tests for Specialized Courses

Additionally, 64% stated that qualifying tests continue to be a barrier, prompting them to seek out countries or colleges that do not require students to take admission exams or have a strong command of the English language, according to Eudora.

The Top Four Destinations for Specialized Courses

According to the research findings, while the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia continue to be the top four destinations, an increasing number of students consider other countries such as Germany, Italy, Ireland, Turkey, Russia, and China. According to the survey results, 22% of student participants now favor studying abroad in Ireland, Turkey, and Spain.

Other Preferred Destinations for Specialized Courses

According to data from the Ministry of External Affairs, more than 10.9 lakh Indian students were pursuing studies in 85 countries around the world as of January 2021, with a large number (29,600 students) heading to China alone and a total of 10,000 students heading to Germany and France combined, among other destinations.

Why Do Students Prefer Specialized Courses?

Among the other results are:

Forty-five percent of students place a high value on independence.
Hybrid learning is preferred by 46 percent of students, according to a survey.
Students like traveling and seeing new cultures above higher education and employment chances, according to 43% of students.

Student Loans for Specialized Courses in Abroad Education

Aside from that, parents voiced worries about student loans, particularly concerning loan repayment in light of the volatile nature of the current economic environment. Budgeting and financial planning were the most often reported difficulties by students and their parents in the study.

Financial Concerns for Specialized Courses

When 54 percent of students indicate that financial concerns are their top worry when considering studying abroad, 47 percent of students believe that high expenses while studying abroad have influenced their decision to take shorter-duration courses due to this concern. Because of the high cost of tuition, three out of every four students who took part in the research stated that they sought scholarships while deciding on their degrees.

Western Union commissioned the NielsenIQ Abroad Education Survey.

Western Union commissioned NielsenIQ to perform the survey between January and June 2021, which included 807 participants, including students, parents, grandparents, and career counselors, in 12 United States and Canada locations.

Travel Restrictions for Studying Abroad

Most countries worldwide have implemented travel restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult for Indian students to continue their studies abroad, particularly in Australia, where students have been barred from entering the country since March 20 of last year.

In conclusion

While the top four destinations are still the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, the research shows that students are increasingly considering Germany, Italy, Ireland, Turkey, Russia, and China. According to the survey, 22% of students prefer Ireland, Turkey, and Spain. Finances were the most commonly reported issue by students and their parents.