Why students should reconsider going abroad for an undergraduate programme

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The two top countries where students look at going abroad for education are India and China. In 2023, India topped the total overseas higher education expenditure at $60 billion. This number is expected to reach US $70 billion in 2025. This means that there is a huge outflow of money from India to other countries for education. Apart from this, there are other factors to be considered. Cost of education: The average cost of a UG programme in the U.S. is $38,270 (approx. ₹32,50,000) per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses. Often, this is managed through education loans. According to India’s Ministry of Finance, the total student loan debt in India has crossed ₹90,000 crores with an annual growth rate of about 15%. When students do not secure stable jobs after course completion, this leads to defaulting on repayment and financial burden. Is this required for studies at the undergraduate level? Changing geopolitics: The political situation in a country is bound to affect the way immigrants are treated. As Ketan Narottam Tanna pointed out in an article, “Economic pressures, local anxieties, and political considerations are converging to reshape” the way students are treated. Case of racist attacks and difficulty of finding affordable housing are only two of the problems that have emerged. Countries like the U.K., Australia and the U.S. are also seeing polarised discourses on the topic of immigration. One then needs to think about whether studying in India and retaining one’s dignity is better than studying abroad. Policy changes: The changing geopolitical situation can lead to policy changes and internal reforms that can turn the tables for students. Canada, for example, introduced an intake cap on international student permit applications in 2024. The U.K. has issued new restrictions on dependent visas and requirements on post-study work permits. In Australia, the introduction of stricter Genuine Student (GS) requirements has led to more rigorous assessments of visa applications. With regard to working abroad after studying, there is increasing emphasis on prioritising jobs for local citizens and pressure on infrastructure leading to work visas and residency becoming more difficult. Further, many countries are imposing more stringent regulations and quotas for foreign workers. This unexpected recalibration of immigration policies can leave students in a precarious position. However, all is not lost for those who wish to study abroad. Instead of considering undergraduate courses, students should look at postgraduate courses. Exploring options such as community colleges or landing a research or teaching assistant post might make better financial sense. From a job availability perspective, Japan might be a better alternative to the U.S. or the U.K. In 2024, the job-openings to applicants ratio stood at 125 jobs per 100 job seekers in Japan. Another aspect to be considered is that the expansion of the education landscape in India has significantly reduced the gap in the standards of higher education between India and foreign countries. Many private universities in India offer a plethora of courses for almost 25% less fees than a foreign university. Further, models such as transnational education, branch campuses of foreign universities, exchange programmes, and flexible degree formats are also gaining prominence and allow students to pursue globally recognised degrees, without necessarily going abroad. If students did their research and ensured that their choice offers value for money, the foreign exchange that Indians spend each year on an education abroad could be pumped into improving our infrastructure and making education better for future generations. The writer is the Founder and Life Trustee of Mumbai Educational Trust (MET) and Hon. Chairman of the Governing Board of Kohinoor Education Trust (KET), Maharashtra. The Hindu Education Plus / education / higher education / study abroad / students / universities and colleges / education loans / careers Terms & conditions  |  Institutional Subscriber Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. 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