With the availability of COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon, many students are considering starting their study abroad plans sooner than before, as per a QS research.
Sources claim that the QS surveyed a total of 887 aspiring international students from different countries including India, China, Pakistan, the US and the UK. The research was conducted after positive results were found with the latest rendition of the COVID vaccine.
With 21% of the students admitting that the advances made in the production of a potential COVID vaccine have motivated the students to commence their international studies earlier than previously planned.
Jessica Turner, the managing director of QS, stated that the latest reports have shed light on the plans of international students due to the potential COVID vaccine.
She added that there were a few universities escaped the damage caused by the virus, as was feared previously, however, a large percentage of the international students deferred their study abroad plans to due to lack of in-person teaching as well as border restrictions implemented by different countries.
The possibility of tackling these issues can be solved through the development of a coronavirus vaccine. A potential COVID-19 vaccine brings around encouraging news for the future of global higher education.
However, the report also highlighted that a large portion of the international students (43%) remained unaffected with the announcement of a potential COVID vaccine. The students stated that the lack of knowledge on the availability of vaccines is one of the many reasons why they are still on course with their previous plans. They also added that they will commence their studies in 2021 as they assume normalcy will return by then.
Previously, QS had conducted another research revealing that aspiring international students would be more comfortable travelling to different study abroad destinations if campuses re-open and in-person classes are provided. The research further highlighted that 43% of the students felt more comfortable travelling abroad as soon as a COVID vaccine has been developed and is available.
