Survey Suggests 91% Indian Students Determined to Study Abroad Amidst COVID-19 Lockdown

The Coronavirus pandemic has had an irrevocable impact on many sectors and industries all over the world. The education sector has also witnessed major changes worldwide because of the COVID-19 outbreak. One of the areas of grave concern has been the students who have been aspiring to pursue their education abroad. The virus has put a halt to the admission process at almost all the institutions throughout the world and students were rendered sceptical about moving abroad to complete their education. However, things seem to have taken a brighter turn for these Indian students.

In a surprising turn of events, as much as 91 per cent of Indian students who had planned to study in foreign countries are still looking forward to continuing their aspirations because of the safety measures that are being put in place. This percentage is rather welcome considering how it seemed that the COVID-19 pandemic had ruined plans for the higher education of students worldwide, particularly those who wanted to go abroad for their higher education.

A study was conducted on those Indian students who had registered themselves on a platform for studying abroad in the coming 6 - 10 months. The survey revealed the mindset of these students during the pandemic which is responsible for them taking this decision.

The highlights of the study have been mentioned below.

• 76% of the students who were surveyed had plans to go ahead with pursuing their education abroad in the next 6 to 10 months (upcoming September or January intakers).
• 16% of the students informed that they are yet to decide upon it and will come to a decision about studying abroad by the summer.
• 8% of the students revealed that they are considering to delay their decision due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• However, all of these numbers given above changed when those students were informed about all the steps that are being taken by international universities to ensure the safety of students. Around 25% of the students had no idea about the contingency measures that universities are taking for the September 2020 and January 2021 intakes such as blended learning options.
• Once they learned about these measures, a total of 91% of students who were registered on the platform were convinced to stick to their original plan of going abroad in the next 6 to 10 months to pursue higher education.
• The study also revealed that over 70% of the total students interested in moving abroad for studies prefer an international healthcare system. The Indian students ranked Canada and the UK among the most trusted international healthcare systems and they were followed by the US, India, Germany, Sweden, and Finland.
• 76% of the total surveyed students wish to head abroad for postgraduate programmes and the remaining 34% of students are to enrol in undergraduate courses.
• It was found after the study that the UK is considered to be the most preferred study destination for students of India. 28% of students voted for the UK and Australia, Germany, and France followed as the other top choices after being voted by 20% of the students.
• Canada and the US are the close second choices of students for studying abroad with 15% and 18% votes respectively.

Also Read:COVID-19: How to Fulfill Your Study Abroad Dreams Amid the Lockdown

Measures Taken by Foreign Universities During COVID-19 Lockdown

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a complete lockdown in most parts of the world. With strict measures being taken due to the COVID-19 outbreak, universities abroad are working to enhance other features and opportunities so as to ensure that Indian students are still inclined towards taking admission and they can offer these students something more than what the Indian education system is able to provide at the time. It is to be acknowledged that some of these foreign universities are hundreds of years old and have witnessed many global crises, only to emerge from each of them stronger. Hence, these universities have an understanding of how to go about this situation without causing even the slightest obstruction to the education and career of students.

Some of the measures that are being taken by the universities and institutions abroad for ensuring smooth admissions amidst the coronavirus pandemic have been mentioned below.

• Classes are being taken in the online mode and students can avail all lectures online. Universities are using ed-tech solutions for delivering a similar (and better, in some cases) experience to its students in terms of delivery, assignments, and tests.
• The local centres for IELTS/ PTE/ TOEFL etc. are closed but that is not stopping universities from conducting English language tests of students. They are making sure that they provide online pre-sessional English courses to all the students who are required to show proof of their English proficiency in order to join the programme.
• The authorities are taking special care to ensure the safety of all students. All university campuses are being sanitised on a daily basis and mobility inside or outside the varsity premises has been limited only to security, health officials, and transport of essential goods. No student gatherings are being allowed and every other health measure is being taken that has been directed by the Health Services and the WHO.
• The universities have also given attention to providing 24x7 student support. They have opened self-help sections and COVID-19 helpline numbers that are functional 24*7, designed specifically for student support. All the international offices of universities in countries across the globe have come together and they are working overtime so that singular thread of information is passed and myths are busted among students and their parents.

Also Read:How will COVID-19 Impact Higher Education in India?

With this study, it is clear that pursuing higher education abroad is not a distant dream even after the pandemic and lockdown. Universities across the world are taking all possible measures to ensure the safety of students and they are coming up with new methods so that the education and career of students do not get affected. This is definitely proved to be a ray of hope for all the Indian students who were worried about pursuing their bachelors or masters in foreign countries. Stay tuned to CollegeDekho to get all the recent updates in the education sector.

(As per inputs and study conducted by Leverage Edu)

Top Colleges and Universities to be Enrolled in 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic keeps the world on a hiatus, admissions and international education still continue to fight through and discover new ways to continue building the lives of the youth. Here are some of the top colleges and universities to be enrolled in 2020.

Among the thousands of colleges on offer, these are just a few of the colleges scattered all across the world. You can visit CollegeDekho’s StudyAbroad website and browse through the list of colleges in the world.

If you are interested in pursuing higher education in international universities and wish to clear out all doubts regarding admissions and education abroad, write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com or call us at 785-9990-990 and our study-abroad experts will help you through the process.