In recent years, Indian students are choosing to study abroad because of the attractive placement opportunities offered by the universities abroad. Business Schools and Technical Universities also offer extensive career support services which enable them to land high-paying jobs in a short period of time.
Read: 1.33L Indians chose to study abroad; USA, UK, Canada are the top choices
Countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, China, and Russia are the top choices for students planning to study abroad. This is mainly because these countries offer post-study work permits for jobs in multinational companies. Indian students mostly choose to pursue STEM or business management courses in these countries.
In the academic year, 2020-21, around 44% of the students chose to study business management courses in the UK while 37% opted to study in Canada. Around 78% of students decided to study STEM subjects in the US.
Increase in the number of Indian students Abroad
| Country | Growth Percentage |
|---|---|
| Canada | +350% |
| UK | +220% |
| USA | -9% |
Indian Students in Canada
According to data published by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (Canada), pupils from India constitute one of the largest Indian Student populations in Canada. The population grew by 350% between the academic years of 2015-16 and 2019-20. From January to November 2021, around 1,30,000 Indian students were accepted to study in Canada.
International Students in Canada who graduate from a designated learning institution and want to stay temporarily in the country, are eligible to apply for a Postgraduation Work Permit (PGWP). With this open work permit, students can work for any employer in Canada and gain the necessary work experience.
Check: Work Permit for Canada: Types, Eligibility, Requirements, Application and Processing Time
Students who are proficient in one of the two main languages (English or French) and have one year of work experience may be able to attain permanent residence status through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Indian Students in the UK
UK is becoming a popular study destination for Indian students as per the latest data by HESA and UCAS. According to HESA, the number of first-year Indian students has increased by 27% from 41,815 in 2019-20 to 53,015 in 2020-21. Currently, Indian students constitute around 19% of all non-EU enrolments.
Read: Indians Incorporate for the Majority of Foreign Skilled Workers in UK
Moreover, applications from India via the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) portal, displayed a growth of 11% year on year. The total number of students who applied to study in the UK this year is around 8,660, whereas the total number of applicants in 2021 was around 7.830. Compared to this, only 4.690 applicants applied in 2019.
There are several factors that resulted in the increase in the number of applicants. The Graduate Route initiative by the UK Government is one of them. This route will enable international students who have recently completed their master’s or undergraduate degree to look for employment/work for a maximum of two years. Students with a Ph.D. degree can stay for three years.
Candidates with a valid student visa at the time of application and who have successfully completed a degree at the undergraduate/master’s/PhD level are eligible to apply. They must also have a track record of compliance.
Indian Students in the USA
According to the latest Open Doors Report 2021, the USA welcomed around 914,000 students from over 200 countries. Indian students comprised around 20% of this number with a strength of 167,582.
USA has always been one of the most preferred study destinations for Indian students and the recent high rate of student visa approvals also contributed to this. As commented by Don Heflin, Minister Counsellor for Consular Affairs, around 62,000 student visas were issued in the summer of 2021. The choice to waive the interview requirement in the case of F-1 students also resulted in faster Visa issuance.
Read: Biden Administration Announces Measures to Clear Immigration Backlog
Optional practical training (OPT), networking, and career development opportunities are some of the reasons why Indian students continually chose to study in USA. OPT allows international students who have already graduated from US universities to work in a field of their choice. Pupils can retain their F-1 status while working under this program.
Students in any discipline can apply for work after graduation under OPT for a period of 12 years. On the other hand, Individuals in a STEM discipline can secure employment with OPT for a period of 36 months.
Check: US Most Likely to Extend International STEM Graduates’ Employment Visa Duration
While the Pandemic has had an effect on most fields, the wish to pursue higher studies abroad has remained unchanged for Indian students. However, while choosing a suitable destination abroad, students are now considering additional factors like visa processing period, pandemic management, post-study work opportunities etc.
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