United States most popular for study abroad: Report

upGrad Abroad has released the second edition of its annual survey, the Transnational Education Report 2.0. The aim of this report is to provide valuable insights to industry stakeholders regarding the preferences, challenges, and aspirations of Indian students who desire to pursue higher education abroad for promising career prospects.

An intriguing finding from the report is that approximately 45% of Indian students are now more inclined to explore non-traditional study abroad destinations, such as Poland, Taiwan, Belarus, and South Africa, in addition to the more conventional choices. While the United States continues to be the most popular study abroad destination among respondents, Canada’s flexible Permanent Residency (PR) policies and excellent higher education system stand out as major attractions, as mentioned in the report.

Drawing feedback from aspirants and students residing in over 200 cities, the report offers a comprehensive analysis of the interests and motivations of Indian learners when it comes to pursuing education at an international level. Significantly, the findings emphasise the transformative impact of technology on education, enabling a flexible, student-centric, and nonlinear learning experience.

High-quality education and abundant job opportunities remain the primary driving factors for Indian students aspiring to pursue their studies abroad. An important revelation from the survey is that a significant majority of study-abroad aspirants lack sufficient knowledge about the application and admission process, indicating a clear need for guidance and support in this area.

The report also highlights the growing popularity of education loans among aspiring students, with 31.2% of respondents relying on them. Additionally, 27.6% of respondents are actively seeking scholarship options, while 21.9% are exploring various funding alternatives. Despite the high motivation to study abroad, the report shows that 51.8% of respondents remain unsure about the processes involved, such as how to apply, which exams to take, and visa procedures.