Revolutionising Study Abroad: Upcoming Changes to Watch out for in 2023

After a decline in the number of Indian students pursuing Education abroad in 2020, and reporting a 68% steep increase from 2021 level to 7.5 lakhs; the International education sector is all set to take off in 2023.

This rise in number is attributed to several factors. For a few reasons, the Growing middle-class population in India; Education has become a supremacy and high priority for them. In line with their metro and mini metro counterparts on study abroad applications, tier 2 cities are now sending more students than they did previously. An example of this trend can be seen in cities such as Vijayawada, and Guntur which rank in the top 10 of GRE test takers.

The contemporary youth is characterized by a profound sense of purpose and dedication when it comes to making critical decisions about their future. This involves making informed decisions such as picking the best schools for them, deciding on a destination country for them to settle in, and determining the sector in which they can devote their time and energy most effectively. And due to pent-up demand for Admission forms and VISA Applications Second and Third-Tier Schools are now also taking part in the new age Revolution.

It is easier to get into these Schools as compared to Ivy League Universities which are Cornell University, Harvard University, Brown University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Dartmouth and Columbia University; and other top-tier colleges such as MIT, Stanford University that have acceptance of less than 7%.

These Second and Third- tier Universities are also more affordable compared to top colleges and also provide decent placement opportunities after graduation.

Another change that has taken place in recent years would be a surge in the number of Student Visa approval in past few years and it tends to grow in coming years. Data from The Department of Homeland Security, USA, pointed out that, approximately 100,000 F-1 student visas were granted to Indians during the first 11 months of 2022, more than twice as many as were given during the same period in 2019.

Due to this large rise, there will be more Indian students than Chinese students at American Universities for the first time in decades. Canadian figures show a similar trend, with Indians receiving over 168,000 study permits during the first ten months of 2022, 60% more than the number of study permits issued to Indians during the same period in 2019. The second-highest intake after Chinese students at Canadian institutions will be triple the number of incoming Indian students.

Along the same line, there is a 215% increase in approval for student visas in the UK. Out of 486,868 sponsored study visas granted (to both main applicants and their dependents), 117,965 went to Indian nationals.

The rising trend of Visa approvals is expected to encourage a greater influx of undergraduate students to study abroad. This can be attributed to several factors, such as the increasing income levels in western nations, greater awareness about universities' programs and courses through their websites, the appeal of cultural diversity, easy access to financial aid, and the abundance of information on social media platforms about the admission process and the promising quality of life in these foreign countries.

Among these new students enrolling themselves in different Courses and Programs, demands for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses are still increasing despite the layoffs happening around the world. And the reason for that would be STEM Salaries are increasingly competitive in some cases even exceeding MBA and other Management courses. Students know that these courses will provide high employability and better opportunities to stay back.

Apart from STEM Courses, Universities have created unique offerings with new disciplines and degree programs, which mean that students have more options to choose from if they don’t wish to pursue their career in STEM. This is especially true at business schools, where universities are now providing a variety of other master's options for business-oriented students looking for a more affordable or specialised degree, in addition to traditional MBA programmes. These alternatives, such as a master's in finance or management science, can be more focused and affordable than an MBA and may even have U.S. STEM accreditation, which can give graduates immigration benefits.

During the pandemic due to online learning in schools, children spend a lot of their time on Creative things; which resulted in directing them more towards this industry to pursue their careers. For example, liberal arts, development studies, culinary arts, urban planning, and architecture are similar to skilling and offer entry-level job opportunities.

Many students are anticipated to enrol in biotechnology, pharmacy, healthcare informatics, and hospital administration courses as a result of the pandemic and the rising demand from the healthcare industry.

Students went abroad for Higher Education supported by savings, loans and scholarships. Since today's students must deal with a weaker rupee and higher interest rates, overseas universities are taking more initiative to assist students in financing their education. By disseminating information via their websites and other channels of communication, universities are working to offer students a variety of financing options, including loans.

For a clear presentation of the possibilities on their websites, recruitment authorities may consult financial aid agencies to understand the options accessible.

Hybrid mode was used during the pandemic as everything moved online. Numerous surveys have revealed that students are still expressing a strong desire to embrace the advantages of hybrid learning. Although the epidemic was their first exposure to hybrid learning, students now accept the blended model as the way that education will be delivered in the future.

A balanced mix of online and on-campus learning for degree courses abroad isn’t just cost-effective but has also made higher education overseas equitable, sustainable, and democratized.

Successfully passing the GRE or TOEFL exams is an essential requirement for students intending to study abroad. The option to take these exams at home, which was introduced by ETS in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to continue. TOEFL, for example, offers test-takers the flexibility to choose between taking the exam in a testing centre or at home, and on either a computer or on paper.

The results of these exams are accepted by thousands of universities worldwide. The GRE is the most widely recognized admission test for graduate and professional programs, including business and law degrees. Recent data shows that a comparable number of test-takers are opting to take the GRE at home. Despite the change in the testing environment, the exam's content and outcomes remain the same, ensuring participants can complete the test in the comfort of their own homes.

Given the present global environment, there has never been a better time to consider pursuing foreign education as a method of reaching your preferred career path. With a plethora of dynamic situations and opportunities emerging across the world, one might approach this attempt by slowly taking intentional measures towards one's ultimate aim.

(About the author: Mr Sanjog Anand is the Co-founder of Rostrum Education and is a trailblazer in educational innovation. He has been an educationist for over 6 years. His aim is to assist students with their learning curve and provide them with curated guidance when applying to their dream school. Believing that education can be the catalyst to transform the world, he wishes to inspire the young generation and make the world a better place. In the last 6 years Mr Sanjog Anand has helped more than 1000 students.)