Study Abroad: What Indian Students Want?

Search Parameters

How does the ‘search’ start?

• By program / course – 50.4% 
• By location – 19.7%
• By the name of the institution – 29.9%

Salient features:

• 78.4 % students were sure about which country they wanted to study in and 53.9% students were sure of which city they wanted to study.
• 38% students felt that reading about institutions in their own language was important while 30% students did not think that this was an important aspect and it did not impact their decision in choosing an institution.
• 60% students felt that student reviews by students from their own country were important and extremely helpful.
• 50% students felt that videos about institutions, especially videos that focused on university facilities, campus-life and alumni interviews were helpful and informative.

Study Options

• 50.6% students were willing to study in American universities who offered their courses to students at satellite campuses in other countries.
• 45% of those students who were not willing to study in satellite campuses said they might reconsider their decision if there was a significant reduction in fees.
• Online degrees do not find much favour with students and nearly 64% students feel that an online degree is inferior to regular campus-based full-time degree.

Family Matters

• Nearly 48% students opine that their parents and family members play a major role in influencing decisions on which college and course to choose. 
• This once again establishes the fact that in Asian countries and especially in India parents still hold the upper hand in the choice that their children make – ‘Family is all important!’ 
• Only about 15% of the students said that their parents / guardians did not influence their choices.

Applying to one University or many!

• A major portion of the survey respondents - 41% students said that they applied to one or two universities.
• 22% students applied to four institutions.
• 36% students applied to more than four institutions.
• Students felt that an email reply from an institution within 4 weeks of their application was a fair response-time.
• Nearly 50% students began actual research on short-listing their institution just six months before their course start-date.
• About 15% students started their research work a full two years before their course start-date.
• Nearly 45% students felt comfortable in researching and finding a suitable course online and about 50% students felt comfortable applying to a course online. 

The Way Ahead