Visa squeeze: Students shift focus to Europe

Visa squeeze: Students shift focus to Europe
Hyderabad: Amid tightening visa policies in traditional destinations like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, Indian students are turning to European countries like Germany, France, and Ireland for higher education. Educational consultancies in Hyderabad report a 40% decline in interest in these conventional destinations, citing easier visa processes, affordable education, and lower living costs as key reasons for the shift.
The University Living's Indian Student Mobility Report 2024 states that 10.3 lakh Indian students are currently studying abroad, with 8.5 lakh enrolled in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. These students spent nearly US$34 billion in the 2023-24 academic year.
The remaining students are spread across countries like Germany, Ireland, Singapore, Russia, the Philippines, France and New Zealand.
Educational consultants note that stricter visa policies in traditional destinations are a driving factor.
"Countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia have implemented tighter regulations to control migration and ensure quality education," said Aritra Ghosal, founder & director of OneStep Global.
This shift has opened opportunities for non-traditional destinations, which have adjusted their norms to attract international students. Nearly 1.8 lakh Indian students are enrolled in such countries, with around 23,000 from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh pursuing courses in pharmaceuticals, supply chain management, computer science, arts, and history.

Germany has become a top choice due to its streamlined visa process and 18-month post-graduation job-seeking visa. "Indian students benefit from a simplified visa process and more time to secure employment," said Vandana Mahajan from Futures Abroad, a study abroad consultancy. She further added that most students are going for courses like engineering, computer science and management.
France, popular for non-STEM courses like arts, history, and fashion, has extended its post-study work visa from two to five years for master's degree holders. "It offers a wide range of programmes at much lower fees — between 7 lakh and 10 lakh," said Chirandeep Patnaik from Lemma Consulting.
Ireland is gaining popularity in tech and pharma. "The work opportunities after education also matter. And since most of the countries are struggling with employment, in Ireland, graduates can stay in Ireland for two years on a post-study work visa," said Abha Agrawal, who is planning to study in Ireland.

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