- The WorldGrad’s survey also reveals that 65 per cent of the respondents are planning to go overseas within the next 12 months
The WorldGrad has conducted a survey to understand the preferences of students for studying abroad in the coming year (23-24). According to the survey, 65 per cent of undergraduate and 55 per cent of postgraduate students are looking to go overseas within the next 12 months.
The survey also reveals that 65 per cent of the respondents are planning to go overseas within the next 12 months, while the remaining 35 er cent are planning to go beyond the 12-month timeframe. Apart from this 55 per cent of postgraduate students are looking to go overseas within the next 12 months.
The survey reiterates that the employment opportunities and cost are the key factors for students when choosing a destination to study abroad. This is consistent with the previous year’s survey conducted by The WorldGrad, on study abroad preference by the students.
Australia emerged as the top destination for undergraduate students with 37 per cent of respondents choosing it as their preferred study destination, followed by Canada (23 per cent), US (20 per cent) and UK (13 per cent). For postgraduate students, the US was the most popular choice with 33 per cent choosing it as their preferred destination, followed by the UK (25 per cent), Australia (21 per cent) and Canada (19 per cent). These results are consistent with the previous year’s survey, which also found that Australia and the US were the top choices for undergraduate and postgraduate students, respectively.
Employment opportunities remain the key criteria for choosing a destination for both undergraduate and postgraduate students with 38 per cent and 47 per cent of respondents respectively citing it as their top priority. Cost is the second most important criteria for both groups with around 22-23 per cent of respondents citing it as a factor. These results are also consistent with the previous year’s survey.
Education loans have become a key source of financing for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, with 36 per cent and 40 per cent respectively citing it as their primary source. Scholarships remain an important source for around 24 per cent of both undergraduate and postgraduate students. These results are consistent with the previous year’s survey.
To save on overseas study costs, 80 per cent of undergraduate and 82 per cent of postgraduate students are willing to start a part of their degree online in order to save costs. This is also seen as a time-saving tool, as 85-90 per cent of those planning to go abroad within the next 12 months are willing to consider such programmes. These results show a significant increase from the previous year’s survey, which found that only 65 per cent of undergraduate and 70 per cent of postgraduate students were willing to start a part of their degree online.
While foreign campuses opening in India are gaining popularity, the survey found that 80 per cent of students still prefer to study abroad.
