There was a time when students zeroed in on the US, Canada and Australia as their chosen destinations to study abroad. However, in recent years, we have come across an increasing number of South Asian students who are choosing European countries for higher education instead of the ones that were previously popular.
Countries like Ireland, Germany and France are attracting students as the universities of global repute there are offering better educational avenues as compared to others. Also, since the cost of living is less in comparison to the US, Australia or Canada, these European countries with their lowered tuition fees have opened better avenues for South Asian students opting to study abroad.
Aspiring for a liberal lifestyle, these South Asian students also consider the fact that European countries are believed to provide an evolved and enhanced lifestyle. Moreover, the amenable policies towards international students enable them to migrate not just to study but to find a livelihood as well in the countries they study. The peaceful environment and acceptability of migrants are important factors that make European countries a haven for students.
FLEXIBLE COURSE OPTIONS AND REDUCED ENTRY BARRIERS
Another reason why more students are opting for Europe is the plethora of options available when it comes to choosing a course of their choice. Students in streams like tech and STEM find the experience quite rewarding as the course curriculum designed by universities is in sync with the needs of the times. At the same time, students are also able to reap the benefits of picking emerging courses like Luxury Brand Management etc, which are non-tech.
They give an edge to the students who are competing in an already saturated job pool since their degree stands out amongst the freshers.
Also, IELTS or other qualifying or proficiency-related exams are not a must-have, thereby increasing the chances of a student getting accepted by a university. With fewer hoops to cross, Europe becomes an achievable target for the average student as well.
Moreover, scholarship programmes like Erasmus help students to get their tuition fees funded. Indian students have consistently bagged this scholarship, thus ranking amongst the top 3 nationalities in this regard. Not to forget, the Schengen visa grants access to many countries within Europe, which is invaluable in today’s landscape. It not only enables them to travel but also explore more opportunities all across Europe.
EUROPE’S STRATEGIES TO MEET SOUTH ASIAN STUDENTS’ ASPIRATIONS
Europe is ready for this changing trend and the interest of South Asian students. Due to the sustained demand for international education, we can only expect this interest to further rise in the future. For this, plans are underway to introduce more targeted hybrid and blended programs that will enable more students to get exposed to European education.
Pathway programmes enabled by university partnerships, short-term certificates and non-degree programmes are also expected to gain popularity as the focus begins to shift towards not just immigration, but learning new skills and improving the overall academic experience.
With so many factors enticing South Asian students, European countries are bound to see an even higher interest from the student community who aspire not just for a better educational experience but also for job opportunities in the country they study.
