Global Culture and Developing Language Skills Top Motivating Factors for Indian Students to Pursue Higher Education

Chennai, 21 December 2023: With the ambitions of students seeking education abroad witnessing an uptick, Oxford International’s latest study has revealed that better career opportunities, global culture and developing language skills as the top motivational factors for Indian students to pursue higher education abroad. The study discovered that 50% of Indian students cited better career opportunities as the number one motivational factor to study abroad, while 42% of Indian students cited cultural experience and 41% of Indian students cited development of language skills as the top motivational factors to study abroad.

In addition to this, the study also revealed that 50% of Indian students stated ‘Cost of Living’ and 35% of Indian students stated ‘High tuition fees’ as the biggest barriers for pursuing higher education overseas. The findings were published as part of the inaugural edition of the Oxford International’s Student Global Mobility Index (SGMI), which aims to provide a comprehensive insight into the preferences and challenges faced by undergraduate students seeking higher education opportunities abroad.

Conducted collaboratively by Oxford International and THE Knowledge Partnership, renowned specialists in global student research, the SGMI study encompasses a diverse sample size of 500-plus current and prospective students. Participants were carefully chosen from key markets such as India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Nigeria, providing a comprehensive understanding of the motivations and obstacles that shape the global student mobility landscape.

Commenting on the study and its findings, Mohit Gambir, Managing Director, Oxford International Education Services said, “We are delighted to launch the inaugural edition of our insightful study, the Oxford International’s Student Global Mobility Index. With years of experience in the overseas education services field, we have consistently worked with the global student community to open the borders and make quality education affordable and accessible. The findings from our study this year is interesting and provides a fresh perspective about the evolving needs, preferences and challenges of the Indian students that will play a significant role in reshaping the education landscape. We are certain that SGMI will play an instrumental role in offering valuable insights that will shape the future of international higher education”

Other key findings from the study:

● 42% of Indian students believe that studying a specific subject would enhance their job prospects upon graduation, whereas this percentage is higher in other countries such as Pakistan (49%), Nigeria (54%), and Vietnam (46%).

● About 35% of the Indian students feel they will have the opportunity for a better paid career as a result of studying abroad while this is higher in other countries like Vietnam (60%), Pakistan (45%), and Nigeria (38%).

● 38% of the students from India and Pakistan would like to pursue higher education abroad to obtain a global perspective and this is significantly higher in Nigeria (54%) and Vietnam (50%).

● Postgraduate students in India (52%) exhibit a greater inclination towards cultivating a diverse set of skills and knowledge driven by personal interest and this trend is higher in students from Vietnam (59%) and Nigeria (74%) lower in students from Pakistan (47%).

● Among Indian students, 14% perceive it as more challenging to enrol in a foreign program than in their home country. This sentiment is more pronounced in other nations, such as Vietnam (31%), Pakistan (27%), and Nigeria (25%).

● Interestingly only 30% of Indian students consider Immigration and visa process a concern for pursuing higher education abroad. In contrast, this apprehension is more prevalent in countries like Nigeria (53%), Vietnam (49%), and Pakistan (41%).

● 16% of students from India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Vietnam share the concern that their academic qualifications may not be acknowledged by foreign universities.