Impact of Covid-19 lockdowns globally on study abroad plans of Indian students
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We are in the midst of an unprecedented time. All major global countries are severely impacted by the ongoing health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a temporary suspension of exams, schools, universities, global travel, and many normal day-to-day activities. All of this leaves current study abroad aspirants very concerned about their future.
At Shiksha Study Abroad, we have recently conducted a survey to understand the impact of the current situation on Indian study abroad aspirants. The survey shared with our registered students via email, ran from 14th - 16th April 2020 and was filled by 850+ students.
For anyone not familiar with our website, Shiksha Study Abroad (studyabroad.shiksha.com) is the largest college research website for Indian study abroad aspirants. Between 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020, our study abroad website received 16 million online visits and 192k active registered students. This translates to 1 in every 2 Indian students who go abroad from India is registered with us.
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Distribution of Survey Respondents
This survey was directed towards recently active students as we wanted to judge the moods and preferences of students who are planning to go for 2020 intake and those in the early stages of their 2021 intake journey.
- 72% of respondents planned to go in 2020
- 27% of respondents planned to go in 2021 or later
Of those survey respondents who wanted to go in 2020:
- 50% are at an advanced stage of their applications i.e. they have received their offer letter or already paid for the deposit or received their I-20
- Another 25% are currently applying and 25% are yet to start their applications
In terms of the destination country of interest, we have a good distribution of all major countries.
Key Findings
We asked the students about their most important concerns at this stage. For the students who are looking for 2020 intake, the most pressing concerns are:
- Impact on jobs and salaries: 46% are extremely concerned about this dimension. This seems to suggest that students are already thinking about long term potential impacts on their future jobs and salaries. Universities must present facts to students to address these concerns.
- Other dimensions where students are extremely concerned are personal health, international travel and any future impact on stay back period. The quality of online education also seems to be a cause of worry.
The same questions were also asked to students who are planning for 2021 intake or onwards. Relative to those interested in 2020, the next year intake students were:
- Even more worried about personal health, arranging finances, accommodation, impact on jobs & salaries.
- And slightly less worried about application process difficulties, international travel, quality of online education, impact on stay back period.
After knowing which areas the students were most concerned about, we wanted to know if the current situation has impacted their study abroad plans in any way. From those who want to go abroad this year:
- Very few students (11%) are strongly considering canceling their plans and 41% are strongly confirming they plan to go and have not changed their plan.
- 50% are considering the possibility of deferring their plan to future intake and 76% of students are likely to see how the situation evolves.
This seems to suggest that if the situation turns around, universities still have a good chance of rescuing their intake. A very similar pattern emerged in the case of aspirants for 2021 or later.
(Note for this question: We deliberately did not force the students to pick only one of these options because the underlying situation is changing quite dynamically and forced preference taken on a particular day may not hold true in future weeks as the situation changes. We believe students at this stage have multiple options open in front of them and these results also reflect the same)
Given the recent experience with Australian universities, where a majority of them are not deciding to offer online classes for intake starting in July, we wanted to understand how will students react if a similar situation played out in other countries? This question was only asked for students interested in 2020 intake.
A majority of students (61%) have suggested they will defer to future intake while 26% have indicated their willingness to enroll in online classes.
While the above represents a general picture, we also looked at this data from the destination country of interest of the survey respondent.
Takeaways
- Canada and the USA are two countries where there seems to be a maximum willingness to enroll online. However, these are countries that also have a maximum time difference with India. So when classes are conducted during daytime in these countries, it will be night in India and this can become an impediment in their uptake.
- A much higher percentage of respondents who are interested in Australia are likely to defer to the next intake (78%). This could be due to the availability of some courses in Oct-Nov intake or due to the requirement of high upfront deposit amounts.
For students who are interested in 2021 or future intakes, we wanted to know if the current situation is likely to have an impact on them changing their study destination. Since every country has its own dynamics, it made more sense to look at this data from the destination country of interest of the survey respondent.
- It seems that students who are interested in Australia are most likely to change their country preference (69% are likely), while those interested in the UK are least likely to change their country preference (only 25% are likely).
We will be planning more surveys in the future. If you have a suggestion for future surveys or are interested to see another slice & dice of the current survey, please write to me at simrandeep.singh@shiksha.com
Check out our coverage of how COVID-19 is affecting universities, international students and study abroad aspirants
Q: Is Torrens University good for international students?
Torrens University Australia is one of the fastest growing universities in Australia. It offers a culturally vibrant and comfortable environment for international students. Each year thousands of international students from all over the world come to study at various courses of the university. currently, there are 3932 total students at Torrens University out of which 986 are international students.
Q: Is New Zealand good for Indian students?
With a good educational system, excellent quality of life, and a number of research opportunities, New Zealand offers a lot to international students. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand has a 39 percent population of overseas citizens, making it a culturally diverse city. Moreover, the post-study work visa in New Zealand can offer up to three years of stay back. As per Stats New Zealand, its unemployment rate is 3.4 percent. Students enrolled in a course of 12 months or more can also work part-time in New Zealand for up to 20 hours a week during the semester and holidays.
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?
The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses:
The Undergraduate Application Process:
Step 1: You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.
Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.
Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
The Postgraduate application process:
Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
Step 5: If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
Q: Is it hard to get into Newcastle University Australia?
The University of Newcastle is amog the universities that does not publish official data on the acceptance rate. However, as per some unofficial sources, the University of Newcastle Australia acceptance rate is 80%. This makes Newcastle University Australia moderately selective in admissions. Please note that the data on acceptance rate given above is taken from an unofficial source, therefore, it is subject to vary.
Q: Does the University of Essex require IELTS?
International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test | Score |
|---|---|
IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section |
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test | Score |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 72 to 114 |
PTE | Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section |
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities
Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.
Q: Is it worth studying at Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia?
Melbourne Institute of Technology Australia (MITA) is largely regarded as one of Australia's top institutions. It has a solid reputation in engineering, business, and science.
To begin with, Melbourne Institute of Technology Australia provides a world-class education with an emphasis on hands-on learning. You will be able to gain practical knowledge and abilities in a range of disciplines. Furthermore, the institution provides a wide range of courses and programmes that will provide you with the skills and knowledge required for a successful profession.
Second, the university is well-known on a global scale. It has the highest graduate employability rate in Australia. This is due to the great level of education and possibilities provided by the university to its students.
Third, the university boasts a broad and vibrant culture. While learning, you will be able to pursue your hobbies and meet like-minded people. This will aid in the development of your professional chances and the formation of strong relationships that will continue long after you graduate.
Fourth, the institution provides a wide range of facilities and services to make your studies more pleasurable and productive. You will be able to locate
Simran is responsible for the Shiksha Study Abroad website and its counselling services. You can reach him on simrandeep.singh@shiksha.com
Syed Nazrul Hassan, an MA graduate in International Relations, is an adroit counselor who believes in the philosophy of putting himself in student's shoes in order to provide honest and sincere counseling services. ... Read Full Bio
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