Students Look For Alternatives Amid New Rules In Top Study Abroad Destinations Like Canada, Australia – News18

Last Updated:January 20, 2025, 11:53 IST

While Canada has capped study permits and Australia has doubled its fee structure with other regulations on stay duration, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (US) have tightened F-1 visa (student visas) processes.

New study abroad regulations in Canada and Australia, the top destinations for Indian students, have filtered down the numbers of those going out just for work visa, leaving out only genuine students looking for higher education opportunities applying for studying abroad and instead prompting the larger section to look at emerging alternatives in Europe and Asia.

While Canada has capped study permits and Australia has doubled its fee structure with other regulations on stay duration, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (US) have tightened F-1 visa (student visas) processes and increased financial thresholds.

The tightening of visa or work rules across these countries are prompting students to look at alternative destinations in European countries like Ireland, Italy, Germany and Netherlands, among others, as well as Asian countries like Japan, Singapore and the UAE, because of fewer hurdles, high visa success rates, quality education and English-language programs, study abroad experts said.

Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO, TeamLease Edtech, said that the changing landscape of study abroad rules for destinations like Australia and Canada will undoubtedly influence the decisions of Indian students seeking higher education overseas.

“With Australia hosting over 130,000 Indian students and Canada accommodating approximately 226,000 Indian students in 2022, these two countries have been traditional favourites due to their quality education, post-study work opportunities, and immigrant-friendly policies. However, any tightening of visa or work permit regulations could encourage students to consider alternative destinations such as the UK, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands or the Oceanic country New Zealand, which are increasingly offering competitive programs and favourable post-study work options,” said Rooj.

The Canadian government last year under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put a cap on international student intake, cutting it down by 35 per cent. The cut is going to increase further by 10 per cent in 2025, the Canadian government had announced last year. The move came amid record-level immigration in the country. There was a crisis for housing and jobs being faced by Indian students who comprise at least 40 per cent of foreign students there.

A Delhi-based parent, who didn’t wish to be named, said that while his son was preparing to go to Canada for his Master’s and has also applied for it, but may also consider Singapore, which he said was a “safer” option.

“We have applied for Canada and had also planned for Australia, but its fee-hike has been too steep and is not fitting into our budget for now. We may also look to apply for Singapore, which is closer and much safer. We have been reviewing our options of late since the scenario has been changing since last year,” said the parent, wishing not to be named fearing it might affect his son’s visa application.

Similarly, Australia raised visa fees and financial requirements for international applicants, which came into effect from July 2024, and will see its major impact in the new cycle of applications this year. The fee increase was more than double the previous fee structure, which the Australian government said was intended to fund education integrity measures and deter fraudulent applications. The Indian government had raised concerns about the financial burden in Indian students.

However, at the same time, said Rooj, India is experiencing a paradigm shift in its higher education ecosystem. With the government’s efforts to internationalise education under the New Education Policy (NEP), foreign universities are now allowed to set up campuses in India.

“Institutions like Deakin University and the University of Wollongong, which recently launched its campuses in Gujarat’s GIFT City are paving the way for Indian students to access global education without leaving the country. This presents a viable alternative for students seeking a cost-effective, globally accredited education while staying closer to home,” he said.

Last August, UK’s University of Southampton was the first to have submitted a proposal, which was approved by the University Grants Commision (UGC) to set up a branch campus in Gurugram. In 2023, the UGC had released regulations for Setting up and Operation of Campuses in Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India.

“Additionally, India’s focus on integrating employability into education through initiatives like work-integrated degree programs ensures that students are not only academically equipped but also job-ready upon graduation. This evolving landscape offers Indian students greater flexibility to explore domestic and international opportunities, empowering them to make decisions that align with their career aspirations while maximising the return on investment in education,” said Rooj

The future of global education lies in the balance between mobility and accessibility, and India’s strides in becoming a global education hub may soon redefine the choices available to its students, he added.

Study abroad experts pointed out that in the current scenario those planning to pursue higher education programmes abroad must prepare early and schedule for standardised tests (IELTs, TOEFL, GRE etc) to avoid last-minute challenges.

Also, students are encouraged to monitor policy shifts, consider them temporary, and align their academic and career goals with evolving labour market demands in their destination countries.

According to Pratibha Jain, a study-abroad expert and founder of Eduabroad consultancy, tightening of visa rules has significantly cut down the number of those who are just looking for a post-study work visa in these countries and are looking to get enrolled in vocational colleges, diploma or certificate programmes. Any student from India applying abroad for higher studies always considers applying to Canada as well, even though their priority destination is US, UK or Australia. For those planning to get a work visa and settle down, Canada was the top destination, which is now set to change.

“The change in rules will not affect the top few who are planning to get admission to quality institutions. However, since Australia has become costlier, genuine students are now looking at low-cost options in universities in parts of Germany, Ireland or New Zealand,” she said.