Study Abroad: Why Indian Students Prioritise Job Prospects Over Prestige

Amid ongoing layoffs and shifts in the global job market, Indian students are increasingly prioritising employment opportunities after graduation when opting for foreign universities.

A recent survey revealed that 41 per cent of respondents consider career outcomes after graduation as the leading measure of value for money, ahead of teaching quality (31 per cent) and gaining industry-aligned skills (27 per cent).

Affordability Pressures

The IDP Education report ‘Emerging Futures – Voice of the International Student’ highlighted how affordability and visa certainty are influencing decisions.

A total of 43 per cent of Indian students, who are no longer pursuing overseas education, said that tuition costs were beyond their financial reach, while 32 per cent cited rising living expenses as a key barrier. Additionally, 28 per cent identified visa-related difficulties as a major challenge.

Outcomes Drive Decisions

The research noted that students today place greater emphasis on outcomes, employability, affordability and certainty while making destination choices.

Their choices have become more focused, with the number of students considering only one country rising from 19 per cent to 22 per cent.

IDP Education said this indicates a clear shift towards outcome-driven decision-making, where destinations are assessed not only on academic reputation but also on long-term career value, financial preparedness and confidence in post-study pathways.

Top Preferences

Traditional destinations such as Australia, UK, USA and Canada continue to lead first-choice preferences.

Indian students considering the UK placed greater emphasis on high-quality teaching and academic support (39 per cent), while those considering Australia prioritised industry-aligned skills (29 per cent) and strong career outcomes (42 per cent).

Canada is associated with course-related work opportunities (29 per cent), while the USA stood out for career connections and networks (34 per cent) and career outcomes (46 per cent).

New Zealand recorded strong associations with post-study work rights (34 per cent) and career outcomes after graduation (48 per cent).

Prestige Takes Back Seat

Overall, the findings underline that prestige alone is no longer the decisive factor. For Indian students, employability, affordability and certainty in post-study pathways are now the key drivers shaping international education choices.