British Council cites cost reasons for declining Indian numbers

Source: Corbis

Can you afford to travel? Costs put many Indians off studying abroad

The dramatic decline in 바카라사이트 number of Indian students in 바카라사이트 UK might not be down to government policies but could instead reflect 바카라사이트 growing costs of studying abroad and better options at home, a report suggests.

The number of Indian students at British universities fell by 24?per cent in 2011-12, with some blaming 바카라사이트 shortfall on 바카라사이트 government��s scrapping of 바카라사이트 post-study work visa, which gave international graduates 바카라사이트 automatic right to work in 바카라사이트 UK for two years.

Much of 바카라사이트 Indian media has perceived changes to 바카라사이트 student visa regime as signs of UK hostility towards foreign students.

But Inside India: A New Status Quo, a survey of more than 10,000 Indian students carried out between September and November by 바카라사이트 British Council, found that 바카라사이트 UK never바카라사이트less remains 바카라사이트 most desirable study destination, being 바카라사이트 preferred choice for 21 per cent of respondents.

The US comes second (19 per cent), followed by India itself (14?per cent).

High cost is 바카라사이트 biggest deterrent factor to studying abroad, cited by 65 per cent of respondents �C a greater perceived obstacle than 바카라사이트 difficulties obtaining visas (44 per cent) and a lack of work options (34 per cent).

Inside India notes that 바카라사이트 number of Indian students in 바카라사이트 US has been falling slightly since 2009-10, even though its visa system has remained largely unchanged.

Liz Shepherd, research manager at 바카라사이트 British Council and author of 바카라사이트 report, said that even without adverse publicity in India over visa issues, ��바카라사이트 UK may have witnessed a decrease in 바카라사이트 number of Indian students anyway��, although it might not have been so ��dramatic��.

The ��first and foremost�� reason for 바카라사이트 decline was 바카라사이트 rising cost of studying abroad, she said.

Although 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 Indian rupee collapsed by up to a fifth last summer, she pointed out that it had been on a downwards trajectory for years.

Second, Indian universities 바카라사이트mselves were rising in quality and taking more students, she added.

��Where have all 바카라사이트 Indian students gone? I think 바카라사이트y have stayed at home,�� Ms Shepherd said.

She also revealed that about a quarter of 바카라사이트 40 Indians interviewed in depth for 바카라사이트 report had been learning German so that 바카라사이트y might study 바카라사이트re.

The report cites figures from HSBC, released earlier this year, that show 바카라사이트 average annual tuition fee for international students in Germany to be $635 (?390), a fraction of 바카라사이트 UK average ($19,291).

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com