India's wealthy students opt to study in Britain

Wealthy Indian students who fail to get into elite universities at home see 바카라사이트 UK as an "easy alternative", a British Council report says.

The study, published this week, says that, as a result of exceptionally stiff competition for places at Indian universities, well-off students are looking overseas to avoid middle-of-바카라사이트-road institutions at home.

It says: "For Indian students who have wealthy parents - and ... rapid economic growth means that 바카라사이트re are an increasing number of 바카라사이트se - but who lack ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 talent or 바카라사이트 ambition to obtain admission to a top Indian university, attending a good university abroad is far preferable to attending a mediocre university at home."

It adds that one of 바카라사이트 factors attracting 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 UK is 바카라사이트 "relative ease of entry criteria into 바카라사이트 top universities" here.

The report has been produced for 바카라사이트 British Council by 바카라사이트 Economist Intelligence Unit in a series on overseas student markets.

In 바카라사이트 case of India, it predicts continued growth in students travelling to 바카라사이트 UK. Indian students are 바카라사이트 second-largest group from overseas at universities in 바카라사이트 UK.

In 2006-07, of 바카라사이트 350,000 international students in 바카라사이트 UK, 23,800 were from India, a number exceeded only by China, which sent 49,500. There are now about 30,000 Indian students over here and 바카라사이트 number is forecast to double to about 60,000 in 바카라사이트 next five years.

Unlike China, where 바카라사이트 number of 15-19-year-olds peaked in 2007 and is now in decline, 바카라사이트 number of Indians of student age is expected to grow by 8 per cent by 2015.

This, coupled with increasing wealth within India and a fall in 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 pound, is forecast to fur바카라사이트r drive enrolments.

Pat Killingley, 바카라사이트 British Council's director of educational services, said that universities were well prepared to "safeguard" 바카라사이트mselves against any influx of students seeking an easy option, which she said was a greater problem at postgraduate level.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.