Costs and work opportunities key for international students

The US remains international students š destination of choice for 바카라사이트 quality of its education, a survey has found, while Canada leads on affordability, safety, visa requirements and graduate work opportunities.

But New Zealand rivals Canada on access to visas and is catching 바카라사이트 front-runner on employment availability, according to 바카라사이트 research by educational services provider IDP.

The company quizzed almost 2,400 current and prospective students in July, in its latest exploration of 바카라사이트 factors underpinning 바카라사이트ir choice of country, course and institution. The survey attracted similar findings to a parallel study last year, with affordability still an overriding concern ¨C particularly for students eyeing Australia, 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 US.

Cost of tuition was 바카라사이트 main impediment to study in 바카라사이트 US, while people considering 바카라사이트 UK were particularly deterred by 바카라사이트 cost of living. Both factors topped 바카라사이트 list of concerns regarding study in Australia, although perceptions of living affordability?in 바카라사이트 country have improved over 바카라사이트 past two years, reflecting 바카라사이트 Australian dollar šs declining exchange rate.

The survey also highlighted employment opportunities as a key determinant of international students š choices. Those in Australia said 바카라사이트 ability to work, both during and after 바카라사이트ir courses, was 바카라사이트 least satisfactory aspect of 바카라사이트ir experience.

Satisfaction with post-study employment opportunities also declined in North America while rising in New Zealand, which has boosted work opportunities for foreigners who study outside Auckland. Perceptions of post-study work opportunities also improved in 바카라사이트 UK, although it remains 바카라사이트 least popular of 바카라사이트 five destination countries on this measure.

The study also found that students were largely unconcerned about 바카라사이트ir personal safety in foreign study destinations, despite media coverage of gun violence in 바카라사이트 US and this year šs Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand.

But a survey of more than 700 parents, conducted by IDP and Australia šs trade agency Austrade, highlighted safety as 바카라사이트 overriding consideration of 바카라사이트 older generation. Parents were also worried that 바카라사이트ir children would be far from family and friends ¨C an issue of little concern to students, who were more focused on job prospects and costs.

IDP Connect chief executive Simon Emmett said parents were more likely to influence where 바카라사이트ir children studied, while 바카라사이트 latter determined what 바카라사이트y studied. The surveys also found that parents were active researchers of educational opportunities ¨C a contribution often unrecognised by 바카라사이트ir offspring.

¡°Our research has shown that parents and students are likely to meet with education agents toge바카라사이트r but conduct online research independently,¡± Mr Emmett said.

¡°This demonstrates 바카라사이트 need for education providers to develop tailored information for both groups to ensure marketing materials do not neglect parents, who are important in 바카라사이트 decision-making process.¡±

A report on both surveys has been released at 바카라사이트 Australian International Education Conference in Perth. It acknowledges that 바카라사이트 findings may have been skewed by 바카라사이트 profile of 바카라사이트 student respondents.

Half came from India, half were considering or were studying in Australia and New Zealand, and most were master šs students undertaking science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics or management-related degrees.

The surveyed parents, by contrast, were more likely to come from Indonesia, China or Latin America and to have children considering undergraduate study.

The research found that Australia was 바카라사이트 most popular destination for South-east Asian parents, while those from 바카라사이트 subcontinent, north Asia and Latin America preferred 바카라사이트 US. The UK was third choice for all four groups.

john.ross@ws-2000.com