Chennai, 21 December 2023: With the ambitions of students seeking education abroad witnessing an uptick, Oxford International’s latest study has revealed that better career opportunities, global culture and developing language skills as the top motivational factors for Indian students to pursue higher education abroad. The study discovered that 50% of Indian students cited better career opportunities as the number one motivational factor to study abroad, while 42% of Indian students cited cultural experience and 41% of Indian students cited development of language skills as the top motivational factors to study abroad.
In addition to this, the study also revealed that 50% of Indian students stated ‘Cost of Living’ and 35% of Indian students stated ‘High tuition fees’ as the biggest barriers for pursuing higher education overseas. The findings were published as part of the inaugural edition of the Oxford International’s Student Global Mobility Index (SGMI), which aims to provide a comprehensive insight into the preferences and challenges faced by undergraduate students seeking higher education opportunities abroad.
Conducted collaboratively by Oxford Internationaland THEKnowledge Partnership, renowned specialists in global student research, the SGMI study encompasses a diverse sample size of 500-plus current and prospective students. Participants were carefully chosen from key markets such as India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Nigeria, providing a comprehensive understanding of the motivations and obstacles that shape the global student mobility landscape.
Commenting on the study and its findings, Mohit Gambir, Managing Director, Oxford International Education Services said, “We are delighted to launch the inaugural edition of our insightful study, the Oxford International’s Student Global Mobility Index. With years of experience in the overseas education services field, we have consistently worked with the global student community to open the borders and make quality education affordable and accessible. The findings from our study this year is interesting and provides a fresh perspective about the evolving needs, preferences and challenges of the Indian students that will play a significant role in reshaping the education landscape. We are certain that SGMI will play an instrumental role in offering valuable insights that will shape the future of international higher education.” 