Indian Gen Zs Lose Interest in Studying Abroad Amid Rising Costs

The appeal of studying abroad is waning for Indian Gen Zs, with a significant decline in interest over the past year. According to a study, 48% of respondents interested in overseas education reported reduced interest.

The United States has seen the sharpest drop in appeal, making it difficult for international students to choose this destination. Among those still interested but concerned about studying abroad, cost is the main barrier, cited by 40%, followed by visa and immigration policies (32%), and being away from family (31%).

For those whose interest has already declined, rising costs were the primary reason (37%), followed by visa and immigration issues (26%), and safety and political uncertainty abroad (24%). In response to these concerns, India-based international education is emerging as an attractive alternative. A significant majority of pre-college respondents (87%) and transitioning students (92%) said they would be likely or extremely likely to study programmes offered by internationally ranked universities in India.

The report also highlights changes in young Indians' approach to skills and careers. The preference for on-campus education is still strong, but programs combining India-based study with partial exposure to foreign universities or semester exchanges are gaining popularity. This pathway has increased from 27% among pre-college respondents to 39% among transitioning students.