Now Reading: 81% of Indian study-abroad aspirants plan to return home
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81% of Indian study-abroad aspirants plan to return home
A survey by Oxford International found that 81% of Indian students planning overseas study expect to return to India after completing their courses. Another 15% selected applying for a job, without specifying…
The Story in Brief
A survey by Oxford International found that 81% of Indian students planning overseas study expect to return to India after completing their courses. Another 15% selected applying for a job, without specifying the country. The Student Global Mobility Index drew on 17,925 responses to core questions and about 2,400 additional responses.
Nearly nine in 10 respondents were the first in their families to study abroad. Self-driven decisions rose to 49% in 2025-26 from 29% in 2023-24, while family influence fell to 36% from 59%. Postgraduate courses accounted for seven in 10 applications, and 75% named business and management as their field. Google was the leading information source.
The Indian Opinion
The lazy narrative that every overseas student is seeking permanent migration does not fit these stated plans. Nor does the opposite claim that family pressure still drives most decisions, since self-motivation has risen sharply. But intentions are not outcomes, and the survey covers aspirants rather than completed careers. The useful test is how many of the 81% actually return after graduation and find suitable work in India.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 1 sources.
