From Visa Dreams to Reality Checks: Is Studying Abroad Still the Desi Dream in 2025?

Key highlights

 

As more than 1.8 million Indian students study abroad in 2025—a staggering increase from only 1.3 million in 2023—the drive to study overseas is still strong, yet the picture is more nuanced than ever. Students and professionals are offering honest feedback on whether it's still worth the expense, uncertainty, and cultural adaptation.

 

Why Students Continue to Pursue Foreign Degrees

 

Few seats and tough competition in Indian institutions such as IITs and IIMs prompt many to go for foreign education, where admission may depend more on comprehensive profiles than brutal entrance tests.

 

International exposure, globally accepted degrees, and career opportunities lure aspirants, especially with long-held desires for immigration or foreign employment.

 

New destinations like Germany, France, Russia, and Ireland are also becoming popular, particularly with lower tuition fees, industry-oriented courses, and English-medium programs.

 

However, the Reality Has Changed

 

Changes in visa policy and more restrictive post-study work regulations in Canada, UK, Australia, and the US have generated uncertainty, with significant reductions in dependents' visas and more stringent admissions quotas.

 

Cost pressures are severe: The depreciation of the rupee against the dollar and euro has made tuition and living expenses soar, with families expected to spend $70 billion on foreign education this year alone.

 

Return on investment is now more important than prestige. Students report that they value countries with defined job tracks and permanent residency opportunities over traditional university rankings.

 

Students Speak

 

Indian students overseas now weigh pragmatic considerations: Is the program industry-relevant? Can I practically stay and work after graduation? Is it affordable in the long term? Many acknowledge that the "value" of the foreign degree is more and more tied to what follows next—not simply the brand name of a foreign university.

 

Conclusion Though the dream of an international education is hardly extinguished—with enrollment at an all-time high—the choice now requires more precise examination of expense, professional return on investment, and changing political environment. Students recommend being tactical, realistic, and level-headed in 2025 prior to making the plunge.

 

Sources: NDTV, Times of India, Y-Axis, The PIE News