Non-traditional options in Asia and Europe are gaining momentum on the typical study abroad destinations of the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Indian students are looking for more flexible and economical study options as a result of restrictive visa policies and growing educational expenses in the “Big Four” nations. Industry insiders claim that students are increasingly choosing nations like the UAE, Japan, and Germany because they provide more affordable education, flexible immigration laws, and more defined job paths.
Indian students are shifting their priorities from legacy biases to return on investment, accessibility, and opportunity, which is driving the demand change from the “Big Four” to the “Big 14”. The attraction of prestigious Big Four universities is eroding, in part because of their tuition and employment prospects.
“While the US, UK, Canada, and Australia remain aspirational, restrictive visa policies, rising costs, and uncertainty are making students look East and deeper into Europe,” according to a source. “For today’s students, it’s less about where the degree comes from, and more about what it empowers them to do next.”
With a spike in interest in France, Austria, Ireland, and Spain, European nations like Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are drawing the greatest attention from students worldwide. Along with South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, other countries that are attracting more students attention are Malaysia, Japan, China, and South Korea.
Each of the “Big Four” nations is coping with a unique set of issues. Indian students’ feelings are being tempered in the US by unclear policies and the impasse between the Trump administration and universities like Harvard. India’s study abroad websites are reporting a 30% decrease in applications, particularly in light of news that the US government intends to discontinue the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.
With 73% of institutions reporting a fall in undergraduate enrollments during the January-March 2025 period, Canada is experiencing the highest decline. The difficult visa regulations and the vagueness surrounding the post-study work visa program are to blame for this reduction.
For Indian students, non-traditional locations like Germany, Japan, and the UAE provide a number of advantages. These nations provide more flexible immigration laws, reasonably priced education, and more defined professional paths. They also provide chances for both professional and personal development, cultural diversity, and a high standard of living.
For instance, Germany provides free education, and several of its universities offer English-language courses. The UAE is a center for business and finance, whereas Japan is renowned for its technological prowess and inventive culture.
One trend in the education business is the move in demand from conventional study abroad locations to unconventional ones. Countries like Germany, Japan, and the UAE are becoming more and more popular as Indian students place a higher value on opportunity, accessibility, and return on investment. The “Big Four” nations are still appealing, but in order to stay competitive, they must change with the times and provide more flexible and reasonably priced options.
