So long, West? Why South Asian students are rethinking where to go for university
For years, South Asian students – particularly from India – treated an overseas undergraduate degree as the default springboard to an international career. That assumption is now changing. Students across the region are still drawn to prestigious Western institutions, but tightening visa restrictions, rising costs and uncertain post-graduation job markets in countries like the United States are…
South Asian students are reconsidering their choice of universities for undergraduate studies, according to experts and recent data. While many have historically pursued degrees abroad in prestigious Western institutions, tightening visa restrictions, rising tuition costs, and uncertain job prospects in countries like the United States are prompting families to explore alternative options.
A Cambridge Destination Survey 2025-26 found that 53% of South Asian respondents now prefer completing their first degree closer to home, with a strong inclination towards staying within India or other Asian countries. The shift represents a recalibration in students' ambitions, with many opting to pursue postgraduate studies abroad after completing undergraduate education domestically.
Experts attribute this change to factors such as the accelerated growth of regional alternatives, including branch campuses in India and the rise of favorable university options in countries like Singapore, Japan, and Malaysia. The declining interest in US universities from Indian undergraduates – which dropped by 15% in the 2025-26 cycle – underscores the evolving landscape.
However, the overall trend indicates that students are increasingly viewing domestic or regional universities as viable launch pads for international careers, while maintaining a global outlook for postgraduate education.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
