COVID-19 Impact - Should students study overseas amid the pandemic?

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In the midst of a pandemic, students are postponing their plans to study abroad. While their fears are justified, the show must carry on – a truth of life that, despite the raging pandemic, has become the current motto of the world. So, should study abroad aspirants also log their fears for another day? 

COVID-19 has derailed the study abroad plans of almost 61% of students, with many students hesitating to study in an abroad university given the health risks involved. 

July and August are usually the most crucial months for students - boarding the plane to take them to their destinations, about to start an exciting new journey. But with a year of many firsts and long lockdowns, students did not take that coveted journey. Instead, they had to sit at home and re-evaluate their plans to study abroad. 

The pandemic put a logical damper on the plans of many students. While there are still people who are looking forward to travelling abroad despite the considerable misgivings, they are mostly students who were in the last stages of the abroad education journey. A sizable number of students are still confused as to whether or not they should resume their plans, which is not surprising given the uncertain times. 

Should students resume study abroad plans? 

Well, this is a question that is plaguing many international students when they are contemplating their move forward. While their misgivings are justified, there are a lot of positive signs indicating that planning higher education abroad is feasible even in the midst of the pandemic. 

The impact of the pandemic has been unprecedented. Nevertheless, the universities abroad swiftly combated the hurdles with innovative models of education. The blended model of education with virtual learning has initiated students into the comparatively unknown ground. The universities, however, are striving to maintain the same level of quality education and are providing students with a worthwhile virtual experience. Many countries, such as Canada and the UK, have tweaked the post-study visa rules and conditions to attract students as well as to accommodate them. They have assured students that they will enjoy the same rights as an international student as before. 

Universities are set to provide students with an innovative study model consisting of hybrid classes as a social-distancing measure. This method of instruction is mandatory to get a student visa in some countries, like the USA. A good outcome of this rule is that student visa applications in many countries have started. Following the public health guidelines, there is a  strict protocol for students to self-isolate for at least 14-days, along with mandatory testing.

However, there are still many universities that are looking forward to a completely online semester. 

While we understand the apprehensions students are facing currently, the abroad education plans should resume, albeit with some alterations. 

Why should students resume their abroad education plans amid/post-COVID-19? 

These have been trying times. The pandemic does not seem to be ebbing any time soon. But for how long should it dictate one’s plans? 

The economies worldwide took a big hit during the lockdown, with every industry taking the brunt of the pandemic. The abroad universities, too, saw a low number of international student applications. A decrease in international student enrollments would adversely affect the university budget, which will slowly snowball into a larger issue of reduced staff, courses being cut, and further cutbacks. Besides, international students bring big money to the local economy, which will also suffer setbacks. The countries and its universities are aware of this impact and, therefore, took steps to retain the number of international students. 

Canada has allowed international students to continue their studies online without any penalty. This is extremely important as the length of the program decides the length of the work permit in Canada. The post-study work permit rules are the same as before for students applying to a Canadian university before the January 2021 semester and till 31st April 2021. Students who applied for short courses can complete their entire course online with no penalty. For longer courses, up to 50% of the course can be completed online. 

The UK as well has taken similar steps to increase the number of international students in the country. The Graduate Immigration Route (GIR) announced recently, allows students to stay in the country for up to 2 years to find work after graduation. Many UK universities are also accommodating international students by offering a hybrid model of education. 

The most popular destination for overseas education - the USA - has suffered the most in the pandemic. Even with the highest number of cases and some aggressive policies, it has managed to retain the position of the top destination for abroad education. CPT and OPT opportunities for STEM graduates have always been among the main appeals of the US universities. The option to continue education online has been offered to the Fall 2020 students. The aggressive policies, like the ban on the H1-B visa, did rattle the international student body, but these policies are temporary. 

Regardless, several steps have been taken by almost every country to help international students pursue their education. It also stands true that to ride out a recession, it is best to enrol in a university. Experts have reiterated that students who enrol in a university right now would sail through the recession without much impact. 

The benefits of enrolling in a university amid the pandemic would tip the scales in every student’s favour. Firstly, in an environment of unemployment, they will spend time acquiring skills to gain an edge in the market and become employable in the coming years. Secondly, by the time the student graduates, every major economy would have bounced back. This should not be chalked up as conjecture at this point as we have already seen some improvement in the USA, where the unemployment rate is adjusted at 7.9 per cent for September 2020 as opposed to 14.7 per cent in April 2020. Even the global economy is showing signs of revival. 

Besides, there also has been a shift in the choice of destination. Students who have revived their plans to study overseas are not limiting themselves to just top destinations overseas even during the pandemic. 

Are students looking beyond the obvious choices for abroad education? 

The USA, Canada, UK, and Australia have dominated the overseas education market for quite a long time and these countries have turned out to be a crucial choice for students willing to study abroad even during the pandemic. There is no doubt that these countries offer better opportunities to students post their graduation, but this pandemic has revealed inconsistencies in the system as well. At the same time, these countries are grappling with the second wave and announcing lockdown measures to contain the spread. 

Analyzing the situation, many study-abroad aspirants are looking beyond the traditional choices for higher education. Countries like New Zealand, Germany, Netherlands, and even Ireland have emerged as the likely destinations for international students. These countries, though were not untouched by the pandemic, have battled the effects rather quickly. The economies have opened after the number of daily reported cases dropped down. 

In any case, students have the option to start their Fall semester online.

Online classes: To choose or not to choose, that is the question!

Education abroad is expensive. It seems even more expensive when you have to take classes online at home without the ‘international experience’. Many have joked about the remote learning model to be the most expensive streaming service. Furthermore, navigating different time zones, missing out on the ‘campus experience’, participating in extracurricular activities, the thrill of starting a new course, and missing out on forming bonds during the orientation period - has put a definite question mark on the remote learning system. Understandably, students would want to either drop their plans or defer the admission. 

Though, many universities in the USA, like the University of California, Stanford University, have decided on remote learning for the academic year 2020-21, even giving the option to defer their admission to the next semester starting in January 2021. Whereas the universities in the UK, like Cambridge and Oxford, have insisted on students showing up for in-person classes after following public health guidelines. Universities in Singapore as well are welcoming international students on campus after putting in strict social-distancing measures. 

But the question remains - Does it make sense to spend lakhs for an international degree minus the international experience? Definitely not. It does depend on the length of the course, though. Pursuing a shorter course online from an abroad university might not seem like a wise decision. It is best to go for a course with a longer duration in a country that offers a longer post-study work permit as well, like Canada. 

Future implications and plans of students in a post-COVID world

Despite the damper of COVID-19 pandemic, 91% of Indian students are looking forward to reigniting their plans to study overseas as soon as travel restrictions are lifted. This is a very promising number. GyanDhan, a study abroad marketplace, in their analysis saw the preferences of the students change, with several different countries coming on top as destinations for abroad education. In the last few months, they have helped several students with education loan sanctions. Undeniably, students are adjusting to the new normal. As is, online classes or remote learning is here to stay. While it is left to be seen how things play out in the year 2021, it is safe to say that it will be better than the catastrophic 2020. With the global economy slowly reviving, investing in an abroad education is a good move forward. 

If you are also aspiring to study overseas and are unsure whether you should opt for it in a time of the pandemic, don’t worry at all! One more thing you shouldn’t worry about is getting an education loan to fund your study abroad. GyanDhan is an education loan marketplace that offers free assistance in getting secured/unsecured abroad education loans from a varied list of public sector banks, private sector banks, and NBFCs. Contact GyanDhan and leave all your education financing related worries aside!