A new global survey by IDP Education reveals that Indian international students are overwhelmingly motivated by career advancement when choosing to study abroad. According to the March 2025 “Emerging Futures Seven – Voice of the International Student” report, 77% of Indian respondents cited career development-including better employability and higher earnings-as their primary reason for pursuing education overseas.
Work Placements and Job Outcomes Take Center Stage
The survey, which gathered insights from more than 6,000 students across 106 countries-including nearly 1,400 from India-shows a clear trend: Indian students are laser-focused on institutions that offer strong career pathways. Seventy percent of Indian students ranked access to work placements as the most important academic factor in selecting a university, while 69% chose job outcomes as the top non-academic consideration-nine percent higher than the global average.
Simon Emmett, Chief Partner Officer at IDP Education, explained, “International students choose their study destination based on factors that help them become job ready, with access to post-study employment visas being the key influence. Students leaving India to embark on their global journeys are no different.”
Financial Concerns Shape Destination Choices
Despite the strong emphasis on career outcomes, the survey also highlights significant financial barriers. The cost of tuition and living expenses remains a major deterrent for many Indian students. Over half of the respondents said their choice of study destination would change based on the availability of scholarships and part-time work opportunities.
Long-Term Plans and Host Country Impact
Nearly half of current Indian students and a similar proportion of prospective or applied students intend to work in their study destination after graduation, reflecting the dual goals of personal advancement and contributing to host country skill needs. Graduate employment rate has now become the most important indicator of institutional quality for Indian students, surpassing traditional metrics like university rankings.
Shifting Preferences Among Destinations
Australia has emerged as the top choice for Indian students, followed by the United States and the United Kingdom, as these countries offer robust post-study work rights and high graduate employment rates, which align with Indian students’ career priorities.
The IDP survey underscores a decisive shift among Indian international students, who now prioritize career development and job readiness above all else when choosing where and what to study abroad. Institutions and countries aiming to attract Indian talent will need to align their offerings with these ambitions to remain competitive in the global education landscape.