Kerala students prefer higher education in Europe over the US

A combination of flexible visa policies, lower tuition fees, affordable living costs, and a streamlined admissions process is prompting students from Kerala to favour European universities over those in the United States and even Canada.

Besides, post-study work permits and diverse cultural experiences have made multiple foreign destinations, once viewed only as tourist spots, appealing choices for international students.

“It has become increasingly difficult for Indians to secure jobs or get permanent residency in the US. Thousands are still waiting for over 20 years for permanent residency. We are allowed to stay there for three years after the studies, but getting the visa extended is a lottery,” said Dion Saji from Manasseri in Kozhikode, who is preparing to leave for higher studies in the Netherlands.

Akshay Menon from Ernakulam feels that limited career opportunities due to the administration favouring citizens over foreigners are the main reasons for most students choosing not to go to the US. “I have friends in the US who got rejected in several job interviews just because of their nationality. Despite the claim of inclusiveness, getting a job in the US is tricky for us”, added Mr. Menon, who too has opted to complete his post-graduation in Germany.

Most universities in Germany offer free education. Many of the European countries offer post-study visas for 18 months to two years that enable the students to stay back and seek employment.

“Unlike in the US, where opportunities to earn while you learn are limited and time-bound, Europe offers better work-life balance,” Mr. Saji said.

Although the diplomatic friction between India and Canada appears to be settled, the State Bank of India, India’s biggest public sector bank, is yet to lift the suspension of several leading Canadian universities from its Global Ed-Vantage education loan programme, which enabled students to access collateral-free loans of up to ₹50 lakh at leading universities across the globe.

Anju P., a student from Kozhikode, had France as the first option for her post-graduation dreams in the travel and tourism sector. “Most European countries offer a cultural experience as well. With a single student visa, we can travel across 26 nations. We get to experience various cultures along with our academics”, she said.

Remya M.G., a high school teacher and parent of a student seeking higher education in the UK, said, “I know some students who went to Canada and have been struggling to get a job for years.”

While Germany and the UK are hot favourites among the students, countries like Latvia, Malta, Lithuania, and Poland are also much sought after. “We are processing at least 200 applications for education loans in every district of the State at present from students seeking higher education in the UK”, said a consultant for a leading nationalised bank in the country.

While studying in European countries poses a language challenge for most, the students seem willing to face this challenge head-on. There are a number of institutions in Kerala that offer training in foreign languages to equip the interested students for a flourishing career in European countries.

“There was a time when everyone blindly chose Canada or the US. Those days are long gone; students now choose their study destinations wisely,” said Mohammed Shuhaib, who heads an educational consultancy in Kozhikode.