More Indian students abroad eye careers back home amid changing visa policies

For years, studying abroad was widely associated with the idea of settling permanently in another country. But a new survey by the CFA Institute suggests that the aspirations of Indian students may be changing. While nearly 70% of Indian graduates surveyed said they are considering overseas education, around 66% also indicated that they plan to return to India to build their careers.

Education experts say the findings reflect a growing shift in how Indian students perceive global education and career mobility. Rather than viewing international education solely as a route to migration, many students now see it as a way to gain exposure, skills, and global experience before exploring opportunities back home.

According to Student Circus, an international graduate employability platform, this trend has become increasingly visible over the past year. The platform observed a significant increase in searches for India-based jobs among Indian students studying abroad.

Tripti Maheshwari and Dhruv Krishnaraj, Co-Founders and Directors of Student Circus, said students are becoming more strategic and realistic about career planning in a rapidly changing global environment. “Studying abroad and living abroad are fundamentally two different things,” they noted. “The ecosystem that once made staying back the obvious default has fundamentally shifted.” According to them, multiple factors are influencing student decisions, including tighter visa policies in several countries, rising post-study visa expenses, higher living costs in global cities, and increasing financial pressures linked to education loans and currency depreciation.

However, they emphasised that financial pressures alone do not explain the shift. “Many students who once viewed returning to India as a last resort are now actively reconsidering, and not reluctantly,” they said.

“India is increasingly being seen as a destination where students can build meaningful careers, particularly with the growth of startups, entrepreneurship, and globally connected industries.”

The survey findings also highlight how student priorities are evolving. Experts say employability, networking opportunities, and exposure to international work cultures have become key drivers behind overseas education decisions.

“Academic quality is almost assumed now,. “What students are really investing in is access to global job markets, professional networks, and experiences that broaden their worldview.”

Students exploring overseas education also echoed similar sentiments. Roshini Abigail, a graduate and study abroad aspirant from Chennai, said career integration and long-term opportunities are important factors while selecting a destination country.

“When I’m thinking of studying abroad, I always think about how I can choose a course that integrates easily into the existing mechanisms of that specific country,” she said. “That aligns me with their governmental jobs or jobs that are integral to their society and migration is easy.”

Another important aspect, experts said, is the growing importance of critical thinking and adaptability in an AI-driven economy. Universities that encourage students to analyse, question, and solve problems independently are increasingly valued by students preparing for rapidly changing job markets.

Experts also point out that Indian employers are benefiting from graduates returning with international exposure. Students who have studied abroad often develop stronger communication skills, greater independence, cross-cultural awareness, and the ability to adapt quickly to unfamiliar environments. “Every skill built through an international education journey translates into a real advantage,” the Student Circus co-founders said. “What stands out most is critical thinking — something that remains deeply valuable even in the age of AI.”

The experiences of students themselves reflect this evolving mindset. Ekta Wadhwa, an alumna of Nottingham Trent University, said returning to India after studying in the UK was initially a difficult decision because she had imagined building her future overseas.

“But the opportunity I had in India was more aligned with the career I wanted long-term,” she said. “What felt like a trade-off at the time, I chose to see as an investment.”

Looking back, Wadhwa said she no longer sees returning home as a compromise. “I’m gaining relevant experience, growing in my field, and building a stronger foundation for future opportunities,” she added.

Education analysts believe the survey reflects a broader evolution in student aspirations, where global education is no longer viewed through a single lens of migration. Instead, students are increasingly balancing international exposure with emerging opportunities in India’s expanding economy and professional landscape.