The average interest in studying abroad has plummeted this past year. According to a study conducted by IDP Singapore, only 28.5 per cent students feel it is worth going abroad.
In fact, with COVID-19 disrupting cross-border travel and causing classes to go remote, many have been hesitant to pursue an education overseas.
Students are having to deal with travel restrictions and face the possibility of only being able to attend classes remotely, and so they feel that it may not seem all that worth it to spend a hefty sum of money to study abroad when you might spend most of it from your room.
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However, the 28.5% reduction still signals strong interest in international education in spite of highly volatile border situations.
The study by international education services provider IDP Singapore found that there is still sustained interest in studying abroad:
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35% would still love to experience the new culture & overall overseas experience
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Only 16% viewed online learning as a key challenge
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56% are still willing to begin online studies first, with the expectation that they will transition to face-to-face learning later
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79% remain committed and determined to go ahead with their global study goals because of the exposure to international learning
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88% of students were willing to quarantine upon arrival in their destination country rather than defer. Of these, a third were prepared to pay the full costs of quarantine at government facilities themselves
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IDP only found a 8% drop in successful student placements this past year
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Enrolling to study abroad is not an easy process. With the extensive number of programs to choose from along with volatility brought about by the pandemic, it can easily be a struggle to figure out the appropriate country and college to study at.
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However, this does not mean students should pause on taking the next step in their education. To help those interested to take their first step, IDP Singapore will be hosting their International Education Open Day, a 2-day Virtual Fair from 4 – 5 September where those interested can learn more about the programs offered by over 60 universities from destinations such as the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
To shed light on what studying abroad is like during this period, IDP Singapore is also organising seminars where student alumni share about their experiences and insights adapting to the pandemic.
To help facilitate the placement process, they also have destination-specific consultants working closely with partner universities to ensure a smooth transition from one’s home country, be it arranging for the flight and arrival quarantine in places such as the UK, Ireland, and Canada, or ensuring students don’t miss out on the curriculum via remote classes in Australia.