India-Pakistan tensions make many rethink study-abroad plans

New Delhi: The education-abroad market may see a hit in the short term as many parents and students are reconsidering their foreign study plans due to concerns over safety, travel and even finance amid the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, said experts. They don’t expect the ceasefire that the two countries announced on Saturday to immediately alter the sentiment.

Education consultants have been flooded with queries over the past few days from people considering study-abroad options. With a ceasefire in place, the apprehensions may ease a bit but not disappear until normalcy is restored, they said.

"While the ceasefire brings temporary relief, uncertainty still prevails. Over the past 72 hours, we’ve seen a surge in queries—families are increasingly asking whether to proceed with study-abroad plans or explore alternative options,” said Adarsh Khandelwal, cofounder of Collegify, a college-admissions consultancy.

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Earlier, they said, many parents were reconsidering study-abroad plans for their children due to worries about the potential financial hit as a fallout of the conflict.

A businessman from a tier-2 city, whose daughter was set to go abroad this year, has instead decided to send her to an Indian university because his income was “not guaranteed anymore” and consider a master's degree abroad depending on the situation then. However, with the ceasefire in place, these plans may shift again, he told ET.

Khandelwal advises against making hasty decisions. “Our advice to students and families is not to abandon long-term aspirations because of short-term disruptions. Plan smartly and build financial buffers,” said Khandelwal.

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These people may now wait for more clarity before making a decision, said education consultants.

“Until the conflict is completely resolved there could be short-term dips in study abroad applications, particularly among economically vulnerable families,” said Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits.

Travel disruptions and economic strain could make studying abroad less affordable, he said.

Some parents may also see studying abroad as a way to ensure their children's safety and protection from any future disruptions in India, said experts.

Such conflicts may have an impact on people’s earnings and their capability to pay, according to Kamlesh Vyas, partner, Deloitte India. "We may have situations where parents can no longer afford foreign education (in case things worsen),” he said.

Now with the ceasefire in place, some students who have firmed up plans to study abroad are advancing their travel plans.

Meanwhile, some consultants, like study abroad platform Career Mosaic, do not see any significant impact on the number of Indian students planning to study abroad. “While students are aware of the geopolitical situation, they continue to prioritise their long-term academic and career objectives,” said Career Mosaic founder Abhijit Zaveri.

Students are largely sticking to their plans, he said, adding: “In case tensions rise, we anticipate the impact on India’s study abroad market would be limited and temporary.”

The real impact of this on Indian students wanting to go abroad would only be visible in the coming weeks and months, said experts.