Indian students add West Asia to foreign-study map

Sanjay Krishna from Thrissur district in Kerala had been scouting for universities in the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and Canada earlier this year for higher studies, like any other aspirant of his age.

- SHINE JACOB

However, the cost of studies, visa concerns, job prospects, and to an extent, safety concerns attracted him to an upcoming destination — Dubai.

Now, Krishna is 10 months into his MBA in supply and operations management at Middlesex University’s global campus in Dubai.

“I was asked to pay ₹18 lakh for the same course in the UK, and now I am paying ₹14 lakh here. Moreover, my friends in the UK are spending over ₹1 lakh per month for stay and other expenses, while I am spending only around ₹70,000, with much better facilities. A large share of students on my campus come from India,” he told Business Standard.

Krishna’s story is not an isolated one. Industry experts indicate there is a 40-fold rise in students showing interest in Dubai since 2023.

Experts indicate that tougher visa scrutiny and jitters over work visas are diverting students slowly towards West Asia, mainly Dubai, as several of the institutes have their global campuses in the region.