Trump Shock Makes Foreign Degrees Less Viable for Students
Harvard University (Image Harvard)
Amid global economic slowdown, and policy turmoil, students rethink overseas education as return on investment appears increasingly uncertain.
By SANJAY SINGH
New Delhi, October 4, 2025 — Global turmoil, economic slowdown and US President Donald Trump’s tariff fiasco have sunk the foreign degree craze among Indian students. A sense of uncertainty prevails amongst students as they now find foreign degrees not viable enough. The students claim that pursuing foreign degrees is no more worth their investment.
Foreign degrees are losing their sheen — their glitter is fading. Over the past year, many Indian students have hit pause on their study-abroad dreams, not due to a lack of ambition, but because of shifting immigration policies, rising education costs, and growing uncertainty around post-study work visas.
From Canada’s permit caps to the UK’s crackdown on dependents, the post-graduation promise is no longer what it used to be. The situation is evident from the data: the number of Indian students going abroad dropped by about 15 percent in 2024 — from 8.93 lakh in 2023 to 7.59 lakh — according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Canada saw the sharpest decline, with a 41 percent drop, largely due to strained political relations in recent years, particularly over the Khalistan movement in Canada. Similarly, the number of Indian students heading to Britain fell by 27 percent, and to the U.S. by over 13 percent.
Increasingly, students are considering closer and more affordable destinations like Germany and the Netherlands, which are seen as offering better value for money, according to recent reports.
Foreign degrees continue to hold value in India and are recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and many employers, offering advantages such as a global perspective, improved communication skills, and stronger résumés. However, their worth depends on factors like the university’s reputation, the degree’s relevance, and specific employer or professional requirements. The University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations 2025 have now introduced a more streamlined process for assessment.
Many Indian students abroad face intense financial pressure, struggling to make ends meet with low-paying part-time jobs that barely cover rent and food in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
A recurring concern is the limited availability of visa-sponsored jobs, leaving students trapped — forced to return home with mounting debt and little to show for their investment. These experiences reflect a growing sentiment: a foreign degree no longer guarantees stability, success, or even survival abroad.
Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn
About The Author
