Indian Students Prioritize Teaching Methodology in Overseas Education Decisions

Indian students planning to study overseas are increasingly looking beyond popular destinations and university rankings, with the quality of teaching and the academic experience emerging as major factors in their decisions. As per the third edition of Oxford International’s Student Global Mobility Index (SGMI), 42% of students consider teaching methodology as the primary reason for pursuing education abroad. The findings point out that the approach adopted by Indian students to overseas education is changing. They are not just looking at where they would like to study but are also considering how they will study. The SGMI study used data collected from 20,341 respondents across India, combining two datasets of 17,925 and 2,416 respondents. The second dataset included extra questions asked in the middle of the survey to collect better insight into the motivation and preferences of the students. Brighter career prospects, practical learning drive aspirations For students who already have an offer to study abroad, career and academic opportunities continue to be strong motivators. The study found that 30% of students are motivated by the prospect of a brighter future, while 28% seek opportunities for advanced practical training. The findings suggest that students are increasingly assessing overseas education in terms of what it can offer beyond a degree, particularly when it comes to practical exposure and future opportunities. 70% prefer postgraduate education Postgraduate programmes have been dominating the minds of Indian students aspiring to pursue their education abroad. According to the SGMI findings, 70% of students are seeking postgraduate studies, with business and management having the highest level of interest. Teaching methodology takes centre stage Teaching methodology has emerged as the strongest academic consideration in the study. The report found that 42% of students selected teaching methodology as the primary reason for pursuing education abroad. This puts the focus on classroom experience, academic delivery and the way students engage with their programmes. What concerns Indian students about studying abroad? While academic quality is becoming more important, moving to another country still comes with practical and personal concerns. The study found that 51% of students have no concerns about studying abroad. Among those who do have apprehensions, the most commonly reported concerns include: Weather Homesickness Experiencing a different culture Accommodation Food and adapting to a new environment These concerns vary across different groups of students. Female students are more likely to report concerns about studying abroad than male students, while younger students tend to have more apprehensions than older students. Among male students, 30% are more likely to be concerned about weather, while 24% cite cultural differences. Among female students, 30% are more likely to be concerned about homesickness. Western India students report more concerns The study also found noticeable regional differences in how students view the challenges of studying overseas. Students from Western India report greater concerns about weather, cultural adaptation and food compared with students from Northern and Southern India. There are also differences in how students make the decision to study abroad. Students from Northern and Southern India are more likely to describe themselves as self-motivated. In Northern India, 45% of students identify themselves as self-motivated, while 42% say family is a key influence on their decision. Age also plays a role. Students aged 18 to 20 are more likely to be influenced by their families, whereas older students are more likely to make the decision independently. Students taking greater control of study-abroad decisions One such change identified by the SGMI report is the increasing involvement of the students themselves in choosing to study overseas. While the proportion of self-motivated students increased from 29% in 2023/24 to 49% in 2025/26, those who cited influence from their families decreased from 59% to 36% over the same period. Family continues to have an important role, but the figures indicate that more Indian students are increasingly taking ownership of their international education plans. Agents and Google remain major sources of information When it comes to discovering institutions, students continue to rely heavily on both education agents and online searches. The study found that 39% of students hear about institutions through Google, while 35% discover them through agents. Google also remains a trusted source for education-related information, with 56% of students saying they trust the platform for such information.