So long, West? Why South Asian students are rethinking where to go for university

For years, South Asian students – particularly from India – treated an overseas undergraduate degree as the default springboard to an international career.

That assumption is now changing.

Students across the region are still drawn to prestigious Western institutions, but tightening visa restrictions, rising costs and uncertain post-graduation job markets in countries like the United States are prompting families to rethink their options. Experts say more are choosing to complete their first degree closer to home.

The shift represents a recalibration rather than a retreat from global ambitions: undergraduate study at home or within Asia, followed by postgraduate study abroad.

Many students are also turning to regional alternatives as international institutions establish branch campuses in India and other countries such as Singapore and Japan gain traction, according to the Cambridge Destination Survey 2025-26, released on Monday.

According to the report, 53 per cent of South Asian respondents now prefer remaining in their home countries for undergraduate studies before pursuing postgraduate degrees abroad.