It is not just about getting admission anymore,it is about whether family can even manage cost after rupee keeps falling .
Pragati Priya,a 29-year-old from Jharkhand,is one such student stuck in this pressure . She has chosen master's program in Rome,Italy,but now rising education cost is giving her sleepless nights. And that is not small thing ah,because student loan is not some small monthly headache,it follows for years .
Her worry is mainly because Indian rupee has depreciated sharply against foreign currencies. So same tuition fee suddenly feels heavier,same living expense becomes more painful,and same dream starts looking risky.
And tbh,this is where many middle-class families are now pausing. Earlier foreign degree was seen like big investment for future,but now with uncertain job prospects in West and stricter visa regulations,people are asking very practical question: will this actually pay back?
Few things standing out clearly here:
- 20% drop in enrolments — Reports indicate significant decrease in student enrolments to UK and US.
- 35% to 47% rupee depreciation — Rupee has lost considerable value against major currencies since 2019.
- Shift to alternative destinations — Countries like Germany and Italy are becoming increasingly attractive for lower costs and favorable job prospects.
According to recent statistics,more than 1.2 million Indian students were enrolled in foreign universities in 2025,and India has even surpassed China as leading source of international students. That number is massive,but behind it are families refinancing loans,selling savings,and students calculating every euro and dollar.
Sushil Sukhwani,founder of Edwise International,also points out that rupee depreciation has made overseas education more expensive than ever . And for students who already paid part of tuition,problem becomes worse because next payment may need extra funding or loan changes rn.
At same time,job story after graduation is also not simple. Some students do get better opportunities,but many are struggling to land skilled jobs in their own fields and end up entering gig economy to manage expenses . For upper-middle-class families also,this is making decision harder than before.
Demand for foreign education is still there,but forecasts indicate slight decline in enrolments to US,UK,Canada,and Australia through 2030 as students look at cheaper and more promising options. And maybe that is biggest confusion now… dream is still alive,but price of that dream keeps changing.
