The perception gap between studying at home and abroad:
While the virus still ravages Europe and exacts its toll on North America, all of the great global study destinations appear to be in lockdown. Campus activities in the UK, Germany, the US, Canada, and Australia have been swiftly suspended.
This week we took a look at students studying abroad compared to their more domestic counterparts:
This study is meant to be an ongoing observation of how the virus outbreak influences student perceptions: last week we covered the different concerns of students that will start studying within the next six months against later applicants.
Are you studying at home or abroad?
70% say they are studying in their home country while only 30% are studying abroad.
Are students abroad any different from their domestic counterparts?
When it comes to perceptions these two groups are highly divided. Students studying abroad are way more determined in their response to the virus, and way more pessimistic: 76% are more likely than not to be affected by the virus outbreak, against 64% of students studying in their home countries.
Furthermore, respondents who are studying abroad are more likely to have already adjusted their plans for the emergency. More specifically, a larger share – 41% against 32% of students studying in their home countries – changed their study plans due to the virus outbreak.
Most are considering enrolling in online courses or degrees, while other options are not so popular. Students studying in their home countries, on the other hand, are also considering postponing their studies, or simply not going abroad at all, sending a worrying sign to international student mobility.
It is important to point out those respondents who modified their study plans are still a minority of the whole group. Student perceptions are changing as the virus spreads, and a more detailed analysis will duly follow on Study portals.