New Zealand emerges as top pick for students amid changing US, Canada immigration norms
A steep drop in interest in US-bound education appears to be translating into gains for New Zealand, as education consultancies in Hyderabad report a 300% spike in student enquiries for the island nation. The surge follows recent changes in
immigration
policies in the US, Canada, and the UK, prompting many students from Hyderabad to look for safer and more stable destinations, according to a report by TOI.
#Pahalgam Terrorist Attack
The groundwork before India mounts a strike at Pakistan
India considers closing airspace to Pakistani carriers amid rising tensions
Cold Start: India's answer to Pakistan's nuclear threats
City-based educational consultants say a growing number of students are now exploring higher education opportunities in New Zealand, including non-traditional courses like food technology, dairy, and agricultural sciences, apart from regular tech programs.
"This shift is primarily due to the changing situation in the US, as well as in Canada and the UK. Students are in no mood to take any risks by heading to these countries and are exploring safer options like New Zealand, Australia, and Germany," said Ajaya Kumar Vemulapati to TOI, who runs an overseas education consultancy in the city. He added that the number of enquiries for New Zealand has risen from four or five per year to nearly 40 in 2025.
Play Video
Pause
Skip Backward
Skip Forward
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
0:00
Loaded
:
0%
0:00
Stream Type
LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
1x
Playback Rate
Chapters
Chapters
Descriptions
descriptions off
, selected
Captions
captions settings
, opens captions settings dialog
captions off
, selected
Audio Track
default
, selected
Picture-in-Picture
Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text
Color
White
Black
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Text Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Transparent
Caption Area Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Transparent
Semi-Transparent
Opaque
Font Size
50%
75%
100%
125%
150%
175%
200%
300%
400%
Text Edge Style
None
Raised
Depressed
Uniform
Drop shadow
Font Family
Proportional Sans-Serif
Monospace Sans-Serif
Proportional Serif
Monospace Serif
Casual
Script
Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values
Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder
War Thunder
Play Now
Undo
Subhakar Alapati, founder-director of Global Tree told TOI, confirming the news, "Many are showing interest in courses such as food technology and dairy science—both at the undergraduate and master's levels."
(Join our
ETNRI WhatsApp channel
for all the latest updates)
Consultants point to several reasons behind New Zealand's rising appeal: streamlined visa processing, a three-year post-study work visa, and a defined pathway to permanent residency.
Live Events
MORE STORIES FOR YOU
✕
«
Back to recommendation stories
I don't want to see these stories because
They are not relevant to me
They disrupt the reading flow
Others
SUBMIT
"I did not want to go to the US because of the changing immigration rules, long visa wait times, and political uncertainties," said Chavva Prasanth to TOI, who plans to pursue a master's degree in food technology from Auckland. Canada too has become less attractive because of the recent cap on
international student
intake, rising cost of living, and new financial requirements for visas. So, he felt New Zealand was the better option, he added.
Paladugu Saketh, another student set to leave for New Zealand in July, told TOI, "There is a shortage of skilled food technologists in New Zealand. Also, these roles are on New Zealand's Green List (formerly the Skill Shortage List), making it easier to obtain permanent residency."
The growing shift in student preferences signals a broader realignment in global education trends, driven by evolving immigration landscapes across major destinations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
15 km toll-free ride: Gurgaon's Kherki Daula toll plaza to move to Pachgaon, bringing huge relief to Delhi-NCR office-goers
The government has approved the relocation of Gurgaon's Kherki Daula toll plaza. It will move to Pachgaon on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. This shift aims to ease traffic and reduce costs for commuters. The NHAI will implement a Multi Lane Free Flow toll system. Delhi-Manesar commuters will be exempt from tolls. The Haryana government has provided land for the new plaza. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads No more toll for Delhi-Manesar commuters Land provided, work to start soon Tech-driven toll collection Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Longstanding demand finally met Impact on Delhi's borders? In big relief for lakhs of office-goers and daily travellers, the government has approved the long-pending move to shift Gurgaon's Kherki Daula toll plaza to Pachgaon, beyond Manesar, on the busy Delhi-Jaipur highway (NH-48). The move will ease traffic congestion and cut costs for those commuting between Delhi and to a report by TOI, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has cleared the plan. To avoid future traffic jams at the new location, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will set up a Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) toll collection system. In this system, vehicles won't need to stop, cameras will read registration numbers and deduct toll from FASTag wallets the toll plaza is moved over 15 km away from Gurgaon, people travelling between Delhi and Manesar won't have to pay any toll at all. Locals have been demanding this change since 2014, arguing that the toll has already recovered more money than what was spent to build the road. In fact, the government told Lok Sabha in March that Rs 2,775 crore had been collected from tolls, which is 11% more than the Rs 2,489 crore spent on the Delhi-Gurgaon told TOI that the Haryana government has given around 28 acres of land to the NHAI for the new toll plaza. It will be set up near the Pachgaon interchange, where the Western Peripheral Expressway meets NH-48. The location was chosen to ensure smooth flow of vehicles and to avoid further tolling for those coming from the Dwarka Expressway side and heading towards MLFF system will bring a big change. Since there will be no physical barrier or stopping point, traffic jams like the ones currently seen at Kherki Daula can be avoided. A source also said that once the annual toll pass for private vehicles is introduced, many current issues will be resolved decision fulfils a promise made several times over the past 7–8 years by both Haryana and central governments. Locals near the Kherki Daula toll plaza have long protested, saying toll operators have made enough profit and that the tolling has caused daily also reports that this move could now increase pressure on the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to remove physical toll booths on the capital's borders. These booths often cause major traffic jams, which defeat the purpose of building high-speed expressways for faster from TOI
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Rs 4.58 crore siphoned off from customer accounts, FDs! How former ICICI Bank relationship manager pulled off a stunning fraud - explained in 10 points
Sakshi Gupta had gained unauthorised access to more than 110 accounts of 41 customers and executed multiple illegal transactions. Rs 4.58 crore siphoned off - over 100 accounts of customers accessed - fixed deposits broken: This is not some movie plot - it's a stunning fraud that a former ICICI Bank relationship manager pulled off! The multi-crore fraud continued for over two years. The accused, Sakshi Gupta, who served at ICICI Bank 's Shriram Nagar branch in Kota's DCM area from 2020 to 2023, was taken into custody by Udhyog Nagar police on May 31, 2025 after a thorough investigation. According to a TOI report, police records indicate that the fraudulent activities were initially discovered on February 18. Following ICICI Bank's internal probe that identified Sakshi Gupta, who previously worked as a relationship manager at the bank's DCM branch in Kota, as the primary suspect in a significant financial fraud affecting customer accounts, the Kota police have begun their enquiry. The authorities are examining potential accomplices and have asked the bank to furnish pertinent documentation. How former ICICI Bank relationship manager committed fraud: 10 Points The investigation revealed that Sakshi Gupta had gained unauthorised access to more than 110 accounts of 41 customers and executed multiple illegal transactions. Investigators found that she had diverted the misappropriated funds into stock market investments, which subsequently resulted in substantial financial losses. In order to hide the deception, Gupta allegedly substituted the registered mobile numbers of various bank accounts with those of her family members. The actual account holders were unable to receive transaction notifications and one-time passwords (OTPs) due to this modification, according to police reports. The investigation revealed multiple fraudulent activities by Gupta, including unauthorised activation of overdraft facilities across 40 accounts. Further findings showed that she had unlawfully terminated fixed deposits belonging to 31 clients, channeling Rs 1.34 crore to different accounts. The probe uncovered her unauthorised usage of debit cards, along with their associated PINs and OTPs, to conduct various online and ATM transactions. Additionally, Gupta was found responsible for processing a fraudulent personal loan amounting to Rs 3.4 lakh. The investigation also established that she had extensively utilised Insta Kiosk machines and digital banking platforms to execute numerous fraudulent transactions. The illicit funds were distributed across several Demat accounts, suggesting an attempt to conceal the money trail. After identifying irregularities, bank manager Tarun Dadhich registered a complaint, which led to a comprehensive audit and subsequent police investigation. "She systematically transferred funds, sometimes using the account of an elderly woman who had no knowledge of the activity as a pool account," said sub-inspector Ibrahim of Udhyog Nagar police station. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "By mid-February 2023, over Rs 3 crore had passed through that single account." Following a one-day police custody, Gupta appeared before the court and was sent to judicial custody. The police continue their enquiries into the matter. A representative from ICICI Bank said, "The interest of our customers are of paramount importance to us. Immediately upon discovering the fraudulent activity, we filed an FIR with the police. We have a zero-tolerance policy against any fraudulent activity and thus suspended the employee involved. We would like to reassure that genuine claims of impacted customers have been settled." Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
UK Timeline for US Deal Is Too Ambitious, Ex-Trade Adviser Says
Prime Minister Keir Starmer would need President Donald Trump to be 'extraordinarily generous' to meet his ambition of finalizing the UK-US tariff deal in two weeks, according to Britain's former top trade negotiator. Crawford Falconer, who led British trade negotiations until late last year, cast doubts on the UK government's efforts to settle remaining issues within a fortnight. While Starmer and Trump announced the so-called Economic Prosperity Deal to great fanfare in early May, numerous details have yet to be finalized. 'My assumption is that they're expecting the US to be extraordinarily generous and understanding toward them,' Falconer told Bloomberg News. 'Because otherwise I think it would take longer than two weeks.' That assessment will come as a blow to Starmer as he tries to seize on the UK's status as the first country to agree to a trade deal with Trump this year. On Tuesday, the White House ramped up the pressure, giving the UK five weeks to resolve outstanding issues or risk a doubling of US tariffs on British steel and aluminum imports to 50%. Trump's tariffs are already weighing on the UK's beleaguered steel industry, with some manufacturers saying American orders have dried up. Starmer dismissed concerns in Parliament on Wednesday, telling lawmakers he expected a resolution within a 'couple of weeks.' 'The deal we agreed is a good deal for UK steel producers,' the government said in a statement on Friday. 'We will continue to work with the US Commerce Department to implement our agreement as soon as possible so all UK steel producers can start to feel the full benefit.' Key to the deal is Trump's promise to remove all tariffs on British steel exports to the US. Although Trump spared the UK the 50% rate imposed on steel from the rest of the world, he reserved the option to apply it if negotiations haven't concluded by July 9. Remaining hurdles include the Chinese ownership of British Steel, the struggling producer the UK government took over in April. There's also a question about whether the US will require British steel to have been melted and poured in the country. Tata Steel UK can no longer fulfill that provision. It closed down its last blast furnace in 2024 and a new electric arc furnace isn't yet up and running, so the company has been importing steel substrate from abroad. In a statement Friday, Tata Steel UK Chief Executive Officer Rajesh Nair said his company would need to import steel substrate until late 2027. 'It is therefore critical for our business that 'melted and poured in the UK' is not a requirement to access the steel quotas in any future trade deal,' Nair said. British Steel is facing a different set of problems. While the UK government took control of its plants earlier this year to prevent them closing, the company is still legally owned by China's Jingye Group. The general terms of the UK-US deal say the UK must meet 'US requirements' on the 'nature of ownership of relevant production facilities.' That is widely understood to mean that Trump would not grant preferential tariff rates to a company with connections to a strategic rival such as China. 'They will want clarity on what that means,' Falconer said. 'It's difficult for me to believe that the US will be confident that it would give the green light to Jingye, if it is uncertain about what the actual commercial arrangements are for British Steel going forward.' Finding a buyer for the loss-making manufacturer in the near-term seems unlikely. Meanwhile, fully nationalizing British Steel could bring its own problems, since the US generally tries to avoid giving state-owned entities preferential access to its market. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
