Indian woman who studied in UK has a warning. ‘No jobs…90% of my batch returned home'

Time of India

13-05-2025

Indian students in the UK face challenges. Janhavi Jain's post warns against studying there. Job opportunities are scarce for international graduates. Immigration rules have become stricter. Many students return to India after graduation. Some find only low-paying jobs. Rising living costs add to the difficulties. UK degrees may still benefit those returning to India.
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The dream of studying abroad is often wrapped in ambition, prestige, and the promise of a better life. But for many Indian students in the UK today, that dream is falling apart. A recent post by Janhavi Jain on X (formerly Twitter) has ignited a fierce debate online, as she shared a sobering warning for prospective students: 'Don't come to the UK.' With job opportunities drying up and immigration rules tightening, her story echoes the growing disillusionment of many young Indians overseas.Janhavi Jain, an India n woman who pursued her master's degree in the UK, has sparked widespread conversation on social media with her blunt message to students considering the same path. In a now-viral tweet, she warned that 90% of her batch had to return to India due to the lack of job opportunities. She emphasised that unless someone has money to spare, studying in the UK might not be a wise investment at the moment.Her post has struck a chord with many current and former international students, especially Indians, who've had similar experiences. The core of her message: the UK job market is increasingly bleak for international graduates, and staying back after finishing one's studies is more difficult than ever.Adding to the concern, Jain highlighted recent immigration policy changes in the UK. The government has extended the residency requirement for settlement—Indefinite Leave to Remain—from five to ten years for most migrants. This shift significantly increases the difficulty for those aspiring to build a long-term life in the country, making the path to stability even more challenging.Responses to Janhavi Jain's post quickly poured in, with many users resonating with her experience. One individual shared how, despite completing a postgraduate degree on scholarship, the only work they could find was door-to-door fundraising and leaflet distribution—something they continued for over a year before returning to India once their visa expired.Another user remarked that job struggles after a UK master's were nothing new and that the country had long catered more to affluent students seeking a good experience than to those seeking long-term employment. However, Jain countered this view, clarifying that it wasn't always so grim—until recently, a significant portion of graduates did secure jobs within six to twelve months of graduating.Some participants in the discussion suggested that job prospects varied by industry, with fields like medicine and finance still offering opportunities. But Jain pushed back on that optimism as well, pointing out that even those in finance were struggling to secure roles.A European student added further context, explaining that rising living costs, tighter job markets, and fierce competition have made the UK a tougher place for young people to build careers. Many of their friends, they said, had either returned home or were just managing to get by—particularly women, who often felt more hesitant about moving back but equally uncertain about staying.Despite the grim accounts, some users shared a more nuanced take. They noted that for students who manage to secure scholarships or substantial financial aid, a UK degree could still hold value—especially when returning to India, where such qualifications may still open doors. They added that with the cost of higher education in India also rising sharply, the UK route might not be as disproportionately expensive as it once seemed.