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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Indian students look beyond the 'Big 4' for study-abroad dreams
Live Events The study abroad map for Indian students is rapidly changing, triggered by new visa rules, reduced post-study job opportunities, stringent protectionist measures, a real estate crisis in Canada and now the tussle between Harvard and the Trump students are preferring Germany, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Japan, Dubai and South Korea over the 'Big 4' study destinations of the US, UK, Canada and Australia, according to half a dozen consultants ET spoke with. If the top four countries were attracting as much as 85% of the outbound Indian students until two years ago, now every second student is looking for options elsewhere, they and parents are increasingly considering the political and policy environments while choosing the study-abroad locations, consultants said. While tuition and living costs have always been key factors in decision-making, the risk of getting deported is a big concern now for many. Nevertheless, the appeal of studying abroad has not diminished.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)"Even though the Big 4s dominate, Indian students are realigning their plans by exploring alternatives that offer affordable tuition fees, clear post-study pathways and geopolitical stability," said MSM Group founder Sanjay student intakes in Canada decreased by 41% in 2024, while the numbers fell 28% in the UK and 13% in the US compared with 2023. Meanwhile, enrollments of Indian students in Germany increased to 34,702 in 2024 from 20,684 in 2022; in France, the number rose to 8,536 last year from 6,406 two years earlier, said the past three years, Germany's bbw Hochschule - University of Applied Sciences has seen a 18-20% year-on-year increase in applications from India, primarily for the master's programmes, said Anup Sam Ninan, programme director, International Technology Transfer Management, at the university. These applications are not just from big cities in India, but also from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, he policies are a major factor when students consider their study-abroad destinations, said Nikhil Jain, founder, ForeignAdmits. "More than 70% were going to the Big 4 and now it's reduced to less than 50%, with Canada and Australia almost being whitewashed," said Jain."The US and Canadian numbers have declined over the last 12-18 months. Students are actively looking at emerging destinations like Dubai which are offering similar programmes at similar price points with clearer post study pathways," Leverage Edu founder Akshay Chaturvedi the traditionally popular destinations may have lost some of the sheen, Saurabh Arora, founder of University Living, said the global student map isn't shrinking. "It's expanding, and India is right at the centre of that story," he on the trend, Sachin Jain, country manager, ETS India & South Asia said, "While the traditional destinations remain popular, there is a desire in students to expand beyond the 'Big 4' to 'Big 10'."According to Aditya Shanker Raghuwanshi, founder, Masterclass Space, emerging nations or non-big 4s had 24 out of 100 Indian students in 2023. "Now in 2025, the trend is that these nations (non-big 4s) account for 71 out of 100 Indian students heading abroad for studies," he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Popular tourist hub to fine airline passengers who stand up before plane stops
Airline passengers to Turkey will be fined if they stand up before the seatbelt sign turns off after landing, as per a BBC report. The Turkish civil aviation authority said it imposed the order after receiving complaints from passengers. The rules came into effect in Apirl. Turkish media said fines are around US$70 (£50), although no amount is mentioned in the authority's guidance. The authority warned that there was a "serious increase" in such incidents, with many complaints about passengers grabbing overhead baggage before their plane had been parked. The country attracts tens of millions of tourists annually. The aviation authority has mandated that commercial airlines make an in-flight announcement and report passengers who fail to comply with the rules. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New 3BHK Flats In An Phu Tay:(Take A Look At Prices) Apartments | Search Ads Search Now Undo Passengers must be instructed to keep their seatbelts fastened and avoid standing up or opening overhead compartments until the seatbelt sign is turned off. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Those who disregard these instructions are required to be reported to the authority. Turkish Airlines, the national carrier, has revised its landing announcement, as reported by Euronews. Live Events The airline informs passengers upon landing that 'those who do not follow the rules will be reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation through a Disruptive Passenger Report, and may face administrative fines in accordance with relevant legal regulations,' according to the news outlet.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Delays across categories: Wait for US visa now extends to over a year
Live Events It's not just students—US visa seekers across categories, including business and leisure travellers, are facing mounting hurdles as appointment wait times cross a year in some regions, rescheduling gets tougher, and interviews become more detailed and visa appointment availability for some western regions is now stretching to nearly a year and a half or the end of 2026, travel companies and agents familiar with the matter told ET. For North, East and South, this could take around one per new updates on visa changes, from May, if applicants do not appear for their scheduled appointment for the US visa, they will be blocked from booking a new appointment for 120 days, which applies to both interview and interview-waiver appointments. Applicants can reschedule the appointment only once now, effective January 1, 2025, as opposed to twice previously, agents familiar with the matter said.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)While appointment delays have been there after the Covid-19 pandemic, timelines are now breaching the one-year mark, said Kapil Jain, cofounder and chief executive of Fly Divine Travels. 'Before January, it was taking about 8-9 months to one year for an appointment. You could get it in less than a year. But now that one year timeline is also getting breached. Rejection rates also seem to have gone up, and we know of applicants who got rejected for business and leisure visas despite solid documentation,' he with serious work commitments are flying to Singapore and Thailand for appointments as they are unable to secure appointments on time in India, said Himanshu Patil, director of Kesari Tours and president of the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India. 'We are not hearing of such delays in countries like China where appointments are available in a matter of weeks. Since there is no intervention by the government, we are also helpless. One of my friends flew to Singapore for the visa appointment and thereafter, took a flight for the US from Singapore after getting his visa,' said Patil.'New visas are a challenge. Those days have gone when people used to book a US trip with us before the visa and used to fly in a month's time. We are hearing the US government is cracking down on unscrupulous agents, but we are still hearing of cases where people are paying extra to middlemen to secure appointments,' he Nahta, founder and CEO of visa platform Atlys, said there has been a noticeable uptick in how carefully US visa applications are being reviewed in 2025. 'Many travellers have shared that US visa interviews feel more detailed this year, with officers asking sharper questions about travel plans, timelines and intent,' he a post on X in March this year, the US Embassy in India said the consular team in India was cancelling about 2,000 visa appointments made by bots. In another update in May, it stated that the Department of State was taking steps to impose visa restrictions on owners, executives and senior officials of travel agencies based and operating in India for knowingly facilitating illegal immigration to the US. The names of the agencies could not be ascertained. Queries sent to CGI that provides visa processing support to US embassies and consulates did not elicit a response till the time of going to press on seems to be a greater scrutiny for US visa appointments, said Kartik Batra, founder of travel services provider Travexo. 'Appointment timelines continue being stretched with appointments available one year down the line. As a result, people who have to travel urgently fall prey to unethical practices. A new visa case for business or leisure travel could take one year or more,' he added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
UAE sees surge in foreign-owned real estate firms
More foreign-owned real estate agencies are entering the UAE market as the sector continues to grow in both investment activity and property transactions. With Dubai setting monthly records and other emirates like Ras Al Khaimah attracting first-time investors, the country's property sector is seeing sustained interest from brokers and consultancies, according to a report by Gulf News. The UAE now allows 100% foreign ownership of real estate brokerages, investment consultancies, and development firms. This has become the standard structure for new entrants, according to Jim Swallow, Commercial Director at Sovereign PPG. 'Full foreign ownership in the real estate brokerage, investment consultancy and development is the standard set up now,' he said to Gulf News. 'Most of the demand for a new real estate brokerage business set up is to be 100% foreign-owned.' This shift began in mid-2021, following changes to the UAE's Commercial Companies Law, which removed the previous requirement for a 51% local partner in many mainland sectors, including property services. Since then, new license registrations for real estate firms have increased steadily. While some firms still retain local partnerships—either due to joint ventures or location-specific ownership rules—many have transitioned to full foreign ownership. 'Many firms have since opted for share transfer to 100% foreign ownership if the local partner was a silent partner,' Swallow added. 'Where the local partner was an investor and active in the business, some have opted to be bought out.' (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Although Dubai's property price growth is expected to slow in certain areas, interest in setting up brokerages remains strong. New firms are also eyeing opportunities in Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi, where real estate activity is expanding. Ras Al Khaimah, in particular, is drawing more first-time European investors, prompting overseas consultancies to establish operations there. Live Events You Might Also Like: UAE introduces 5 new categories for Golden Visa eligibility 'There are still foreign family offices and investment firms setting up UAE operations and possibly wanting to take up positions in local real estate,' said a Dubai-based broker to Gulf News. According to the report, in April, Dubai real estate posted its best-ever month for transactions, according to brokers. The Dubai Land Department currently lists over 25,800 licensed real estate brokers, and the number is continuing to rise. This has encouraged fresh graduates to explore careers in real estate, even as agencies like Fitch predict a potential slowdown in price growth in the near term. Becoming a licensed broker in Dubai requires individuals to register with the Dubai Real Estate Institute, complete a training program, and pass an exam administered by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency ( RERA ). A license is issued upon successful completion of the process. As more players enter the market and foreign firms seek to tap into regional demand, the UAE's real estate sector continues to present opportunities despite changing dynamics. You Might Also Like: VFS Global launches world's largest visa centre in Dubai's Wafi
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
For Indian students, dreams of America are suddenly in doubt
Live Events In India, the country that sends more students to the United States than any other, young people who had hoped to pursue higher education in America this fall described feeling in a state of limbo after the Trump administration's decision to pause interviews with foreign nationals applying for student are scrubbing their feeds, deleting comments and unfollowing accounts after the State Department said that it would screen social media use. Others are exchanging news and information in newly formed encrypted group chats. And some have sought divine aid in "visa temples" -- so called because Hindu devotees say prayers there provide a greater chance of getting a tourist, study or work counselors have become therapists, and the extended family networks that many Indians have in America -- uncles and aunts who will often help finance the education of a niece or nephew -- have set up war rooms online. Other students are revisiting their backup plans or rethinking their academic paths."I have carefully built my profile to be able to get into the top policy programs in the U.S.," said Kaushik Sharma, 28. He called it his "dream" to study in America but added that the current environment was making him nervous about applying. "I don't want to go there and be in a constant state of fear," he said. He is now considering similar public policy programs at universities in Britain and Singapore, he added.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)Karan Gupta, a career counselor who coaches around 150 students a year and works with around six per day, said he had been inundated by calls in the past few days."There are students with admission letters who don't know if they will get visa appointments, and those in the U.S. worried about their visa status," Gupta said. Then, he added, there are those planning to apply to U.S. universities next year calling to ask if "it's a safe and stable choice."Gupta said he tried to reassure clients that, statistically, it was unlikely that most students' plans would be upended.A third of the foreign students in U.S. schools, or around 330,000, are from India. The number has grown, surpassing China in the 2023-24 school trouble began May 22, when the Trump administration said it would ban Harvard University from enrolling international students. Five days later, the State Department said it would pause interviews with foreign nationals applying for student visas as it expands scrutiny of their social media a judge has blocked the administration's step against Harvard, and the State Department has said that student interviews scheduled before its order would proceed, the recent events have left students, their parents and their career counselors confused and many, the Harvard ban on foreign students showed that the Trump administration could bring even one of America's most prestigious universities to its was the view of one student who had won admission to an Ivy League law school -- if Harvard could be attacked this way, no institution was safe. The student, who did not want to be named for fear of being singled out by U.S. officials, said he had been making small changes to his social media accounts, adding that it was not a fight he wanted, or thought he could Shukla, co-founder of IVYDreams, an admissions consulting service, said he expected the dust to settle soon, but he noted that the tenor of questions asked by visa officers at the American Embassy in New Delhi had questions were typically about why a student wanted to attend a U.S. school. But some clients recently told him that they were asked questions that could appear political, such as, "Are you aware of what's happening in the U.S.?"Those interviews can be nerve-wracking at the best of times. In India, some temples have gained a reputation for providing spiritual succor particularly for those going through the one such "visa temple" in Delhi, a devotee left a note in February expressing gratitude that his prayers had led to a student visa , which had eventually led to a permanent work visa in Britain."People who are not getting visas come here," said Narayan Mishra, the temple priest. "They are fed up and frustrated." Students stop by to offer their prayers regularly, Mishra United States is a magnet for international students because of the high quality of education, innovation and opportunities, but Indians are especially drawn there, career counselors universities have produced leaders including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, both of whom grew up in India and attended U.S. graduate programs. Gita Gopinath, the second in command at the International Monetary Fund; and Abhijit Banerjee, a Nobel-winning economist and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, were also initially educated in swelling number of Indian students going to the United States also has to do with growing wealth in India and the desire for a degree from a "brand name" school, Gupta said. No other country offers as many options as the United States, so many students and their parents consider it worth spending about $40,000 to $100,000 a year on R., 32, said he wanted to pursue a graduate program at a top U.S. school, justifying the steep cost with the "returns their brand value might bring in later," including networks and job opportunities. But, he said, the clampdowns on free speech and the unpredictability have given him others, such as Sameeksha Desikan, who secured her visa to start law school at New York University this fall, things seem to be working out. Still, Desikan, 25, has a backup has not turned down a similar law school offer from a top-tier British university: "I have kept it on standby, just in case things get crazier."
