Posted on May 03 2011
France, Germany & Canada: New overseas education destinations for Indians
By , Editor
Updated April 10 2023
Volumes of essays, English tests with formidable acronyms like TOEFL and IELTS and endless sessions with bank managers. It is a grind that swathes of students in India experience every summer to enter foreign educational institutes.
For years, the central characters of this plot have been universities in the US, the UK and Australia. Indian students who pack classrooms around the world - they are second only to the Chinese - did not dare look beyond these destinations for reasons as varied as job prospects to social recognition. Those days seem to be winding to an end.
Indian students are now turning their backs on the usual suspects for some of the very reasons they flocked to them earlier.
A raft of new destinations such as Continental Europe, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand and China are emerging as the new red-hot destinations. The map for overseas studies that was once concentrated on three regions finally resembles a spread.
Indeed, the fall in the number of students to the troika of the US, the UK and Australia has been too sharp to ignore. Nowhere else has the shift been more palpable than in Australia. The number of Indian students who chose the country dropped 77% in 2010 compared to the previous year.
In the UK, only 41,350 Indians went to study in 2010 against 57,000 in 2009. Even the US seems to be losing some of its sheen for Indian students as their numbers fell by 32% in 2009-2010 from a year ago. There are now more Chinese than Indian students in the US.
The biggest beneficiary of this shift has been Canada, where the number of Indian students rose 280% in 2010 compared to 2008. France is absorbing a steady increase of at least 20% Indian students a year. There were 15% more Indian students in Germany in 2009-10 from a year ago.
Though the Singapore government is yet to publish countrywise figures, education consultants say the number of Indian students picking that country has been rising nearly 20% a year since 2009.
"With Australia and the UK tightening visa rules and the slowdown hitting the job market in the US, Canada is emerging as a big overseas destination," says Dhiraj Mathur, executive director and leader, education, at PricewaterhouseCoopers India.
"Singapore, which provides good job opportunities after studies, too has seen an increase in the level of interest," he says.
Changing preferences
In Australia, the slump in the number of Indian students was fomented by the rash of racist attacks on Indians in 2009. That was followed by a clampdown by the government on dubious institutions, especially in vocational training, which was hugely popular with Indian students.
"Majority of students looking for a permanent resident status will be affected by the Australian government's attempt to delink education and migration through its new immigration laws," said Harmeet Pental of recruitment body IDP Education in an earlier interview.
A similar immigration story is playing out in the UK. Tighter rules—particularly the discontinuance of a two-year post-study leave to remain in the UK that non-EU students use for job hunting—is turning away Indian students. Foreign graduates will be allowed to remain in the UK only if they have skilled job offers under the UK Tier 2 work permit category.
"Restrictive visa and immigration policies in Australia and the UK make them less attractive," says Rahul Choudaha, director of development and innovation at World Education Services in New York.
Adds Ravi Lochan Singh, president of the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India: "The only bright spot is that Australia also offers an 18-month provision to work for experience post-education for two years. This will remain an alternative since the UK is clamping down on post-study work options from 2012."
The US has long remained popular in Indian campuses because of the optional practical training and curricular practical training programmes. These are avenues for international students to apply their classroom learning in the workplace.
The tough visa system in the US in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, however, has become a major deterrent for Indian students. Increasing cases of student visa frauds, the Tri-Valley University case still fresh in the minds of students, are likely to drive Indians to new destinations.
Continental shift
Drawing Indian students at the expense of the US and the UK are countries such as France and Germany. Education experts say this is more than an enrollment trend as these countries have made a calculated attempt to woo the Indian students, offering more courses in English.
A highly subsidised higher education system and world-class institutions are complementing the effort.
"German universities also offer a number of scholarships for students with excellent academic track records. About 15-20% of Indian students in Germany receive funding every year," says Apoorv Mahendru, head of operations of the education network South Asia German Academic Exchange Service.
Another magnet for Indian students is subsidised education in Germany. Most higher education institutions charge nil or little tuition fees. A student usually pays no more than e500 a semester. The total expenses, including housing, food and health insurance amount to around Rs 6 lakh a year.
In the US, fees for a graduation course alone are nearly Rs 11 lakh a year. The UK is more expensive, with fees at around Rs 20 lakh a year and another Rs 10 lakh in expenses.
Germany's efforts to woo foreign students are manifested in this data: up to 12% of its total students are foreign compared to 3% in the US, says a recent study by the British Council. Germany has trumped Australia, the UK and China as the country with the most number of foreign students, says the study that compares the overseas higher education systems in 12 countries on critical parameters.
Likewise, the French embassy in India along with CampusFrance has been looking to attract Indian students. More than 200 scholarships are handed out every year in India.
"Studying in France is not only about world-class institutions but also about understanding the European work ethos. Getting a student visa is not a problem and there are lots of scholarships available," says Ashish Kumar who holds a management degree from IESEG in Lille, France, and is now employed as a business development manager with a French company.
More scholarships, too, are in the works from French companies that are increasingly hiring Indians under the Quai d'Orsay Enterprises programme.
"The number of Indian students going to France doubled in the past five years to around 2,000 in 2010," says Philippe Cadene, attaché for scientific and university cooperation at the French embassy in India.
More hotspots
Canada is another destination that is fast emerging as a hotspot of Indian students. The country issued 12,000 study permits in India in 2010 against 3,152 in 2008.
"We see applicants in a wide variety of programmes from PhDs to community colleges and from engineering to hospitality. Business and commerce programmes remain particularly popular," says David Manicom, minister (immigration), High Commission of Canada, New Delhi.
The Canadian Experience Class visa programme and post-study work permits offer flexibility to foreign students. Chances of a canadian permanent resident status are high thanks to two-year programmes at publicly funded colleges.
Canada also introduced a student partners programme last year, which has opened admissions in private colleges for Indian students.
Students also factor costs. Amit Arora, who is to join an MBA course at the Sauder School of Business
at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver in August 2011, preferred Canada to the US. "While a top business school in Canada costs around Rs 22 lakh, fees work out to almost Rs 40 lakh in the US.
Besides, living expenses are higher in the US," he says. Arora also chose Canada for its 'fast-track' MBA course of 16 months and easier student visa norms.
Nearer home, Singapore is turning out to be another choice destination. Nanyang Technological University and National University are popular among Indians. Singapore is also known for world-class institutions and a cosmopolitan lifestyle.
Experts say students target quality education, but they will never ignore costs. Therefore, new countries will emerge as education destinations. In recent years, China New Zealand and Russia too have begun attracting Indian students.
"The continued interest of Indians to study abroad is a complex interplay of variables, including job prospects, cost of education, availability of quality local programmes, social recognition and opportunities of immigration," says Choudaha. "Depending on students' socio-economic background one variable may be more important than others."
01 May 2011
Ishani Duttagupta and Binoy Prabhakar
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Latest Article
Canada Closes HCWP Stream for Caregivers Abroad. Are there any New Pathways to apply?
Canada Closes HCWP Stream for Caregivers Abroad. Are there any New Pathways to apply?
Canada Closes HCWP Stream for Caregivers Abroad. Are there any New Pathways to apply?
The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP) was first launched on March 31, 2025, as a pathway for home care workers to apply for permanent residency in Canada. The HCWP program has two major streams: the Workers in Canada stream and the Applicants Not Working in Canada stream. While the program initially replaced two pilot programs, the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot programs, the “applicants not working in Canada” under HCWP has now officially been closed as of September 29, 2025. Some of the main reasons for the closure of this PR pathway are said to be the excessive number of applications, pending backlogs, and the overall application submissions exceeding the initial planned intake. While this can be disheartening, Caregivers looking to migrate to Canada can apply for PR through alternate pathways such as the Express Entry program, Provincial Nominee program (PNP), or by applying for a work permit via LMIA.
*Want to check your eligibility to Canada? Use the Y-Axis Canada CRS Score Calculator to get instant results for FREE!!
What are the alternate pathways for caregivers abroad?
While the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots (HCWP) officially closed on September 29, 2025, skilled workers seeking to work in home support or home child care can still migrate to Canada through alternative immigration pathways.
Some of the pathways through which skilled care workers abroad can apply for permanent residence in Canada are as follows:
Express Entry
Caregivers in job roles that fall under the NOC code 33102 (Nurse Aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) can apply for PR through the Express Entry program. Express Entry regularly holds category-based draws, and those belonging to NOC code 33102 may qualify for the Healthcare-targeted Express Entry Draws.
Given below is an example of Sharon, who is a nurse aide applying through the Express Entry program:
|
Name |
Sharon |
|
Age |
29 |
|
Occupation |
(NOC 33102) Nurse aide, orderly, patient service associate |
|
Education |
3-year Nursing Diploma from India |
|
Work experience |
3 years (full-time) in a private hospital in India |
|
Language |
IELTS General = CLB 8 (Listening 7.5, Reading 7, Writing 7, Speaking 7) |
|
Canadian experience |
NA |
Here’s how Sharon can apply for Express Entry as a nurse aide:
Step 1: Check NOC eligibility.
NOC 33102 is eligible for category-based Express Entry Draws under the healthcare occupations category. Sharon’s job role, which is that of a Nurse Aide, falls under NOC 33102; this takes her to the next step.
Step 2: Getting the credentials recognized.
Sharon completes the process of having her credentials recognized by a registered Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). Having your credentials verified by an ECA is equivalent to holding a post-secondary diploma in Canada.
Step 3: Language proficiency test
Sharon takes the IELTS General Training test and scores (Listening 7.5, Reading 7, Writing 7, Speaking 7), which equates to a CLB Level 7+, the minimum eligibility for Express Entry.
Step 4: Creating an Express Entry profile
Sharon logs in to the official IRCC Express Entry portal and creates an Express Entry profile. Calculating her scores, which are:
[Age: 110 + Education: 98 + Language: 112 + Work experience: 50 = 470]
Sharon scores an overall CRS score of 470, which is a good score for Healthcare Express Entry Draws.
Step 5: Receiving an ITA (Invitation to Apply)
Sharon receives an ITA for Canada PR if a healthcare category-based Express Entry Draw has a CRS score of around 470.
Step 6: PR application submission
Sharon then uploads all the required documents and completes the application fee payment. The application, once submitted, can take up to 6-12 months to be processed.
Despite the suspension of the HCWP stream, Sharon qualified through the Express Entry program, as her occupation is listed in the eligible NOC (33102). She has a good IELTS score, has had her ECA, and her overall CRS score matched the minimum cut-off CRS score in the draw.
*Want to apply for Express Entry? Let experts at Y-Axis guide you with the process.
Canada PNP
Canadian provinces regularly conduct PNP draws, welcoming caregivers through PNP immigration pathways. The Canada PNP is another great alternative for caregivers, as it provides a direct PR pathway and is comparatively more flexible. Provinces such as Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Manitoba have a huge demand for caregivers, healthcare workers, and home support roles.
The table below has the list of Canadian PNP programs that have a huge demand for caregivers:
|
Program |
Stream |
|
Manitoba |
Skilled Worker Overseas |
|
Ontario |
Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream |
|
New Brunswick |
Critical Worker Pilot / Priority Occupations |
|
Newfoundland and Labrador |
Skilled Worker Stream |
You can follow the steps below to apply through Canada PNP:
Step 1: Check your eligibility (Must be NOC 33102)
Step 2: Get a valid job offer from a registered Canadian employer (the job offer must be relevant to your job role)
Step 3: Submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) to the PNP program of your choice.
Step 4: Upon eligibility, you will receive a provincial nomination certificate
Step 5: Apply for Canada PR through the base PNP or enhanced PNP
*Want to apply for Canada PNP? Let Y-Axis guide you with the steps.
Why was the HCWP Stream closed?
The HCWP (Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot) stream was officially closed on September 29, 2025. While no official reasons were announced, several factors may have contributed to this decision, including exceptionally high application volumes, high demand, and pending backlogs.
Here’s why the HCWP stream was closed in September 2025, just 6 months after it was launched:
- Each of the HCWP streams had a cap of 2,750 applications for 2025, and both streams were filled within a few hours after their launch.
- There was a huge demand from caregivers abroad, registering an exceeding number of applications.
- While the HCWP was a replacement for the previous pilot programs, it came with stricter resources.
- There are numerous pending backlogs, with recent reports suggesting that at least 34,400 caregiver applications are currently pending and yet to be processed, of which only 14% are expected to be processed.
*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance in applying for Canadian immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No. 1 overseas immigration consultancy, for end-to-end assistance!
test blog for seo
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Why increase your IELTS score?
- Preparing for it makes you highly proficient in English.
- Crucial to get admission to a prestigious university abroad.
- IELTS is a very highly rated English language test that is recognized globally by universities & organizations
- A high band score on IELTS betters your career prospects in your home country too.
- Overseas immigration bodies recognize its reputation.
How to use your mobile to increase your IELTS score?
According to the official IELTS Guide for Teachers, test passages for IELTS Academic Reading are picked from books, newspapers, magazines, and journals. They are based mostly on academic topics that interest most people. They are selected for a non-professional audience. It implies that to excel in IELTS Reading, and you need to read widely on subjects of topical interest.
With your mobile phone, you can read most major English-language newspapers worldwide. The advantage is that with a mobile phone, you can access it while commuting, relaxing, or lying down. You need only ten to 15 minutes to read an article, preparing for the IELTS
Reading tests casually.
For instance, you can go through articles in a newspaper that appeal to you. If politics interest you, go through the articles related to it. Likewise, opt for two or three areas related to travel, sports, technology, arts, health, science, and films. Make it a task to read one article every day.
When preparing for IELTS Reading practice, concentrate on how articles are structured. Ask yourself the theme of each paragraph. Notice when the writer makes use of tough words. Search for their meanings online and keep improving your vocabulary on a daily basis.
Practice in the same way for IELTS Listening practice.
Listen to voiceovers on top-rated channels such as CNN, BBC, NBC, etc. Focus on programs that interest you, notice how the shows are organized, and note words you don’t know the meaning of and look for their meanings later. Similarly, podcasts, entertainment programs, and movies also help train your listening skills.
Focus on vocabulary
Concentrate on making vocabulary lists from all the articles you go through. Certain words may fascinate you. For instance, IELTS has a list of the most used words like dissonance, brusque, erudite, lucid, etc. Go through their meanings and try to understand how these words are used in sentences so that you can learn new words surrounding them.
Try to use the dictionary as much as possible. You may forget the meanings of words you may have looked up in the dictionary. Look them in the dictionary again. Try to form sentences with them. If you focus on topics of difference each day, you could learn five to seven words each day. This is the key to improving your vocabulary.
Seek advice from IELTS experts
When you prepare for an important test, like IELTS, you need to go through blog posts. When you are not going through an IELTS preparation book, you may remember the pieces of advice you may have gotten from your teacher or from any other source.
*Just ping a ME to Y-Axis! Our IELTS coaching experts will guide you in the right path.
Keep track of your current IELTS band
Keep track of your existing IELTS level. You need to identify your strengths and flaws to be able to prepare well for the IELTS exam. Do not fall into the trap of focusing on areas you like and are your strengths. As per research, no matter how difficult it is, you need to focus on improving in areas that you are uncomfortable with.
Begin your IELTS preparation by checking out the IELTS Score Calculator. Follow the instructions given in it, which will notify you of your existing level in IELTS Listening and Reading. You can follow a similar process in the IELTS Speaking and IELTS Writing tests so that you improve your capability when you are ready to take the real IELTS test.
Come up with a timetable for IELTS preparation by using the results in the process mentioned above. Allot time by identifying your strengths and drawbacks in different areas. If you excel at speaking but are founding wanting in reading, ensure that in your schedule, you devote more time to reading. Do not fail to follow the timetable. If you can do so, you can prepare for IELTS in just a month’s time by sticking to the schedule.
Y-Axis offers expert guidance on all the components of IELTS coaching, listening, writing, speaking and reading.
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Canada Closes HCWP Stream for Caregivers Abroad. Are there any New Pathways to apply?
