Kochi: Indian students to benefit from Brexit, says expert

Kochi: The exit of UK from the European Union will facilitate customised and cost-effective education for international students,  including those from India and Kerala.

“It will be beneficial to Indian students,” says Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan, overseas education and career expert and Director of Entrepreneurship, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU).

“Of the 5 lakh Indian students studying in developed countries, more than 48 percent pursue education in EU and UK. Previously,  UK was the market leader in overseas education due to its cutting edge technology, new generation courses, flexible curriculum and quality education. When UK curtailed post-study work visa from April 2011, EU countries started allowing post- study work visa up to three years to attract more students. So there is such a competition in that market which has now helped students to meet the cost of education incurred in EU.  UK is now providing post- study work visa only for 1000 students involved in entrepreneurship,” said Dr Sethumadhavan.

He said that the decline in the value of pound, euro and dollar will reduce the cost of education and fee structure in the above countries. “Indian students will get more bargaining power while choosing courses. The number of scholarships offered by UK and 27 EU countries will further increase for undergraduate and graduate programmes,” he said.

More than 167 UK and EU universities are offering twinning programmes with Indian universities in courses like biological research, technology, hospitality, tourism, finance, management and art and design courses,  Dr Sethumadhavan added.