The survey covered 8,395 recent and prospective IELTS test takers across 165 countries in March and April 2026.
Hyderabad:Indian students planning to study abroad are looking beyond the length of their course, with 41 per cent of Indian respondents taking IELTS for study saying they expect to stay in their destination country for three to five years, compared with 26 per cent of Chinese respondents, according to the IELTS Voices 2026 report.
The figure shows a growing interest in what happens after graduation, including work experience and longer-term mobility options. The report says the India-China difference offers insight into differing expectations around post-study opportunities and longer-term mobility pathways, though it does not establish these as the direct cause.
For Mayuri Kasula, who is planning to study hotel management in London, the attraction of studying abroad extends beyond simply completing a qualification. Her plans include considering what opportunities the course and the destination could offer after graduation.
“When you are spending that much on an overseas education, you naturally look beyond the course itself. The opportunity to gain experience after studying is an important part of deciding where to go,” she said.
The numbers show how far this longer horizon extends. Among Indian study respondents, 23 per cent expected to stay for one to two years, 10 per cent for five years or more and 13 per cent said they intended to remain permanently. Only one per cent expected to stay for less than a year.
Among Chinese respondents, 36 per cent planned to stay for one to two years, 26 per cent for three to five years, seven per cent for five years or more and 12 per cent permanently.
The difference is also visible in actual migration patterns. UK Home Office data shows that among people who began their UK journey on a study visa in 2020, 58 per cent of Indian nationals still held valid leave five years later, compared with 14 per cent of Chinese nationals. Overall, 26 per cent of the 2020 study cohort had moved into a work route within five years.
For Ajay M., who is preparing to move to the US for his masters education, the calculation is similarly tied to what follows the degree. “The master’s is obviously the primary reason for going, but the decision is also about what you can do with that qualification afterwards. If there is an opportunity to work and gain experience, you would want to consider that rather than treating the course as the end point, not to forget the money you spend on going and living there and how much you get in return,” he said.
The report found that 42 per cent of people taking or planning to take IELTS for study would consider more than one destination. This suggests that students are increasingly keeping several pathways open rather than choosing a country solely on the basis of the course.
Karnakar Vasudev, who heads a consultancy working with students seeking opportunities in the UK and Australia in the city, said the conversation with applicants has increasingly moved beyond admissions. “Students are no longer only asking which university they can get into. They specifically want to know what happens after the course, whether they can work, how long they can stay and what options they have if they want to continue their career there,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
Across all study respondents, 32 per cent planned to stay abroad for three to five years, 29 per cent for one to two years, 12 per cent permanently and nine per cent for five years or more. The survey covered 8,395 recent and prospective IELTS test takers across 165 countries in March and April 2026.
