HYDERABAD: Uncertain when the coronavirus-enforced health emergency will ease, several students in the twin Telugu states, who wanted to head abroad to pursue higher education, are now looking for local options. Those who are still hopeful to make it, say they may have to delay admissions till early next year.
P Ramya, who completed Intermediate in the city, and planned to head to the US, said, “I don’t think I will be able to go abroad for my undergrad. I had been planning for two years, but this pandemic has changed everything.” The 19-year-old said, unlike those who want to pursue their masters, she cannot drop a year.
“I am looking at a couple of options in the city, including University of Hyderabad and private universities,” she said, adding that she hoped to pursue a course in economics.
Kalaidar Shabber Mohammed, who completed mechanical engineering from SRM University, Chennai, has already received offer letters from universities of Warwick and Newscastle upon Tyne in the UK for masters in international business. “While my first priority is to go abroad, the universities are expecting a payment by June 1. But what guarantee do we have that the pandemic will end before fall?” he said, describing his position as a catch-22 situation. The Anantapur-based student said he has begun putting in two hours a day to attempt CAT later this year.
Abdul Qader, who applied for a course in supply chain management and logistics across UK universities, also expressed doubts about heading abroad this year, but remained hopeful that the situation would improve by next year. “It is an uncertain time for all of us, but I don’t mind waiting because quality of education abroad is far superior,” said the B Com graduate.
Echoing the sentiment in the education sector, consultants in the city said they were getting few enquiries for fall intake. “While we used to get about 5,000 applications by this time every year, this year it has dropped by about 50%. Looking at the situation abroad, we have now closed taking applications for the fall term,” said Ganesh Valmiki, MD, Valmiki Foreign Education Services. He, however, said they were advising students to enrol for online courses to gain credits simultaneously.
Sanjeev Rai, founder, Hyderabad Overseas Consultants, said his group had seen an 80% drop in applicants. “Australia has prohibited foreigners from entering till September 30. US would be open but many would avoid fall intake. Our students are largely taking the wait and watch approach .” Rai highlighted another hurdle for students. saying that with most consulates closed, getting student visas has also hit a roadblock.
P Ramya, who completed Intermediate in the city, and planned to head to the US, said, “I don’t think I will be able to go abroad for my undergrad. I had been planning for two years, but this pandemic has changed everything.” The 19-year-old said, unlike those who want to pursue their masters, she cannot drop a year.
“I am looking at a couple of options in the city, including University of Hyderabad and private universities,” she said, adding that she hoped to pursue a course in economics.
Kalaidar Shabber Mohammed, who completed mechanical engineering from SRM University, Chennai, has already received offer letters from universities of Warwick and Newscastle upon Tyne in the UK for masters in international business. “While my first priority is to go abroad, the universities are expecting a payment by June 1. But what guarantee do we have that the pandemic will end before fall?” he said, describing his position as a catch-22 situation. The Anantapur-based student said he has begun putting in two hours a day to attempt CAT later this year.
Abdul Qader, who applied for a course in supply chain management and logistics across UK universities, also expressed doubts about heading abroad this year, but remained hopeful that the situation would improve by next year. “It is an uncertain time for all of us, but I don’t mind waiting because quality of education abroad is far superior,” said the B Com graduate.
Echoing the sentiment in the education sector, consultants in the city said they were getting few enquiries for fall intake. “While we used to get about 5,000 applications by this time every year, this year it has dropped by about 50%. Looking at the situation abroad, we have now closed taking applications for the fall term,” said Ganesh Valmiki, MD, Valmiki Foreign Education Services. He, however, said they were advising students to enrol for online courses to gain credits simultaneously.
Sanjeev Rai, founder, Hyderabad Overseas Consultants, said his group had seen an 80% drop in applicants. “Australia has prohibited foreigners from entering till September 30. US would be open but many would avoid fall intake. Our students are largely taking the wait and watch approach .” Rai highlighted another hurdle for students. saying that with most consulates closed, getting student visas has also hit a roadblock.
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