Falling rupee, rising costs, job insecurity dampen study-abroad sentiment

Mass layoffs by tech biggies add to concern, but demand from non-metros robust

Ashish Gadani (name changed on request), 22, was supposed to be in the US in September for the Fall semester for an MSc in computer science. But a delay in visa meant that he would now have to fly in January 2023 for the Spring intake.

"I am now having second thoughts about studying abroad, given how costs have gone up on multiple fronts,” says the Mumbai-based engineering student who wishes to keep his university in the US unnamed. “My education loan, which would have been Rs 1.5 crore until earlier this year, now stands at nearly Rs 2 crore