Research Reveals COVID-19 Did Not Impact Students’ Plans To Study Overseas

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By Lilian Scott , Parent Herald Jul 28, 10:16 pm

Photo: (Photo : OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

About 60 percent of students who had plans to study overseas before the pandemic are still determined to go abroad and attend an international university despite the COVID-19, research has revealed.

According to the report, three in five high school students surveyed in 100 countries said that COVID-19 did not change their minds about leaving to pursue their academic dreams. However, the students acknowledged that there could be many delays, changes, challenges, and worries that could disrupt their goals because of the global health crisis.

One of these challenges pertains to being unable to enjoy the college experience to the fullest because some classes could be shifted to online learning. On top of their financial needs, the students also said that they now factor in other considerations like environmental impact, health and safety, and even social injustice if they decide to pursue higher education in another country.

The Benefits of Studying Abroad

For 76 percent of the study's respondents, the choice to pursue international education has been driven by the thrill of a new experience or of learning about other cultures. For others, to study overseas is to get access to better schools or programs that will bring bigger opportunities.

More than half of international college students in the U.S. had to deal with the restrictions and the lockdowns when the pandemic hit. According to the experts, some of these students are now starting to plan for applications to study overseas in multiple countries so they won't be "caught off guard if a certain country's border regulations change."

Anjali Chennapragada flew from the U.S. to Denmark in July to attend a three-week program to understand the health care system of the Scandinavians. The Rider University student is majoring in health care policy and needed to gain academic credit by getting hands-on experience abroad as part of the Engaged Learning Program.

She said that her brief stint to study overseas has been "extremely eye-opening" because she saw first-hand Denmark's proactive health care system. While the pandemic delayed her plans, it didn't prevent her from fulfilling her dreams to visit this part of Europe.

Chennapragada said that she was nervous about leaving because of the rampant COVID-19 cases in the U.S. However, the student said that Denmark has been able to control the virus transmission that Chennapragada was also able to visit various health clinics, cultural and tourist sites. She was also able to attend the Copenhagen Jazz Festival.

Renewed Commitment to International Studies

Meanwhile, as restrictions are easing off because of the vaccination rollouts, the U.S. Departments of Education and State issued a statement to uphold its commitment to international studies. The agency said it would "participate in a coordinated national approach" to ensure that scholars, students, and researchers who will come to U.S. universities and classrooms could gain a good experience.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that they would also work with the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security and partner agencies involved in higher education to provide an environment of learning similar to pre-pandemic levels.