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Quality, peer reviews matter most in overseas study, says QS survey

The quality of overseas education continues to be the driving force for students from top source countries to seek an international education. According to QS Quacquarelli Symonds’ latest global student survey, employability and developing global connections are also among the top reasons students study abroad.

Students from India and China particularly were more likely to seek out peer reviews

The motivators for students in developing countries, however, are distinct from those for students in developed countries, the report shows, identifying “push” and “pull” factors for each group.

And there is a growing trend in the decision making process for students to seek peer reviews and insider advice.

The report, What matters to international students, looked at survey responses from 1,800 students and conducted interviews with around 300 students from 60 focus groups held around the world.

“Students often felt their home universities did not offer the specialisation they were interested in, or lacked sufficient expertise in the field”

The overall consensus among students surveyed was that studying abroad will improve their employment prospects.

Regional breakdowns, however, show that students in Latin America, India, China and South East Asia, are much more influenced by ‘push factors’  like being able to access quality education overseas.

“One of the most prominent ‘push factors’ was a belief that the quality of the educational offering would be better in universities abroad,” Dasha Karzunina, international research liaison at QS Intelligence Unit, told The PIE News.

“More specifically, students often felt their home universities did not offer the specialisation they were interested in, or lacked sufficient expertise in the field.”

Meanwhile, students in the US and Western Europe were drawn to ‘pull factors’, or the additional benefits gained when studying abroad.

In Europe, improved employment prospects was the biggest benefit for studying at an internationally recognised university for almost 60% of the students surveyed.

And students from the US rated making international connections as the best takeaway.

“This actually fits well with an existing assumption that Americans are particularly interested in networking,” commented Laura Bridgestock, editor at TopUniversities.com, part of QS Digital Solutions.

“It was also not surprising to see them placing more emphasis on ‘added value’ factors, since they certainly don’t need to look abroad to find famous and prestigious universities.”

The report also identifies an increasing demand for peer feedback in all regions; but students from India and China particularly were more likely to seek out peer reviews, or to speak with current students to gain insider information about the institution.

One Indian applicant was quoted in the report as saying: “I contacted one current student who gave me a negative opinion about that university. So I will think twice before applying.”

Bridgestock said this rising trend is partly due to the fact that students are facing more choice than ever before.

“They’re also increasingly conscious of being marketed to – they want an ‘insider’ perspective to cut through to the truth”

“They’re also increasingly conscious of being marketed to – they want an ‘insider’ perspective to cut through to the truth and confirm the validity of the claims being made,” she said.

“This kind of feedback may be particularly important for those who feel furthest away from the study destinations, cultures and institutions they’re considering; they perhaps have more at stake, so want more reassurance.”

The report says universities should be prepared for students requesting these sources, “understand how powerful peer reviews can be, and where possible, facilitate direct communication between prospective, current and former students,” it advises.

The survey also found that reputation markers, like rankings, continue to hold influence, both at the subject level and institution level, especially for students looking to pursue a master’s degree.

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