The UK has overtaken the US as the destination of choice for Turkish students, according to a survey carried out by IEFT Fairs.
Surveyors compiled the research from 25,000 online pre-registration forms and 500 face-to-face interviews with students and parents at IEFT’s 32nd Education Fairs of Turkey in October 2017.
“Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, South Korea, and China have seen an upward trend at IEFT Fairs”
Parents and students differ on their preferred study destination, with parents tending to see Canada as the top destination (22%), students choosing the UK as top destination (24%).
The report stated that the UK, not the US, was at the top of the students list for the first time. It attributed this to a visa crisis between the USA and Turkey, currency changes in US dollars, and international marketing budget cuts in the US institutions.
“Quality living standards, a great multicultural environment, and employment opportunities in Canada are factors attracting families [parents] recently,” it continued.
The rising currency price is enticing Turkish students toward Canada and much more affordable European countries.
The parents of Turkish study abroad students and students themselves are motivated to study abroad for different reasons.
It found that 44% of parents saw the quality of education as being the top priority for studying abroad, compared with 21% of students. 40% of students said that the key motivation was for career goals.
The survey added that almost half (45%) of national employers actively seek or value international study experience when recruiting.
“In recent years Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, South Korea, and China have seen an upward trend at IEFT Fairs,” the report stated.
Ayse Seda Peker, marketing manager at IEFT International Education Fairs of Turkey told The PIE News that Poland was the most popular destination for Turkish Erasmus students, and popularity for graduate degrees has increased.
According to Peker, the lower cost of quality education in the three European countries has driven demand.
“China and South Korea is a trend course we have strong relations with Asia in economics and politics,” she said. “Many students and professionals [are] also choosing these destination for business purposes.”
She added that cultural similarities made the destinations popular for Turkish students.
The survey also found an increased interest in undergraduate and high school programs, which Peker put down to recent development in the Turkish education system and a rising youth population.
“Day and boarding schools are offering great programs and additionally excellent social activities to improve the kids,” she stated, that parents were interested in.
Peker added that, “We believe [the high number of English-taught degrees available in Turkey] affected and encouraged more students to travel and study abroad. As English-taught degrees in the host country a ‘must’ for many international institutions, this is increasing their possibility to get accepted for the programs they apply for.”
