British research agency QS surveyed nearly 800 thousand prospective students who plan to study abroad. Has the coronavirus impacted their plans, and how do they feel about changes in educational delivery?

Nearly 30 thousand respondents want to study at a European institution: most of them (58 percent) have chosen a program already and are in the midst of, or finished with, their enrolment process. The rest (42 percent) is still considering.

The survey is ongoing, but QS now reports on the results of the weeks until the end of March, when the corona crisis started to affect countries all over the world. In those weeks, the survey revealed that an increasing number of prospective students said that the coronavirus impacted their plans.

Deferment

More than half of this group of potential students defer entry to next year. They don’t seem to be all that interested in changes in educational delivery such as online learning as an alternative to the real thing: studying abroad.

But the group that does show an appreciation for online options is growing: 28 percent now against 21 percent two years ago. This number is probably an underestimation though, because the survey was held before the start of the crisis.

A third (75 percent) of students in favor of online education base their appreciation on the fact that it allows them to continue with their side-jobs. Approximately the same percentage of students (72 percent) say the fact that it doesn’t matter where you live is an advantage.

But those who prefer normal, physical education have arguments as well: they want to have access to the university’s facilities (80 percent), and they want to meet other students (74 percent).

When asked where the respondents come from, QS remains silent. The research agency was probably provided with email addresses by the universities, who are individually assessed when they take part in the research.

Brexit

Incidentally, QS also asked students whether Brexit impacted their study choice: 11 percent is now less inclined to study in the UK. Canada in particular is now more popular among potential internationals. Within Europe, universities in Germany, the Netherlands and France could benefit most from Brexit.