COVID-19 has had devastating impacts all over the world, but its impact on overseas education has been unique. The paradigm of education has changed and those aspiring to study in foreign universities are exploring newer options.

As we all know, students desirous of pursuing their higher education overseas begin the process about a year before they must leave. For 2020 admits, the process started in August /September of 2019 and most students were done with all their paperwork by December 2019. In March 2019, people woke up to a world they had not seen before.

Safety was everybody’s prime concern. When people started getting to terms with the new normal, the pending exams were conducted, and results were announced. In the period, the results up to August when most sessions begin – every aspiring student and their parents were anxious. Most overseas universities decided to shift the Fall semester on the virtual platform. Few universities in the US deferred the exams.

Benefit of online classes

Online classes have been the best thing that could happen to local and international students. Pre-pandemic, several universities used a digital platform to avoid disruption of classes during the winter semester when weather conditions were not favourable. Online was a preferred option as the course content was the same, the professors are the same and the synchronized format gives you access to a live interactive class in the comfort, safety, and warmth of your home.

Most students studying abroad wrote their midterms through a virtual platform. The learning process continued even as Indian universities including University of Delhi (DU) started the session in October when these students had even written their midterms. Not to forget, that the Delhi University online platform crashed when final year students were writing their online exams!

As the admissions season for 2021 started and applications opened in August/September of 2020. Students are exploring options to start their education in Fall 2021, hoping that the situation would normalise by then. Most students are participating in counselling sessions and meetings are being done either on Facetime or Zoom.

Students need to carefully select the university and courses before enrolling. The universities are coming up with student-friendly plans, which will help more students fulfil their ambitions.

(The author is Career Planner & Admissions Coach at East West Unisys)