IMPACT OF GEOPOLITICAL CRISIS ON POST-STUDY EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS AND MIGRATION INTENTIONS: A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW OF INDIAN STUDENTS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION ABROAD

DOI: https://doie.org/10.65985/APER.2026301030

Authors:

Dr.Saraswathy Muralidharan

Keywords:

geopolitical crises, Indian students abroad, post-study employment, migration intentions, international higher education, immigration policy, student mobility

Abstract:

Geopolitical tensions and global uncertainties have increasingly shaped the decisions of students who pursue higher education in other countries. Among the nationalities most prominently represented in global higher education, Indian students form a distinctively large and mobile cohort. This paper reviews existing scholarly literature, government policy reports, and recent developments in international education and immigration policy to examine how geopolitical crises influence post-study employment prospects and migration intentions among Indian students studying abroad. The review draws on conceptual frameworks from human capital theory, push–pull migration theory, and the theory of planned behaviour to interpret the relationship between geopolitical instability, shifting immigration policies, employment opportunities, and students' decisions about whether to remain in the host country, return to India, or relocate to a third country. The paper identifies that visa uncertainty, policy reversals, diplomatic tensions, and economic disruptions together create conditions of pronounced ambiguity for this student population. It concludes with policy recommendations for governments, universities, and students, arguing that transparent immigration pathways, institutional support systems, and stable bilateral agreements are essential to sustaining trust among internationally mobile students and maintaining the mutual benefits that international education provides to both sending and receiving countries.

PDF