Category: International Education News

With its world-class institutions, a vibrant academic environment and the policy changes in traditional destinations, Germany emerges as one of the preferred destinations for international students: With rich cultural heritage, advanced research, and experiential learning, it provides an education experience beyond the confines of a classroom.

German universities like TU Munich and Heidelberg University offer tuition-free or low-cost education to the local and international students.

According to the University Living European Student Landscape Report, Germany hosts 3.43 million students, of which 39,600 are Indians, and 422,188 international students.

RECENT AND NOTABLES POLICY CHANGES

From September 1, 2024, the financial proof requirement for student visas increased to 11,904 per year (up from 11,208) to reflect rising living costs. Starting February 17, 2025, all student visa applications must be filed through Germany’s new Consular Services Portal (digital-di.de), replacing older submission methods.

Additionally, from July 1, 2025, the long-standing remonstration process for visa rejections will be discontinued. Instead, applicants whose visas are refused will need to pursue a formal legal appeal. In terms of employment, from January 1, 2025, Germany’s legal minimum wage will rise to 12.82 per hour (up from 12.41).

At the same time, the mini-job salary threshold, the maximum monthly earnings allowed under Germany’s tax-free mini-job category, will increase from 538 to 556 per month.

WHY STUDY IN GERMANY

• No tuition fees for most undergrad programmes: Most German public universities charge little to no tuition fees for most undergrad programs and thus reducing the financial burden on international students.
• Strong career prospects: Demand for skilled professionals in Germany, particularly for its innovative research opportunities, especially in fields like engineering, natural sciences, and technology.
• Post-study work visa: Graduates can stay for up to 18 months after completing their studies to find employment, a major draw for students seeking global career prospects.
• Scholarships and funding: Scholarships in Germany ease financial burdens and promote academic excellence. Programmes like DAAD, Erasmus+ and Heinrich Bll provide generous funding, fostering diversity and cross-border collaboration for both local and international students, including those from India.

COST OF LIVING IN GERMANY

While larger German cities are more expensive, smaller towns offer significantly lower living expenses, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious students.

Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) is to take part in a new cross-border collaboration with the Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT).

DKIT will get university college status and students will be awarded their certs through QUB.

The Irish government hopes to implement the changes for the 2026/2027 academic year.

Institutes of technology (ITs) in Ireland are traditionally more focused on trade and craft professions and offer a wide range of courses which are closer linked to industry than universities.

The UK’s Home Office has announced a law reducing the maximum post-study stay for most foreign students to 18 months from the current two years, effective from 1 January 2027.

Source on the web: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad-uk-reduces-post-study-stay-for-foreign-graduates-to-18-months-to-find-jobs-after-study-4013903/

 The move aims to attract more Indian students, who already account for 11% of all international enrolments in New Zealand

The University of Otago in New Zealand is offering undergraduate scholarships ranging from NZD $15,000 (Rs 7.76 lakh) to NZD $45,000 (Rs 23.4 lakh), including first-year residential college accommodation for top academic achievers. The move aims to attract more Indian students, who already account for 11% of all international enrolments in New Zealand, with a national surge of 34% recorded last year. Otago itself saw a 45% rise in Indian enrolments in 2024.

In collaboration with OneStep Global, Otago will host its inaugural Otago Experience Student Outreach in Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai this September. The initiative will allow students and parents to meet faculty, explore courses across Health Sciences, Business, Humanities, and Sciences, and receive personalised guidance on admissions, scholarships, and career pathways.

“This is a first-of-its-kind event, and it’s incredibly exciting,” said Grant Robertson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago and former Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for our academics to meet students face-to-face, share insights, and help them envision their academic journey at Otago. We are proud of our long-standing relationships with Indian education partners, and this roadshow reflects the strength of that connection.”

Otago graduates report strong career outcomes, with 95% employed within six months of graduation and an average annual salary of NZD $87,400 (Rs 45.44 lakh). Alumni hold positions with leading employers including ANZ, Deloitte, Fonterra, and ASB Bank, with many progressing into leadership roles across business, healthcare, and government.

“Whether in the health sciences, business, humanities, or natural sciences, our focus is always on quality teaching and an exceptional student experience,” said Associate Professor Aniruddha Chatterjee, Associate Dean International, Division of Health Sciences.

Aritra Ghosal, Founder & Director of OneStep Global, added, “Indian students are increasingly looking for international destinations that combine academic excellence with long-term career outcomes. The University of Otago’s strong global rankings, personalised support, and new scholarships make it a very attractive choice.”

Located in Dunedin, Otago is home to over 20,000 students. It is New Zealand’s leading postgraduate research university and a national leader in educational performance, graduate outcomes, and teaching excellence.

The US embassy has directed all international students aspiring to study in the United States to adjust privacy settings on their social media profiles to ‘public’ not just while applying for a visa but during their entire course of study, effective immediately.( This applicable to all individuals applying for an F, M or J non-immigrant visa).

1. Student Visa Appointment Freeze & Resumption

• May 27 – June 17, 2025: U.S. embassies globally paused scheduling new F, M, and J visa interviews

• From June 18, 2025: Interviews resumed with stricter vetting, especially around applicants’ online histories

2. Mandatory Social Media Disclosure & Screening

• All applicants must provide social media handles used in the past five years.
• Accounts must be made public during the application process.
• Officers will review posts for hostility to U.S. institutions, extremist views, anti-Semitism, or support for terrorism. Hidden or private profiles may result in rejection or delays.

3. Country-Specific Travel & Visa Bans

• From June 9, 2025, the U.S. banned issuance of new F, M, J visas to citizens of 12 countries (e.g., Iran, Somalia, Yemen) and pauses processing for an additional 7 countries (e.g., Cuba, Venezuela).

4. Expanded Vetting & Revocations (Catch & Revoke)

• A Government wide initiative uses AI tools to monitor social media and other public data.
• Thousands of student visas have been revoked under this program, including for minor infractions or political activism (e.g. protest participation).
• Executive Orders (e.g. 14161, 14188) authorize deportation for visa holders found to express anti‑U.S. or anti-Semitic views—even on campus

5. OPT/Work Regulations & H‑1B Cap Impacts

• OPT eligibility expanded to all degree levels (associate to doctoral), including STEM vs non‑STEM differentiation
• 60-day grace period introduced post‑OPT for transitions in status or programs
• H‑1B cap for FY 2026 is already reached, limiting transitions from F‑1 OPT to work visas; DHS is proposing a shift to wage-based selection for future H‑1B recipients
• Extended Cap‑Gap protection now lets students remain employed until April 1 of the following fiscal year if H‑1B is pending

6. Interview Waiver & Dropbox Rule Changes

• Visa renewal via Dropbox now only eligible if previous visa expired within 12 months (down from 48 months) and is same visa class
• All status changes (e.g., F‑1 to H‑1B or B‑2 to something else) require an in-person interview—no exceptions.

7. Procedural & Documentation Updates

• DS‑160 barcode must match appointment confirmation exactly—mismatches require rescheduling and extra fees
• Applicants must now upload all supporting documents (financials, transcripts, invitation letters) digitally via CEAC at least 72 hours before the interview Universities are now required to strictly monitor student attendance and academic performance. Falling below required course loads or grades could result in visa status loss

( Content of this article is derived from multiple sources on web).

On Monday 14 July 2025, the Government announced the International Education Going for Growth Plan.

As part of this plan, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is changing some immigration rules to help the country grow in a sustainable way, attract more international students, keep education standards high, and manage immigration risks.

In November 2025, INZ will be:

• increasing the number of hours eligible students can work while holding a student visa, from 20 to 25 hours a week
• extending eligibility for in-study work rights to all tertiary students on approved exchange or Study Abroad programmes, including 1-semester courses
• clarifying that if you change your education provider or lower your level of study, you will need to apply for a new student visa, not just a variation of conditions.

Learn more about the International Education Going for Growth Plan on the Ministry of Education website:

International education — Ministry of Education

Increased in-study work hours

From 3 November 2025, eligible tertiary and secondary school students will be allowed to work up to 25 hours a week during the semester – an increase from the current 20-hour limit. This will apply to all new student visas granted from that date, even if the application was submitted earlier.

If you already have a student visa with a 20-hour work limit and want to work up to 25 hours, you will need to apply for a variation of conditions or a new student visa. The relevant immigration fees will apply.

Many student visas already allow full-time work during summer and other scheduled breaks. If your visa includes this, you might not need to apply for the extra 5 hours right away. You can choose to apply for the variation of conditions after summer, if your visa is still valid.

School students in years 12 and 13 require parental and school permission for 20 hours in-study work rights during the year. This permission will still be a requirement with the increase to 25 hours a week.

There are currently 40,987 student visa holders with in-study work rights. Of these, 29,790 visas are set to expire on or before 31 March 2026, while 11,197 will expire after that date.

Not all visa holders are expected to apply for the additional 5 hours of work rights. Some may choose to wait until their next visa application to include the change, rather than pay to vary their current visa conditions. Others may be nearing the end of their studies and therefore unlikely to apply for the extra work hours.

More changes coming

Subject to Cabinet agreement, INZ is exploring further changes, including a new short-term work visa for some vocational graduates and streamlined visa processes.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.