Indian students' psychological and behavioral aspects on studying abroad decisions amidst fear of uncertainty and social unrest

Abstract

Purpose

The study is an attempt to expand the knowledge about the psychological and behavioral aspects of Indian students studying abroad amidst fear of uncertainty and social unrest.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory study is employed to seek a better and deeper understanding of the possible impact of the potential war on the student abroad study process. In the study, the participants were selected from Delhi NCR of India. The thoughts and opinions of students on studying abroad under the fear of uncertainty were covered in a semi-structured interview.

Findings

Five broad themes emerged from the analysis of the interviews that influence students' choices and attitudes toward their decisions on studying abroad. The themes are “safety”, “fear of incomplete degree”, “financial stress”, “parents' apprehension” and “emotional breakdown”.

Practical implications

The study leveraged an understanding of the mindset of Indian students. Considering the student's doubts and fear over such uncertainty and war-like situations, the higher education policymaker can adopt some measures (hybrid education, short-term programs, student exchange programs, shift in destination, distance learning and new forms of educational technology) to cope with such upcoming challenges, ensuring their safety and pursuing their dreams by taking higher education abroad.

Originality/value

This qualitative study develops a comprehensive understanding of how students perceive such extreme crises and how their thoughts, attitudes and behavior toward studying abroad change. The study contributes to comprehending the student's description of perceptions, emotions, opinions and behaviors under the fear of uncertainty and social unrest.

Citation

Srivastava, K. and Dhamija, S. (2025), "Indian students' psychological and behavioral aspects on studying abroad decisions amidst fear of uncertainty and social unrest", Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 163-174. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-04-2023-0140