TOEFL eyes smaller towns as Indian students expand overseas study choices
TOEFL is expanding its testing infrastructure into smaller Indian towns to accommodate a shift in student preferences toward a broader range of international study destinations. While the 'Big Four' remain popular, students are increasingly considering countries like Germany, France, and the UAE for better affordability and career prospects.
Why it matters
This trend indicates a diversification of the Indian student migration market, driven by economic considerations and a more informed decision-making process.
TOEFL is eyeing smaller towns to open new test centres as Indian students increasingly choose a wider range of overseas study destinations beyond the traditional “Big Four” of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
“Indian student mobility is gradually evolving from a ‘Big Four’ to a broader ‘Big 14’ landscape. The U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia continue to be the most established and desirable destinations, supported by globally recognised institutions, strong alumni networks and well-developed international education ecosystems. At the same time, Indian students are increasingly adding Germany, France, Ireland, New Zealand, the UAE, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Spain, and even Bangladesh to their consideration set,” Karan Lalit, Executive Director, TOEFL, GRE, and ETS in India and South Asia, said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in