Most readers of this blog have some experience or exposure to the international migration for higher education but this essay takes a meta-view of different patterns in this regard which may not be that obvious. In such a view, the focus is on dominant patterns and not on details. 

First is visible in the USA. The fee for international students is not higher than that of domestic students. (The fee for international students is the same as that for domestic students who are from outside the state in which the university is located.) Universities give admission to international students but not that much for financial reasons. Many international students get assistantships. Hence most universities do not have a perverse incentive to attract foreign students. It is also difficult to get a permanent residentship (or citizenship) for foreign students if they don’t get a job which require higher education. There are many who may not get such jobs and hence they may take up employment in other countries including their own. 

The second pattern can be seen in the continental Europe. So far the universities there have not started charging a higher fee from international students. These universities have realised the need for international students in higher education, and hence admissions are driven mostly by educational goals. These do not have a financial incentive to attract foreign students. In fact, the cost of education of a student could be much higher than the fee. Moreover, it is not easy for a foreign student to get a job there which does not require higher education. The language barriers and the creation of qualified domestic students through the technical and vocational education system and other certification mechanisms may prevent those who come from outside for higher education to be a normal worker (say that of an electrician, receptionist and so on) in these countries. If at all there are openings for such positions, these may go to those who migrate from East-European countries and hence those who come from non-European countries like India may find it difficult to get such opportunities. In general, the incentive to migrate to these countries just for a normal job is not that high (even though many potential migrants from India may not have that information).  

The most problematic pattern is visible in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Universities want to attract foreign students mostly due to the (higher) fees that they can pay. The fee for international students is three times higher than that for domestic students in Canada. Apparently, though there is a cap for domestic students in universities, there is no such cap for foreign students. This may encourage universities to admit even those international students who may not demonstrate their proficiency to acquire higher education in specific subjects. Hence there are perverse incentives even for reputed universities to attract foreign students for financial reasons, and these may work against providing accurate information on the prospects of education and employment in these countries. 

There is an issue with regard to employment too. These countries need many workers who don’t require higher education. (In fact their demand for workers with higher education is less due to the higher enrolment of domestic population in universities). Hence a sizeable section of foreign students who come to these countries for university education may end up taking such jobs (which don’t require higher education) and may see this as a pathway for the work-permit, permanent residentship (and possibly citizenship). However there are serious financial and emotional costs of using this pathway of university education for immigration.  Though a set of foreign students who come to these universities may get jobs which require higher education, that may not be the case of the majority of them. 

In fact, these countries could use (and have been using to some extent) migration to get such workers who don’t need higher education. One can see a lot of sales clerks, security guards, etc, from India in Canada, and most of them come here without seeking higher education. They may have acquired certain skills and certificates in India or Canada. They have a job that matches their education. Relatively speaking, they are the successful migrants in the country. 

There have to be a lot more efforts to facilitate the migration of workers from the developing world to developed countries, since such a migration can enhance their socioeconomic status and also the income status of their families back home through remittances. It will be great if boys and girls from poorer families in India can migrate to developed countries and become workers there. However there has to be a reduction in the cost of migration for this purpose. Those skills which are needed in the developed world can be provided through appropriate training programs in countries like India. The cost of this training will be much less in these countries. Those who complete such training can be assessed by the agencies of the developed world and those who are proficient can be allowed to migrate. (This is happening in the case of nurses currently).

On the other hand, the migration for higher education needs to get back to the older framework. It is good if universities in the developed world admit international students. However this should not be due to the higher fee that they can pay. Instead, it should be with the objective of getting most proficient students from all parts of the world in such universities. A section of those who pass out of such education programs may get jobs (which require such education) in host countries. They may be provided with opportunities for residentship or citizenship. Others may take up employment wherever these are available. 

The creation of perverse incentives for universities through the immigration for higher education is harmful to all.  

End Note: The content and opinions expressed are that of the author, and are not necessarily endorsed by/do not necessarily reflect the views of Azim Premji University