Applyboard highlights that the terms ‘computer’ and ‘IT’ are ranked among the six most popular search terms on its platform in 2023.
Applyboard highlights that the terms ‘computer’ and ‘IT’ are ranked among the six most popular search terms on its platform in 2023.
A recent article by ApplyBoard, a global education technology platform, reveals that technology, software engineering, computer programming, and IT are the most-searched subjects among Indian aspirants.
Student search motivations
The article provides insights into the motivations driving student decisions based on data generated from their searches.
ApplyBoard highlights that the terms ‘computer’ and ‘IT’ are ranked among the six most popular search terms on its platform in 2023.
Technology-focused fields such as software engineering, computer programming, and IT are particularly popular among students from Nepal (60.1 percent), India (50.7 percent), and Sri Lanka (50.1 percent), surpassing the all-markets average. These subjects account for 12 percent of all searches on the ApplyBoard platform in 2023.
Notably, within this category, software engineering and IT saw a significant rise, making up 46 percent of all engineering and technology searches.
Country by country search trends
In the US, the top three subcategories for student searches in 2023 were technology, software engineering, computer programming, and IT; mechanical, manufacturing, and robotics engineering; and electrical engineering.
Notably, 53.3 percent of Indian students were interested in technology-related programs, while 12.5 percent explored mechanical, manufacturing, and robotic engineering in the US.
In Canada, electronic engineering, game design, game animation, game creation, and chemical engineering were notable in student searches. Notably, 50.2 percent of Indian students were searching for programs in technology, software engineering, computer programming, and IT in Canada.
In the UK, the searches showed a more even distribution, with significant interest in civil engineering and construction compared to other top destination markets.
In Australia, technology-related searches made up 42 percent of the total, but the country stood out in other engineering streams. Environmental engineering, material engineering, and agriculture were particularly popular among Australian searches, with 12.7 percent of Indian students exploring Mechanical, Manufacturing, and Robotic Engineering programs in the country.
Karunn Kandoi, chief experience officer at ApplyBoard, notes that Indian students are actively seeking opportunities to study abroad, with 1.3 million unique program searches in 2022.
US program for Indian STEM students
Recently, the US State Department has rolled out a master’s program for Indian STEM students.
Seen as a novel educational initiative for Indian students, the program aligns with India’s New Education Policy and provides an avenue for them to embark on a one-year professional master’s program with an industrial specialization in American universities.
Specifically curated for the science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM sectors, the program is set to commence in the fall of 2024. Active discussions are ongoing between 20 American and over 15 Indian universities on leveraging this opportunity, with the U.S. State Department acting as the intermediary.
Upon course completion, Indian graduates can remain in the US for up to three years in alignment with current visa policies, offering them ample time to gain practical industry experience and repay student loans.
