Pakistani students opt for traditional destinations that offer world-class institutions, as well as established scholarship programmes and Pakistani diaspora. Of these destinations, is UK the most popular?

A peek into the current recruitment pattern set by students from Pakistan sees a fluctuation of study destination choices. Although enrolments for UK have fallen sharply in recent years to 7,830 in 2013 from almost 11,000 in 2011, possibly as a result of tightened immigration regulations. The US has also seen enrolments decline, with 4,772 in 2013 compared to 5,222 in 2010, reflecting the high cost of a US education and the weakened rupee against the dollar. Conversely, Australia has seen enrolments increase significantly in recent years to 5,861 in 2013 from under 2,500 in 2008. The number of Pakistanis heading to Germany has also risen, with 2,141 enrolments in 2012, reflecting the close ties between Pakistan and Germany’s DAAD.

A large and increasing number of Pakistani students are going to Canada each year (2,804 in 2012) to study at all education levels. In addition, a large number of Pakistani students are enrolled in the UAE (3,080 in 2012, UNESCO), Saudi Arabia (2,125 in 2012) and Malaysia (1,649 in 2012), reflecting the Pakistani diaspora in those countries, while significant numbers head to Sweden, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, Italy and Cyprus.

The focal student influencers are the career counsellors which hold a very important role in mentoring these young minds. It is essential that there is a strong linkage and open flow of communication between the UK sector, local stakeholders including the counsellors, students, parents and Education consultants. British Council has been aiming to create initiatives that can strengthen and promote the measures that increase interest and conversion rate.
With rising urban middle class, there is substantial and growing demand in Pakistan from students, parents and employers for private quality higher education along with a willingness and capacity to pay relatively high tuition and fees. Private institutions are seeking affiliations with universities abroad to ensure they offer information and training that is of international standards.

Trans-national education (TNE) is a growing market in Pakistan and recent data shows evidence of over 40 such programs running successfully in affiliation with British universities at undergraduate and graduate level, according to The British Council. Overall, the UK takes about 65 per cent of the TNE market in Pakistan.

Despite the alternate study destinations, UK still is the number choice destination of students from Pakistan.

Sources: The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Australian Education International (AEI), Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)