how covid-19 is impacting prospective international ... impacting... · 6 how covid-19 is impacting...

Published in July 2020

https://www.qs.com/contact/

Discover how prospective international students inBusiness and Management, Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Dentistry, Social Sciences, and Computing are responding to the coronavirus crisis.

COVID-19HOW COVID-19 ISIMPACTINGPROSPECTIVEINTERNATIONALSTUDENTSACROSS SUBJECT AREAS

II How COVID-19 is Impacting Prospective International Students Across Subject Areas

Contents

Introduction 1

How has the coronavirus changed the study plans for various subject areas? 2

How interested are different subject areas in online learning? 4

What do different subject areas expect universities to implement during

the coronavirus crisis? 8

Conclusion 11

About QS 12

https://www.qs.com/contact/ 1

Introduction

The higher education sector is facing unprecedented,

complex challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

To address this complexity and uncertainty, QS has been

conducting an ongoing survey of prospective international

students.

Since this survey was established in mid-February, it has

amassed more than 53,000 respondents and underpinned

a range of thought leadership resources for the higher

education sector.

This white paper will break down the survey’s key findings

by five main subject areas:

� Business and Management: Accounts for 23% of

responses

� Engineering and Technology: Accounts for 20% of

responses

� Medicine and Dentistry: Accounts for 7% of

responses

� Social Sciences: Accounts for 6% of responses

� Computing: Accounts for 5% of responses

Other subject areas accounted for less than 5% of

responses each. If your institution would like to access

these insights, please make a specific request to the QS

team via www.qs.com/contact.

This white paper will provide insights into how prospective

international students in specific subject areas are

responding to the coronavirus crisis.

We hope that this white paper will help inform student

recruitment strategies for key subject areas and aid

institutions in the lead up to the next academic year.

Further survey analysis:

This white paper reveals

when prospective

international students

ideally want to start their

studies, when those

seeking to study in 2020

predict they will start their

studies, and how open

they would be to studying

online.

This report explores

how universities will

reopen in the coming

months and ensure

the safety of students

and staff, including

proposed strategies from

institutions across the

globe.

http://www.qs.com/contact

http://www.qs.com/outlook-university-admissions

https://www.qs.com/www.qs.com/support-students-upcoming-academic-year

2 How COVID-19 is Impacting Prospective International Students Across Subject Areas

How has the coronavirus changed the study plans for various subject areas?

When examining how prospective international students are changing their study plans as a result of the coronavirus

crisis, it is important to consider how these responses may vary according to the subject area they are interested in.

For those prospective international students who are seeking to study Business and Management, their study plans

were more likely to be affected by the coronavirus with 69% of respondents choosing yes, compared to 64% overall.

Has the coronavirus affected your plans to study abroad?

69% 67% 63% 66% 66%

12% 12%15% 13% 11%

20% 21% 22% 22% 23%

Business andManagement

Engineering andTechnology

Medicine andDentistry

Social Sciences Computing

Yes No Don't know

As shown in the graph above, the study plans of students interested in Engineering and Technology were also significantly

affected with 67% of respondents.

This is closely followed by students seeking to study Social Sciences (66%), Computing (66%), and Medicine and Dentistry

(63%).

As a follow-up question, QS also asked prospective international students to detail how their plans had been changed

by the coronavirus crisis.


Which of these best describes how the coronavirus has changed your plans to study abroad?

61% 58%48%

56% 55%

7%8%

11%

9% 9%

4% 7%

6%5% 7%

17% 17%

19%19% 16%

11% 10%16%

12% 14%





None of these Other

I now no longer want to study overseas I now intend to study in a different country

I now intend to defer/delay my entry until next year

As demonstrated above, students interested in Business and Management were most likely to defer their study plans

with 61% of respondents, compared to 56% overall.

Interestingly, students seeking to study Medicine and Dentistry were the least likely to defer with 48% of respondents

choosing this option.

As we move towards the upcoming academic year, institutions should examine how prospective students in each subject

area are responding to the coronavirus crisis and tailor their recruitment strategies, communications, and forecasts

based on these insights.


How interested are different subject areas in online learning?

Online learning has been a necessity during the global COVID-19 crisis, and it may continue to be a crucial component

of educational delivery for some time to come.

While many institutions are considering how to implement a phased reopening, many will utilize a blended learning

approach that combines online learning tools and in-person teaching.

To understand how prospective international students feel about online learning, QS asked survey respondents to

reveal their willingness to study online during the coronavirus crisis.

How interested would you be in studying your degree online because of the coronavirus?

8% 9% 13% 9% 10%

9% 10%12%

7%11%

20% 20%

23%

23%20%

21% 21%

22%

24% 22%

42% 40%30%

36% 37%





Extremely interested Very interested Somewhat interested

Slightly interested Not at all interested

When combined, those respondents who expressed some degree of interest in online learning (ranging from extremely

interested to slightly interested), are as follows:

� Business and Management (58%)

� Engineering and Technology (61%)

� Medicine and Dentistry (70%)

� Social Sciences (64%)

� Computing (63%)


It is interesting to note that prospective Business and Management students are less likely to want to study online (58%

compared to 64% overall), while Medicine and Dentistry prospective students are more interested in online learning

than most (70% compared to 64% overall). This explains why Business and Management students are most likely to

want to defer their studies as they have the least interest in studying online.

To delve into this further, QS asked prospective international students whether they would be interested in starting

their studies in the upcoming academic year, even if that meant beginning their course online.

If starting your studies this academic year meant doing the beginning of your course online, would you be

interested in this?

39% 42%51% 48% 45%

33%33%

22%22% 29%

28% 25% 27% 30% 26%





Yes No Unsure

Prospective Business and Management students are least likely to want to start their studies online in the upcoming

academic year (39% compared to 46% overall).

Conversely, Medicine and Dentistry prospective students are most likely (51%) to be interested in starting their studies

online, closely followed by Social Sciences students (48%).

When asked whether they think starting their studies online should lead to tuition fee discounts, 78% of overall

respondents indicated that they do expect a discount.


If you were to start your studies online until you're able to travel for face-to-face teaching, do you think this

should affect tuition fees?

83%77% 76%

83% 80%

6%8% 8%

7%7%

10% 14% 16%10% 13%





Yes, they should be discounted No, they should stay the same Unsure

From the graph above, it is clear that prospective students seeking to study Social Sciences or Business and Management

are most likely to expect a discount to tuition fees (83%).

The group that is least likely to expect a discount is Medicine and Dentistry with 76% of respondents, followed by

Engineering and Technology (77%). However, these still indicate a significant majority that expect a discount.

When examining how much of a discount they expect, prospective students demonstrated a range of opinions.


How much do you think tuition fees should be discounted by during online studies until you're able to start

face-to-face classes?

36%30%

42%37% 33%

37%

36%

34%38%

33%

21%26%

18% 18%27%

6% 8% 8% 7% 8%





Up to 30% 30% to 50% More than 50% Don't know

Prospective Engineering and Technology students who are prepared to study online will expect a higher discount (26%

expect a discount of more than 50%, compared to 21% overall).

Conversely, prospective Medicine and Dentistry students expect a lower discount (42% expect a discount of 30% or

lower, compared to 35% overall).

Institutions may consider whether they want to adjust tuition fees in certain courses to address prospective students’

expectations.


What do different subject areas expect universities to implement during the coronavirus crisis?

Finally, QS wanted to examine how institutions can best address the coronavirus crisis, and what expectations prospective

international students have during this trying time.

To understand what strategies they would like to see institutions implement, QS asked prospective international students

to reveal the tactics they think universities should introduce to limit the impact of the coronavirus.

Which of the following do you think universities should be doing to limit the impact of the coronavirus?

60%58%

56%

61%57%

42%44%

51%53%

46%





Holding lectures and seminars in larger rooms to minimize close contact in larger gatherings

Moving more of their lectures online

Prospective Business and Management students are less likely to want universities to move their lectures online (42%

compared to 49% overall), closely followed by Engineering and Technology students (44%).

Across the board, it is clear that prospective international students are keen for universities to hold lectures and

seminars in larger rooms to minimize close contact in larger gatherings, with those interested in Social Sciences the

most in favor (61%).


Another area that is more important than ever for institutions is continuous, clear communication with existing and

prospective students.

To understand how frequently they would like to hear from institutions, QS asked prospective international students

to indicate how often they would like to be contacted.

How often would you like to hear from universities with news/updates relating to the coronavirus?

21% 25% 27%18%

25%

31%31%

33%

31%

29%

33% 30%26%

33%29%

10% 8% 7%11% 8%

2% 3% 2% 3% 3%4% 5% 5% 5% 6%





Don’t know I wouldn’t want to hear any information from universities

Fortnightly or less Once per week

A few times a week Daily or more

It is clear that prospective international students are seeking regular contact from universities, with the majority of

respondents wanting to hear from institutions either daily or a few times a week.

Prospective Medicine and Dentistry students want to hear regularly from universities with 60% wanting to hear at least

weekly, compared to 52% overall.

This group is also the most likely to want daily communication (27%), closely followed by Engineering and Technology

(25%) and Computing (25%).

The group least likely to want daily communication is prospective Social Sciences students (18%).

When communicating with prospective international students during the coronavirus crisis, there are several topics

that they need more information on.


What information would you like to receive from universities about the coronavirus?

47%49% 48%

46%

51%

40%42%

49%

39%41%

30%32%

30%28%

31%

13% 12%

9%

13%

10%





Changes to my application deadlines Changes to the dates of any entrance examinations

Changes to English language test requirements How to defer my application

Prospective Medicine and Dentistry students are more likely to want to hear updates on admissions exams (41%

compared to 32% overall).

It is interesting to note that a significant portion of all respondents are interested in hearing about changes to application

deadlines, changes to the dates of any entrance examinations, and changes to the application process.

This focus on applications suggests that prospective international students are still interested in applying for the

upcoming academic year and want to hear relevant updates from institutions.

This is also supported by the fact that many respondents are not interested in learning about how to defer their application

with only 9% of Medicine and Dentistry prospects interested in this, closely followed by 10% of Computing respondents.

Institutions must examine the insights provided above and determine if they are providing relevant updates and

communications to prospective students during their student recruitment journey.


ConclusionWhile the coronavirus crisis has rapidly reshaped

educational delivery and operations, universities are rising

to meet these complex challenges.

Flexibility, agility, and proactivity will remain crucial

components in the months to come as institutions begin

to reopen and explore what education looks like in today’s

world.

QS aims to provide in-depth insights and research to

support these efforts, serving as a partner to the higher

education sector during these uncertain times.

QS hopes that institutions can utilize this white paper to

inform their student recruitment strategies and take a

tailored approach that addresses the specific needs of

prospective students in various subject areas.

If you would like to discover more QS insights and explore

the findings related to other subject areas that are not

included in this white paper, please reach out to the QS

team at https://www.qs.com/contact

For any media queries, please contact

[email protected].

https://www.qs.com/contact

mailto:[email protected]


About QS

QS Quacquarelli Symonds is the world’s leading provider of services, analytics, and insights to the global higher education

sector. Our mission is to enable motivated people anywhere in the world to fulfil their potential through educational

achievement, international mobility, and career development.

Our QS World University Rankings portfolio, inaugurated in 2004, has grown to become the world’s most popular source

of comparative data about university performance. Our flagship website, www.TopUniversities.com – the home of our

rankings – was viewed 149 million times in 2019, and over 94,000 media clippings pertaining to, or mentioning, QS were

published by media outlets across the world in 2019.

QS portfolio

� QS Digital and Events provides prospective undergraduate, graduate, and MBA applicants with independent

guidance throughout their search and decision making. Our world-class digital platforms include TopUniversities.

com, TopMBA.com, and QSLeap.com which support search and inform applications to programs matching their

profile and aspirations. In parallel, prospective students can meet, either virtually or face-to-face, with admissions

officers of international universities and business schools. For universities and business schools, it offers effective

and innovative digital and off-line student recruitment and branding solutions.

� QS Enrolment Solutions supports higher education institutions to maximize their student recruitment with a range

of specialist services, from data-driven insights and high-quality lead generation to optimized communications

and student conversion. With over 20 years of experience QSES has an unequalled understanding of international

student decision-making. Our international office locations (UK, Romania, India, Malaysia and Australia) enable us

to operate across time zones to deliver high value to our partners and exceptional services for applicants.

� The QS Intelligence Unit is a leading originator of institutional performance insight drawing on unique proprietary

datasets gathered in pursuit of its published research. Best known for the widely referenced QS World University

Rankings, today comprising variants by discipline and geography, the unit also operates a sophisticated, multi-

dimensional quality standard; a comprehensive analytics platform facilitating advanced benchmarking; and an in-

demand consulting team. Our insights both inform and are informed by frequent presence and digital conferences

for educators, university leaders, and policy makers.

� QS Unisolution is dedicated to developing SaaS technology solutions to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of

international mobility, relations, and recruitment functions within education, positively impacting the educational

experience for the students, staff, and partners we serve.

http://www.TopUniversities.com


For more information about the QS services, please contact [email protected]

To continue empowering motivated individuals and institutions across the world alike during the coronavirus outbreak,

QS’s response has included:

� Moving its student recruitment events online, ensuring that universities and talented potential applicants across the

world are still able to achieve high-quality personalized engagement.

� Expanding its range of digital marketing offerings, empowering student recruitment teams as they seek to maintain

outreach and enrolment efforts.

� Launching a webinar series designed to enable university faculty and administrators alike to share best practices as

they transition their educational offerings into the virtual classroom.

� Ongoing surveys of prospective students and institutions globally to analyze how the COVID-19 crisis is impacting them.

In 2019, as part of our commitment to sustainability, QS became a certified CarbonNeutral® Company, reflecting our

efforts to reduce our impact on the environment through a range of efficiency initiatives and offsetting unavoidable

emissions through a verified carbon offset forestry project in Brazil.

mailto:[email protected]

https://www.qs.com/events/

http://info.qs.com/rs/335-VIN-535/images/QS_CarbonNeutral_Company_Certificate_2019.pdf

how covid-19 is impacting prospective international ... impacting... · 6 how covid-19 is impacting...

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