India, July 17 -- Choosing a study destination has become a more complex decision for Indian students, with factors such as job opportunities, affordability, return on investment and post-study work options becoming as important as university reputation.

Sanjay Laul, founder of MSM Unify, said students are increasingly moving away from choosing destinations based only on popularity or rankings and are instead evaluating how a foreign degree can support their long-term career goals.

"University rankings still matter, but they should be viewed as a starting point rather than the final decision-making tool," Laul said. According to him, the focus among students and parents has shifted from prestige-driven choices to outcome-driven decision...