Survey Finds Russians View Europe as a Strong Field for Education and Career Growth
A recent international study conducted by the education organization GoStudy shows that more than one third of Russians view Austria as the most promising and safest European destination. Spain, Slovakia, and Switzerland also scored highly as friendly countries for study and relocation. The study results were reviewed by socialbites.ca to understand Russians’ perspectives on moving abroad and pursuing European education.
In the GoStudy survey, participants evaluated a list of European nations to determine which offer the most attractive conditions for international study and settlement. Spain was favored by 25% of respondents, Slovakia by 24%, and Switzerland by 22%. Finland, Denmark, and Belgium were perceived as the least attractive study destinations, attracting 4%, 4%, and 3% respectively.
About 40% of Russians believe that European higher education holds significant promise for their children’s future in life and career. Language barriers or anti-Russian sentiment abroad did not deter many parents. Only 4% of parents with children currently studying abroad reported confronting such challenges.
Despite optimism, concerns exist. A sizable share of respondents (27%) worry about social judgment from Russian friends and acquaintances for sending children to study overseas. This concern may contribute to a majority of Russians who, 57%, prefer that their children not stay in Europe after completing their studies.
The survey also highlights perceived advantages of European education. The most cited benefit is the opportunity to build a knowledge base suitable for work abroad (21%). Language skills development followed closely at 18%, with the high quality of instruction from foreign teachers noted by 15%. A smaller share, 10%, mentioned exposure to new cultures, while 6% saw value in the possibility of pursuing a high-quality education for future studies back in Russia.
Among the drawbacks, the cost of education emerged as the primary concern, mentioned by 43% of respondents. Language barriers were cited by 17%, and 15% pointed to cultural pace and mentality differences. About 13% considered global instability a risk, and 12% noted bureaucratic hurdles within Europe as obstacles to study and relocation.
When asked about preferred fields for admission to European universities, Russians prioritized business and management (23%), marketing and public relations (16%), and computer science and IT (14%). Other notable areas included medicine and healthcare (10%), engineering (7%), biology (7%), and psychology (5%).
Approximately one in five respondents (19%) believe that similar educational qualifications could be achieved within Russia in all the listed disciplines. Earlier, only 8% of parents rated the quality of school education in Russia as strong.