{"id":24171,"date":"2026-04-09T15:11:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T09:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/?p=24171"},"modified":"2026-04-09T15:12:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T09:42:15","slug":"study-abroad-ai-vs-degrees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/podcast\/study-abroad-ai-vs-degrees\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Abroad 2026: IDP Director on US Visa Slots, AI vs Degrees &amp; The 50 Lakh ROI"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/podcast\/study-abroad-ai-vs-degrees\/#The_US_Visa_Challenge_Navigating_the_Slot_Shortage\" >The US Visa Challenge: Navigating the Slot Shortage&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/podcast\/study-abroad-ai-vs-degrees\/#AI_vs_Traditional_Degrees_Why_Top_Universities_Matter_More_Now\" >AI vs. Traditional Degrees: Why Top Universities Matter More Now&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/podcast\/study-abroad-ai-vs-degrees\/#Redefining_ROI_The_%E2%80%9C50_Lakh%E2%80%9D_Investment_Argument\" >Redefining ROI: The &#8220;50 Lakh&#8221; Investment Argument&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/podcast\/study-abroad-ai-vs-degrees\/#Emerging_Sectors_and_New_Destinations\" >Emerging Sectors and New Destinations&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/podcast\/study-abroad-ai-vs-degrees\/#Managing_Living_Costs_as_an_International_Student\" >Managing Living Costs as an International Student&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/podcast\/study-abroad-ai-vs-degrees\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Humans always want to grow, achieve more, and improve their lives. These desires never really stop. Because of this, people are willing to move to different countries in search of better opportunities like education, jobs, or lifestyle.&nbsp;The last 2 years saw elections in most of the major world economies and one common agenda which was pursued in&nbsp;almost all&nbsp;countries was&nbsp;<strong>immigration<\/strong>!&nbsp;The&nbsp;<strong><em>UK has reduced the timeline for the graduate route from&nbsp;24 months&nbsp;to&nbsp;18 months<\/em><\/strong>, while&nbsp;<strong><em>Australia has changed its entire student visa system<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;and has introduced&nbsp;<strong><em>stricter rules and&nbsp;regulations<\/em><\/strong>, and the ICE crackdown in the&nbsp;United States&nbsp;is no longer hidden from global media!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the study abroad industry is going through various\u00a0ups and downs,\u00a0previous\u00a0trends show that this consolidation phase shall be followed by a new boom! Therefore, in this blog, we shall\u00a0discuss\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0<strong>US Visa Slots, AI vs Degrees, &amp; The 50 Lakh ROI<\/strong>\u00a0based on the\u00a0knowledge-rich\u00a0conversation between\u00a0<strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/piyushkumar100\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Piyush Kumar<\/a>, Regional Director IDP,\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/saurabharora84\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Mr. Saurabh\u00a0Arora<\/a>,\u00a0Founder &amp; CEO <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University Living<\/a>!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Study Abroad 2026: IDP Director on US Visa Slots, AI vs Degrees &amp; The 50 Lakh ROI | The Living Pod\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xkh5TzvQNec?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_US_Visa_Challenge_Navigating_the_Slot_Shortage\"><\/span>The US Visa Challenge: Navigating the Slot Shortage&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Recently, the US Visa interview slots for India have seen a\u00a0<strong>significant delay in the visa processing time<\/strong>\u00a0when compared to\u00a0other\u00a0neighbouring\u00a0countries like Nepal and Bangladesh. \u00a0Moreover, students are also adamant about studying in the US. They prefer waiting for another year to apply rather than\u00a0switching\u00a0destinations. This is highly because of the lifestyle in the USA and,\u00a0of course,\u00a0the American Dream! Experts have suggested that\u00a0the market will undergo a\u00a0<strong>major boom in the 2026 university session<\/strong>!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"AI_vs_Traditional_Degrees_Why_Top_Universities_Matter_More_Now\"><\/span>AI vs. Traditional Degrees: Why Top Universities Matter More Now&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With the&nbsp;infestation of AI, students feel that the need for a traditional degree is over. However, what they don\u2019t understand is that&nbsp;<strong>AI doesn\u2019t help&nbsp;get&nbsp;the right cutting-edge skill&nbsp;sets<\/strong>&nbsp;that are actually required in&nbsp;real-life&nbsp;careers! Universities not only focus on theoretical knowledge,&nbsp;but also on&nbsp;practical exposure.&nbsp;<strong><em>Good universities offer infrastructure, elite faculty, and advanced knowledge that free online tools simply cannot replicate<\/em><\/strong>. Moreover, a full-time degree from a good university makes sure that you&nbsp;remain&nbsp;in&nbsp;demand and a valuable source for any&nbsp;organisation&nbsp;you work in!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Redefining_ROI_The_%E2%80%9C50_Lakh%E2%80%9D_Investment_Argument\"><\/span>Redefining ROI: The &#8220;50 Lakh&#8221; Investment Argument&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the main mistakes that students make is measuring the ROI of any degree based on the first two to three years of staying on the job. However, this\u00a0should\u00a0not\u00a0be\u00a0the case.\u00a0<em>Students reap the benefits of an investment\u00a0in\u00a0a good degree\u00a0regularly\u00a0in a 30 to\u00a040-year\u00a0career trajectory<\/em>. As per\u00a0<strong>Mr. Piyush, spending 50 lakhs on a degree from a renowned university is always better than saving money and spending 20-30 lakhs on a degree from a Tier-2 or\u00a0Tier-3\u00a0university!<\/strong>\u00a0There are several universities that provide a one-year\u00a0master&#8217;s\u00a0program\u00a0in various fields of study,\u00a0and these courses are more efficient\u00a0than\u00a0a longer 2-year\u00a0program.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Emerging_Sectors_and_New_Destinations\"><\/span>Emerging Sectors and New Destinations&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A harsh truth is,&nbsp;<strong><em>there is no shortage of jobs for people who have the required skills<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;and work top-notch.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<strong><em>STEM courses&nbsp;are and&nbsp;will&nbsp;always be in demand all across the world<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;This is because no matter which industry&nbsp;you work in, STEM graduates are required by everyone!&nbsp;Some of the major industries that will have&nbsp;great career&nbsp;prospects in the next 20-30 years are&nbsp;<strong>Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Renewable Energy, and Cybersecurity<\/strong>. As per a&nbsp;report,&nbsp;by&nbsp;2026, India may&nbsp;emerge&nbsp;as a&nbsp;<strong>competitive destination for world-class education<\/strong>&nbsp;as foreign universities set up local campuses, offering the same degrees at a lower cost.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Managing_Living_Costs_as_an_International_Student\"><\/span>Managing Living Costs as an International Student&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Finances are\u00a0a major concern for any student who\u00a0wishes to study abroad. However, managing\u00a0a budget is not as\u00a0difficult as it seems\u00a0to be. One of the main expenses\u00a0for students is the rent for\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/country\/united-states\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">student\u00a0housing\u00a0USA<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0In order\u00a0to\u00a0reduce this cost, students\u00a0generally\u00a0go\u00a0for shared accommodations as these are the most affordable type of student accommodations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, students must find a property that is close to their university so that they can save on transportation costs and time! If students make their food at home and eat seldom outside instead of\u00a0eating outside\u00a030 days\u00a0a month, they\u00a0can further\u00a0save several hundred dollars every month! These tips might not sound\u00a0very helpful, but when students\u00a0actually follow\u00a0this advice, they tend to save a hefty sum of money every month!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In an era where technology and AI are advancing at a rapid pace, the single biggest assurance of professional security is\u00a0possessing\u00a0the right,\u00a0cutting-edge\u00a0skill sets. Choosing a world-class institution is\u00a0very important\u00a0even if it requires a higher financial commitment, as it provides the essential exposure to top-tier faculty and infrastructure needed to &#8220;survive and thrive&#8221;.\u00a0Ultimately, if\u00a0a student\u00a0remains\u00a0diligent and focuses on\u00a0acquiring\u00a0the absolute best skill set possible, employers will inevitably\u00a0recognise\u00a0that superior training and reward it throughout their entire global career.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Humans always want to grow, achieve more, and improve their lives. These desires never really stop. Because of this, people are willing to move to different countries in search of better opportunities like education, jobs, or lifestyle.&nbsp;The last 2 years saw elections in most of the major world economies and one common agenda which was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":24172,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1105],"tags":[994],"class_list":{"0":"post-24171","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-podcast","8":"tag-united-states"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24171"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24173,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24171\/revisions\/24173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}