A 2026 survey of 2,412 Indian Graduates found that practical work, industry exposure and structured internships are among the biggest gaps in college education.
About the survey
IIDE surveyed 2,412 students across six Indian cities in 2026. Respondents ranged from Class 12 students to final-year undergraduates.
The survey looked at how students feel about their college education, what they believe is missing, and what would make them feel more prepared for work.
The findings represent students’ views about their education. They do not measure actual employment or placement outcomes.
Nearly 7 in 10 Indian undergraduate students do not believe that a college degree alone is enough to prepare them for the job market, according to a 2026 survey conducted by IIDE.
The survey covered 2,412 students from Class 12 to final-year undergraduates across Mumbai. It found that 63% of students had never used a professional industry tool during their degree college. Only 22% said they had worked on real projects.
These findings do not mean that students no longer value degrees. Instead, they show that students want their degrees to offer more than classroom learning and Theoretical lectures. They want practical skills, industry experience and proof that they can apply what they have learned.
“The degree is still important, but students no longer see it as the complete answer. They expect college to give them practical experience, industry exposure and work they can confidently show to an employer,” said Karan Shah, Founder and CEO of IIDE.
Practical experience is the biggest gap
When students were asked what they felt was missing from their course, 68% selected practical application.
Another 61% said they lacked industry exposure, while 47% wanted certifications recognised by employers.
Only 12% said the main problem was the quality of the syllabus.
This suggests that students are not mainly unhappy with what they are being taught. They are more concerned about not getting enough chances to use what they learn.
A student may understand a concept in class but still struggle to apply it at work. Projects, internships and training on professional tools can help close this gap.
Students want industry experience within their degree
When asked what they would prefer from their college education, 68% said they wanted a degree that included industry exposure.
Around 59% wanted structured internships to be part of their course instead of having to find internships on their own.
Another 54% said they wanted to graduate with a portfolio of real work.
Together, these findings show a change in what students expect from higher education.
A degree is still important, but students also want to graduate with proof of what they can do. This proof may include business plans, marketing campaigns, research projects, websites, presentations or other work connected to their field.
Many students are already paying for additional training
The IIDE survey found that 58% of students had already paid for learning outside their regular school or college course.
This may include short courses, professional certifications, software training or career-focused programs.
Students are not necessarily leaving college. Many are continuing with their degrees while also looking elsewhere for practical skills.
This creates an extra cost for students and families. It can also make access to practical training depend on how much time and money a student has.
Colleges that include projects, tools and internships within their courses can make these opportunities available to more students.
Some institutions are changing how students learn
Some of the institutions have started adding practical learning to undergraduate education.
IIDE’s UG Program in Digital Business and Entrepreneurship is a three-year program designed to run alongside a college degree. Students work on live projects, use professional tools and are assessed through practical work instead of only written exams.
Separately, six Mumbai colleges offer a Bachelor’s in Digital Business with IIDE as the industry knowledge partner.
The degree combines foundation subjects such as accounting, business economics and business law with digital marketing, e-commerce, analytics, automation and AI. Students also complete practical projects and on-the-job training.
These programs are examples of how colleges can connect academic learning with workplace skills. The larger survey finding, however, applies beyond any one subject or institution.
Students across fields want more opportunities to apply what they learn.
What colleges can learn from the findings
The survey points to four areas that students want colleges to improve:
- More practical projects based on real problems
- Structured internships included within the course
- Training on tools used by employers
- Portfolios that show what students can do
These changes do not require colleges to remove academic subjects or reduce the importance of theory.
Students still need a strong understanding of their field. But they also need opportunities to practise, make mistakes, receive feedback and build work they can show to employers.
Degrees still matter, but expectations are changing
The survey does not show that Indian students have lost interest in college degrees. It shows that students no longer see a degree as the only thing they need to enter the workforce.
They expect colleges to help them build practical skills, gain industry exposure and graduate with proof of work alongside their academic qualification.
The message from students is clear: they still want the degree, but they also want it to prepare them for what comes next.
