A candid Reddit post by an Indian engineer educated in the UK has stirred widespread discussion online, shedding light on the often-unspoken challenges Indian students face when pursuing education and employment opportunities in Britain.
The anonymous author, who claims to hold an MEng degree from University College London and to have earned up to £70,000 a year during their time in the UK, offers a blunt assessment of issues ranging from cultural integration and job market realities to the role of social capital. Identifying themselves as a Chartered Engineer (CEng), MIET member, and affiliated with CIGRE, the writer emphasizes that personal success abroad is often shaped more by communication skills and socio-economic background than academic merit alone.
“If you are a private school kid, you’ll make it into a firm somehow,” the post asserts, arguing that students from elite educational backgrounds tend to have an easier path into high-paying sectors like tech and finance. In contrast, the author claims many Indian students arrive ill-prepared, with unrealistic expectations about job prospects and life in the UK.
A controversial line — “Most of that percentage are idiots who ruin our name abroad” — drew immediate backlash for its sweeping generalization. However, the author stood by their comments, adding, “If you are triggered, the UK isn’t for you.” They also noted a demographic shift in the labor market: “4–5 years ago, all shops had no Indians working in them, and now every shop has only Indians working in it,” suggesting a growing saturation of Indian migrants in low-skilled retail roles.
The post has struck a chord across communities, sparking both agreement and criticism. One commenter wrote, “Study is not for migration. That is the worst mindset… a lot of Indians end up in low-paying jobs and some are illegal on the streets.” Another pointed out that these concerns transcend borders: “You could replace the UK with Canada and all of this would still hold true.”
After several years abroad, the author says they returned to India for family reasons, having achieved professional success in the UK. Their post has ignited a broader conversation about the gap between the overseas education dream and the on-the-ground realities many students face—particularly those navigating complex immigration systems and highly competitive job markets.
Recent Random Post:
