According to the report by global consultancy firm KPMG, more than 75 per cent students consider job security their top priority as a result of the uncertain economic environment.
"The global economic downturn has evidently shifted the way students are thinking about their careers," said KPMG LLP Vice Chairman (Tax) Shaun Kelly.
In addition, over 50 per cent respondents said they would be interested in working internationally immediately after graduation.
"With many recent graduates still seeking jobs, the interest that today's students express in employment overseas for their first job shows that they are open to going wherever the opportunities may be," Kelly added.
The study, claiming to have surveyed over 350 university students in October, found that the global economic downturn is also having an impact on students' views on career options.
About 69 per cent said they are now more likely to study for their master's degree than look for a job immediately after graduation.
Many others (67 per cent) said they were more likely to work for a public or non-profit organisation than a corporate business due to the downturn.
The report revealed that students take into account many factors while choosing a particular employer. They prefer to work in a challenging and exciting environment and even consider that their colleagues should be talented.
"Students tell us that personal development and enrichment is clearly a top priority when selecting an employer, as is using business skills to help the communities where they live and work," said Kelly.
Besides, majority of the respondents said they might stay with their first employer for 2-4 years.
At the same time, KMPG study also said that Facebook is widely considered as the most regularly used social-media platform among university students and was also identified as the vehicle they would most likely use when researching about a future employer.