Why are Indian students rethinking US, UK, Canada, and Australia for studies?
Meti Basiri, Co-founder and CEO of ApplyBoard, has shared Indian students are diversifying their global education choices, looking beyond the US, UK, Canada, and Australia toward emerging destinations in Europe and Asia. While overall numbers are stabilising, affordability, visa policies, and career outcomes are shaping this new wave of mobility.EMERGING DESTINATIONS SEE RAPID GROWTHIndian students are turning their attention to new geographies. Germany, for example, has nearly doubled its number of Indian student declarations since 2019, reaching approximately 35,000 in 2024. Germany's tuition-free education model, strong research ecosystem, and English-language programs make it a top contender.Similarly, Uzbekistan has seen a dramatic rise from just 300 Indian students in 2019 to nearly 10,000 in 2024 largely driven by affordable English-medium medical degrees.Russia has also experienced a near doubling of Indian student numbers, now at 31,400, and Bangladesh has grown 124% since 2019, with around 30,000 students enrolled in 2024, though future growth may depend on political stability.BIG FOUR DESTINATIONS STILL STRONG-BUT FACE HEADWINDS
The United States continues to be the top destination for Indian students, with over 332,000 visa holders in 2023–24. More than three-quarters of these students are enrolled in STEM programmes or participating in STEM-related OPT (Optional Practical Training). While US policy remains generally favourable, recent pauses in initiatives like the Fulbright programme and ongoing uncertainty around long-term work visas may raise concerns.Canada, meanwhile, saw an 8% dip in Indian study permit holders in 2024, bringing the total to 393,000. This decline is attributed to tighter immigration controls and new permit caps. Although Indian students still enjoy higher-than-average approval rates, fewer new permits issued signal a possible cooling of demand.advertisementIn the UK, Indian student numbers fell 4% year-over-year in 2023/24. However, Q1 2025 data shows a 29% surge in new visa applications, hinting at a rebound. Still, proposed policy changes -such as shortening the Graduate Route post-study visa from 24 to 18 months--may impact future momentum.Australia hosted 139,000 Indian students in 2024, up 11% from the previous year. But new immigration directives and stricter requirements are expected to slow new applications in 2025 and beyond.AFFORDABILITY AND POLICY SHAPE STUDENT CHOICESThe modest dip in outbound numbers is less a retreat and more a recalibration. Influencing factors include policy uncertainty in major Anglophone destinations and the stronger US dollar, which makes education abroad more expensive for Indian families.Still, Indian students continue to demonstrate resilience and adaptability, exploring more diverse destinations and aligning their choices with career pathways and affordability.The ApplyBoard report projects that Indian student mobility will stabilise and diversify even further in the coming years. Early signals--like declining online search volumes for US, UK, and Canadian programmes -suggest a shift in planning behaviour. Students today are more informed, cautious, and flexible in their choices than ever before.With over 244 million Indians now in their 20s and global education providers competing for international talent, India's young population will remain a driving force in international student mobility for years to come.- EndsMust Watch
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