How Many Indians Moved Abroad For Studies In 3 Years? See Country-Wise Breakdown Inside

The Indians going abroad for higher education has dipped close to 15% in 2024. Surprisingly, students have started looking for newer places to fulfill their academic aspirations.

Canada, UK, Australia - Where Are Indian Students Going?

The number of Indian students pursuing education in foreign countries has dipped by nearly 15% in 2024, according to government data presented in the Lok Sabha. While there is a broader decline in Indians heading to countries like Canada, the US and the UK, there is a rise in people seeking higher education in countries such as Russia, France, and Germany, The Print reported.

Overall Decline in Overseas Education

In 2022, 7,50,365 Indian students were studying abroad, a number that rose to 8,92,989 in 2023 as the world recovered from the pandemic. The figures, however, dropped to 7,59,064 in 2024, the report noted.

Canada Sees a Dramatic 41% Drop

Canada, once a top choice for Indian students, witnessed a sharp 41% decline in enrollments, with numbers falling from 2,33,532 in 2023 to 1,37,608 in 2024. This drop is attributed to stricter student visa regulations introduced by Canada last year, including increased scrutiny of applications, higher rejection rates, and the potential cancellation of study permits. This is largely attributed to the diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Decline in the US, UK, and Australia

Not just Canada, the Indians going to the US, UK, and Australia saw a decline in due to multiple reasons.

United States: Indian student enrollments dropped by 12.9%, from 2,34,473 in 2023 to 2,04,058 in 2024.

United Kingdom: The UK witnessed a significant 27.7% decline, with numbers falling from 1,36,921 in 2023 to 98,890 in 2024.

Australia: Indian student numbers decreased by 12%, from 78,093 in 2023 to 68,572 in 2024, due to factors such as higher visa fees, stricter requirements, and concerns over housing affordability.

China also saw a decline, with Indian student numbers dropping from 7,279 in 2023 to 4,978 in 2024.

Russia, France, and Germany Gain Popularity

While traditional destinations saw a decline, countries like Russia, France, and Germany emerged as attractive alternatives for Indian students:

Russia: Indian student enrollments surged by 33.7% in 2024, reaching 31,444, up from 23,503 in 2023.

France: The number of Indian students rose to 8,536 in 2024, up from 7,484 in 2023.

Germany: Enrollments increased to 34,702 in 2024, compared to 23,296 in 2023.

New Zealand also saw a sharp rise, with Indian student numbers jumping from 1,605 in 2022 to 7,297 in 2024. However, the Philippines experienced a slight decline, with enrollments dropping from 11,261 in 2022 to 8,101 in 2024.

Reasons Behind the Shift

As per the report, the decline in Indian students heading to traditional destinations can be attributed to several factors:

Stricter Visa Policies: Countries like Canada and Australia have tightened visa regulations, making it harder for students to secure permits.

Diplomatic Tensions: Strained relations between India and Canada have impacted student mobility.

Economic and Housing Concerns: Rising costs of living and housing affordability issues in countries like Australia and the UK have deterred students.

Emerging Alternatives: Countries like Russia, France, and Germany are offering affordable education, streamlined visa processes, and post-study work opportunities, making them more appealing.

Government Data Presented in Lok Sabha

The data was shared by Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar in response to a question posed by Lok Sabha member E. T. Mohammed Basheer.