Visa requirements and post-study work opportunities for international students

By Piyush Kumar

With a growing appetite for global exposure, Indian students are increasingly seeking to study abroad, driven by aspirations for academic excellence, enhanced employment prospects, and the chance to enrich themselves in diverse cultures.

About 13,35,878 Indian students are studying abroad in 2024, up from 13,18,955 in 2023 and 9,07,404 in 2022, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. Indian students are drawn to countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia because of the allure of attending highly ranked universities, having access to cutting-edge research, and industry-academia linkages.

Understanding the visa requirements and post-study work options within these countries is necessary as the appeal for global opportunities continues to grow. Each country offers different routes for international students, from varied visa categories to more structured post-study work programmes. Therefore, making them an attractive choice depending on individual goals and areas of study.

United States

The US continues to be a favoured destination for Indian students, particularly in fields like Science, Engineering, Business, and Technology. With more than 4,000 institutions across the country and their holistic admission process, the US ensures that students of all academic abilities have a chance to succeed, with a strong emphasis on practical learning that prepares them for real-world challenges.

According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, prestigious institutions like MIT, Stanford, and Harvard continue to dominate the academic landscape, making the US more attractive to the next generation of students seeking top-tier education.

For students eyeing the US as their study abroad destination, the country offers F-1 visa, which allows for full-time academic enrolment. Moreover, they also have J-1 and M-1 visas, which cater to exchange programmes and vocational studies respectively.

Moreover, students can opt for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme. OPT enables students to work in the field for up to 12 months post-graduation. STEM Graduates can extend their OPT for an additional 24 months.

This allows students ample time to explore employment opportunities, mainly in sectors such as technology, healthcare, finance, sustainability, business administration, pharmacy, environment, engineering etc. which is fuelled by a thriving economy and demand for skilled workforce.

United Kingdom

The UK’s esteemed history of academic excellence and its globally recognised institutions make it a preferred destination for Indian students. The QS World University Rankings 2025 feature several UK institutions such as the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Warwick, University of Manchester and more. With two major intakes— January and September— students have flexibility in planning their study timelines.

Since the introduction of the Graduate Route in July 2021, the UK student visa system has made the country even more attractive to international students. Unlike traditional visa systems tied to employer sponsorship, the Graduate Route allows students to remain in the UK for 2 years after completing their studies (3 years for PhD graduates) to work or seek employment. Furthermore, the one-year master’s programme creates a better return on investment, allowing students to quickly transition to the workforce.

Canada

Canada’s education system, renowned for its high quality, along with the promising post-graduation work opportunities, continues to attract Indian students. Leading Canadian institutions, including the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of British Columbia, consistently rank high in global assessments, demonstrating their commitment to academic excellence.

Canadian universities and colleges have three major intakes: Fall (September), Winter (January), and Summer (May), thus offering significant flexibility. The country offers Regular Student Visa Stream visa pathways to international students who want to study, work, or live in Canada. We anticipated a longer visa wait time for the Regular Study permit route, however, it does not seem like for IDP; since the month SDS has been discontinued, majorly because of compliance with all the documentary requirements.

Moreover, the Study Permit is an opportunity for Indian students to get quality education and work post-completion of their course. It allows them to stay and work in Canada for up to three years. Additionally, as per the recent announcement by IRCC, students are entitled to work part-time for 24 hours a week while studying and full-time during vacations, which was 20 hours/ week before.   

Australia

Australia has continued to be a premier destination for Indian students seeking education. This can be attributed to its high-quality academic programmes and favourable post-study work opportunities. The primary intake periods in Australia are February and July.

Moreover, institutions like the University of Melbourne, Australian National University, and the University of Sydney, are recognised for their high global rankings. Additionally, Australian universities offer students access to advanced research facilities and strong industry connections.

Australia’s Student Visa (subclass 500) allows international students to study and work part-time during their course. On the other hand, a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) allows graduates to stay in Australia to gain work experience after successful completion of their program – up to 6 years depending on their program level and location.

Indian students are especially eligible for additional post-study work visas under the Australia- India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement. Moreover, according to the QS Best Student Cities 2025 rankings, with a blend of student diversity, employability, and quality of life, cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide rank among the world’s foremost student cities.

With robust job markets across all sectors – including healthcare, engineering, and technology, Australia presents numerous opportunities for Indian students seeking a transition from academia to industry.

For Indian students, pursuing education abroad offers a myriad of opportunities. The US, UK, Canada, and Australia remain prominent destinations, providing a blend of academic excellence, international exposure, and promising post-study work options.

As the global job market grows even more competitive, these destinations present an ideal amalgamation of high-quality education and professional advancement, thus positioning Indian students for long-term career success.

(Author is Regional Director- South Asia, Canada and Latin America (LATAM), IDP Education)

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