Indian students are increasingly exploring higher education opportunities in countries like the US, UK, and Canada, as well as in new destinations like Germany, Ireland, Japan, Australia, and Singapore.
According to the Indian Bureau of Immigration, the top ten destinations for Indians going abroad for higher studies during the last 5 years are the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Russian Federation, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Singapore. The number of Indian students studying abroad is estimated at 15 lakh.
The Ministry of External Affairs data shows that the total number of students from India pursuing graduate and post-graduate studies in foreign countries reached 1.3 million (13 lakh) in 2024.
Number of Indian students pursuing higher education in foreign countries as of 01.01.2024
Canada: 427000
United States of America: 337630
United Kingdom: 185000
Australia: 122202
Germany: 42997
UAE: 25000
In fact, the number of Indians choosing to study abroad rose from 4.5 lakh in 2017 to 5.2 lakh in 2018 to around 5.86 lakh in 2019, as per government data. The pandemic resulted in this number crashing to 2.6 lakh in 2020.
In 2020, 259655 students went overseas, in 2021 the number shot up to 4,44,553 which increased to 7.5 lakh in 2022, 9.3 lakh in 2023 and over 10.33 lakh in 2024.
Indians going abroad for higher education touched a six-year high in 2022 at over 7.5 lakh. According to the data provided in the Lok Sabha, the proportion of Indian students studying abroad rose by 68.79% in 2022. As per Canada’s IRCC records, over 2,26,450 Indian students went to study in Canada in 2022.
America remains a popular option for international students. The number of students from India to the United States increased by 35 percent and resulted in an all-time high of 268,923 students in the academic year 2022-23. Indian students constitute more than 25 percent of the over one million foreign students studying in the United States.
According to the Open Doors Report, India sent 331,602 students to study in the US in 2023–2024—a 23% increase over the previous year. In 2023–2024, India sent more students to study in America than China for the first time since 2009.
India’s study population in Germany has doubled in the last five years, making it the second-largest international student group in the country.
According to the latest numbers from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, the number of Indian students studying in Germany has climbed by 15.1% in the last year. In the 2023-2024 Winter Semester, 49483 Indian students studied in Germany.
Globalization has significantly influenced international studies, providing students with unique opportunities and fostering a more interconnected world, leading to a consistent increase in international students.
Study abroad patterns have been redefined in recent years by India’s expanding student population, which is driven by exposure, skill development, and well-paying jobs. The Ministry of External Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha that Indian students are now studying in 240 nations worldwide. Canada, Australia, the UK, and the US remain the top choices.