Over 7.5 lakh Indian students studying abroad in 240 countries

The number of Indian students studying abroad has been on a steady rise in recent years, as students look to broaden their horizons and gain international experience. As per available data, there are currently over 7.5 lakh Indian students studying abroad in over 240 countries, with UK, US, Australia, and Canada remain the top choices, there is growing interest in other destinations such as Uzbekistan, the Philippines, Russia, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. In the US, the number of Indian students enrolled increased by 20% to almost 200,000 in the 2021-2022 academic year, surpassing the number of Chinese international students. 

 

The data indicates that the number of Indian students studying abroad has increased significantly following the pandemic. In 2022, around 750,000 Indian students pursued higher education overseas, which is a notable rise from 450,000 in 2017 and 260,000 in 2020. In 2022, India surpassed China as the leading source of international students in the US. The top choices for Indian students still include the UK, US, Australia, and Canada.

 

The USA has always been a popular destination for Indian students seeking higher education. According to the data available, there were 211,930 Indian students studying in the USA in 2022. The number of Indian students in the USA has seen a consistent increase over the years, with a surge of nearly 20% in the number of Indian students studying in the USA for the academic year 2021-2022 alone. This can be attributed to various factors, such as the quality of education, diverse course options, and the post-study work visa options available in the USA. The total number of enrolled students was 1,99,182.

 

Canada is another country that has seen a steady rise in the influx of Indian students. The number of Indian students in Canada was over 2.2 lakhs in 2019, constituting 34% of Canada’s foreign student population. Currently, there are more than 3 lakh Indian students studying in Canada. The country’s high standard of living, welcoming culture, and quality education options are some of the reasons why Indian students are choosing Canada as their study destination.

 

 UK has also been a popular choice for Indian students seeking higher education. The announcement of the Graduate Route visa by the British government in 2019 has further increased the number of Indian students joining UK universities. In 2022, Britain granted 1.4 lakh sponsored study visas to Indians, a significant increase from 34,261 visas in 2019. The UK’s high-quality education system, diverse course options, and the opportunity to gain work experience after graduation are some of the reasons why Indian students are attracted to studying in the UK.

 

Australia is also a popular destination for Indian students seeking higher education. According to the data available, there were 92,383 Indian students studying in Australia in 2022. Australia’s welcoming culture, high standard of living, and quality education options are some of the reasons why Indian students are choosing Australia as their study destination. Moreover, the post-study work visa options available in Australia make it an attractive option for Indian students seeking to gain work experience after graduation.

 

Germany has also seen a significant increase in the number of Indian students studying in the country. In 2022, there were 20,810 Indian students studying in Germany. The country’s high-quality education system, diverse course options, and the opportunity to gain work experience after graduation are some of the reasons why Indian students are attracted to studying in Germany. Moreover, the tuition fees and living expenses in Germany are relatively lower compared to other popular study destinations, making it an attractive option for Indian students.

 

Among students pursuing medical studies, Ukraine and China have traditionally been popular destinations. However, the current crisis in Ukraine has raised concerns about the future of approximately 18,000 Indian medical students studying there. Meanwhile, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, about 23,000 medical students who were studying in China have been unable to return. China resumed issuing student visas in August last year, and approximately 6,200 Indian students were able to obtain them.

 

While some countries have seen a surge in the number of Indian students, others have remained a popular choice over the years. For instance, countries like France and  Greece have continued to attract a significant number of Indian students. France has 10,000 Indian students pursuing higher education. France is aiming to attract 20,000 Indian students by 2025, while Greece plans to increase its outreach to Indian academic institutions through the “Study in Greece” platform. 

 

Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia have also emerged as popular destinations for Indian students. The United Arab Emirates has the highest number of Indian students studying abroad, with a staggering 2.19 lakh students currently enrolled in various courses across the country. The country’s strategic location, coupled with its welcoming policies towards international students, has made it a preferred choice for many Indian students.

 

Apart from these popular destinations, Indian students are also exploring other study destinations such as Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.

 

The trend of Indian students opting to study abroad has been on the rise in recent years. While some countries have seen a surge in the number of Indian students, others have remained a popular choice over the years. The reasons for this trend vary from the high-quality education system and diverse cultural experiences to the welcoming immigration policies and robust job markets. As Indian students continue to explore options abroad, it is evident that the trend is here to stay.

In the table Below you can find the data of the Indian students studying abroad

S.No.	Name of Country	No. of Students
1	Antigua & Barbuda	40
2	Armenia	3000
3	Australia	92383
4	Austria	350
5	Azerbaijan	123
6	Bangladesh	5200
7	Beirut	2
8	Belarus	906
9	Barbados	86
10	Belgrade	4
11	Belgium	764
12	Bhutan	4
13	Brazil	4
14	Brunei Darussalam	9
15	Bulgaria	357
16	Canada	215720
17	China	23000
18	Cuba (Dominican Republic)	6
19	Cyprus	3007
20	Czech Republic	658
21	Denmark	369
22	Egypt	356
23	Estonia	257
24	Finland	1051
25	France	10000
26	Georgia	7500
27	Germany	20810
28	Greece	7
29	Guyana	184
30	Hong Kong	916
31	Hungary	419
32	Iceland	17
33	Indonesia	8
34	Iran	1700
35	Ireland	5000
36	Israel	550
37	Italy	4634
38	Japan	1694
39	Jamaica	125
40	Jordan	2
41	Kazakhstan	5300
42	Kenya	254
43	Kuwait	178
44	Kyrgyzstan	10000
45	Latvia	1850
46	Lebanon	5
47	Lithuania	800
48	Luxembourg	80
49	Malaysia	2000
50	Malta	434
51	Mauritius	807
52	Mexico	150
53	Moldova	262
54	Mozambique	2
55	Nepal	2200
56	Netherlands	1469
57	New Zealand	30000
58	Norway	480
59	Oman	43,600
60	Pakistan	230
61	Panama (also Costa Rica, Nicaragua)	109
62	Philippines	15000
63	Poland	4000
64	Portugal	415
65	Qatar	150
66	Republic of Korea	592
67	Reunion Island	3
68	Romania	700
69	Russia Federation	16500
70	Saudi Arabia	80800
71	Serbia	1
72	Singapore	1500
73	Slovakia	70
74	Slovenia	36
75	South Africa	434
76	Spain	1500
77	Sri Lanka	7
78	St. Denis	2
79	St. Kitts & Nevis	10
80	St. Lucia	211
81	St. Vincent & Grenadines	59
82	Sudan	10
83	Sweden	2000
84	Switzerland	1850
85	Taiwan	150
86	Tajikistan	1199
87	Tanzania	2
88	Thailand	297
89	Trinidad & Tobago	81
90	Turkey	48
91	Ukraine	18000
92	United Arab Emirates	219000
93	United Kingdom	55465
94	USA	211930
95	Uzbekistan	50
96	Venezuela	229
97	Vietnam	1
98	Yemen	6
99	Zagreb	9