Nowadays, the number of Indian students studying abroad has grown rapidly. According to a RedSeer report, it’s estimated that 1.8 million Indians will be spending US $85 billion on education overseas by 2024. Most of them are attracted by global professional opportunities and world-class universities. Interestingly, Gen Z’s are motivated by ‘self-dependence’ and ‘living life on their own terms.’
Let’s deep dive into education trends and statistics surrounding Indian students studying internationally.
How many Indians go abroad for studies every year?
In the first three months of 2022, 133,135 students left India for academic pursuits, an increase from 2020 when 259,655 students studied abroad. In 2021, there were 4,44,553 Indians – an overall increase of 41% in just one year. This number has been steadily growing over the years.
Why do Indians prefer to study in foreign countries?
India is second to China when it comes to students pursuing international courses. Apart from exciting research opportunities, most countries provide a stay back option on visas to foreign students for job search. The major draw is exposure to multiculturalism, among other factors listed below:
- Attractive salary packages (44%)
- High quality of education (33%)
- Pursue niche courses (17%)
- Gain international exposure (6%)
Which Indian states send most students abroad?
- Andhra Pradesh (12%)
- Punjab (12%)
- Maharashtra (11%)
- Gujarat (8%)
- Tamil Nadu (7%)
- Karnataka (5%)
As you can see from the data above, most students from Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Maharashtra migrate abroad, which are among the richest Indian states with presumably high awareness of the benefits of foreign education.
What are the most popular countries for international students from India?
As of January 2021, 1.09 million Indian students were studying in 85 countries. A majority of them prefer anglophone nations.
| Destination | Number of Indian students |
| Canada | 198750 |
| United States | 193124 |
| Australia | 90918 |
| UK | 27915 |
| China | 23198 |
| New Zealand | 13015 |
We did a country-wise comparison of the top 4 study destinations. Here are our key findings.
1. Canada
Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) attracts Indian students in hordes. PGWP allows students to earn points for the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)—opening up a path for permanent residency. 278,860 Indians were issued study permits in 2023. The approval rate for Canadian study permit for Indians stands at around 55%. (source)
How many students apply to Canada from India?
- 217,410 Indian students applied in 2021.
- 255,000 Indian students applied in 2020.
- 175,000 Indian students applied in 2019.
Which are the top study destinations in Canada?
| Region | University | World ranking | Indian student volume | Acceptance rate |
| Toronto | University of Toronto | 26 | 2,082 | 43% |
| Montreal | McGill University | 27 | 763 | 33.6% |
| Vancouver | University of British Columbia | 46 | 726 | 52.4% |
| Waterloo | University of Waterloo | 149 | 1,031 | 53% |
| Hamilton | McMaster University | 140 | 1,222 | 58.7% |
2. USA
USA offers a lucrative 12-month work authorisation to F-1 Indian students called Optional Practical Training (OPT). In 2020-21, nearly 43.9% of Indian students received OPT. The US is also home to the world’s leading research labs– 350 at UCLA and 1,200 at Yale University.
How many students apply to the US from India?
- 100,000 Indian students applied in 2022 (until June).
- 167,582 Indian students applied in 2021.
- 167,000 Indian students applied in 2020.
- 193,000 lakh Indian students applied in 2019.
More than 55,000 Indians have been approved to study in the US in 2022. As was expected, the number of Indians who received US study permits dropped to 62,000 in 2020 from 70,060 in 2021 owing to the impact of the pandemic.
Which are the top study destinations in the US?
| Region | University | World ranking | Indian student volume | Acceptance rate |
| Boston | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1 | 368 | 4.1% |
| San Francisco | Stanford University | 3 | 500 | 7.7% |
| Chicago | University of Chicago | 10 | 412 | 6.5% |
| New York | Columbia University | 19 | 1,134 | 6.08% |
| Los Angeles | University of California | 40 | 586 | 14.4% |
3. Australia
In 2022, the Australian government incentivised Indian students by relaxing work restrictions. Currently, there are no barriers to the number of hours they can work while studying. It also has extended work stay periods and post-study visa work duration from 2 to 3 years.
How many students apply to Australia from India?
- 66,000 Indian students applied in 2022 (until March).
- 52,500 Indian students applied in 2021.
- 24,888 Indian students applied in 2020.
- 32,603 Indian students applied in 2019.
As of March 13, 2022, more than 25,000 Indian students have been accepted to study in Australia. This is a sharp rise from 2021, when 15,310 permits were approved. The pandemic affected the second half of 2019-2020 though, as the total approved Australian student visas declined to 32%.
Which are the top study destinations in Australia?
| Region | University | World ranking | Indian student volume | Acceptance rate |
| Parkville | The University of Melbourne | 37 | 2,000 | 70% |
| Sydney | University of New South Wales | 43 | 1,200 | 30% |
| Brisbane | The University of Queensland | 47 | 798 | 40% |
| Adelaide | The University of Adelaide | 108 | 9,000 | 75% |
| Wollongong | University of Wollongong | 193 | 1,000+ | 30% |
4. UK
The UK government has made immigration liberal for Indian undergraduate and postgraduate students. It launched a new graduate visa on January 1, 2021, enabling them to work for 2 years in the UK after completing their studies (3 years for Ph.D. students). A job offer is not required to apply for the permit.
How many students apply to the UK from India?
- 8,660 Indian students applied in 2022 (until February).
- 53,015 Indian students applied in 2020.
- 41,815 Indian students applied in 2019.
As of March 2020, 50,000 Indian students were approved to study in the UK. This is a far cry from 2019, when only 37,500 students received the UK study permits. This figure stood at 20,000 in the year 2018.
Which are the top study destinations in the UK?
| Region | University | World ranking | Indian student volume | Acceptance rate |
| Oxford | University of Oxford | 2 | 381 | 17.5% |
| Cambridge | University of Cambridge | 3 | 1901 | 21% |
| London | Imperial College | 7 | 250 | 14.3% |
| Manchester | The University of Manchester | 27 | 570 | 70.4% |
| Coventry | The University of Warwick | 61 | 741 | 14% |
What are the most popular undergraduate courses in the UK for Indian students?
According to AECC Global, most Indians migrate to the UK to pursue an undergraduate degree in Business, Management, Maths, or Computer Science.
| S.No. | Undergraduate courses in the UK |
| 1. | Business |
| 2. | Management |
| 3. | Maths |
| 4. | Computer Science |
| 5. | Medicine |
| 6. | Biological Sciences |
| 7. | Social Studies |
| 8. | Creative Arts |
| 9. | Languages |
| 10. | Physical Sciences |
Key insights:
- 44% of Indians in the UK study Management and Business.
- Indian students studying Business in the UK have risen by 5% in 2019-20 since 2016-17.
- Computer Science and Maths come at a close second, at 17%.
- The number of Indians pursuing Computer Science and Maths grew from 7% in 2017-2018 to 17% in 2019-2020.
What are the most popular postgraduate courses in the UK for Indian students?
In 2020, Indians thronged to pursue their postgraduate degree in IT or Communications. Both sectors offer them strong employment opportunities in the UK. The new UK immigration scheme is an added incentive. Previously, postgraduates could only stay for 4 months in the UK to find a job. The UK administration relaxed its visa restrictions in 2021 in light of the nationwide labour shortage.
| Specialisation | Degree type | Duration |
| IT Security Management | M.Sc | 1.5 yrs |
| Strategic IT Management | M.Sc | 1.5 yrs |
| Cyber Security | M.Sc | 2 years |
| Digital Media | M.Sc | 1 year |
| International Affairs | Master | 2 years |
| Medical Education | Master | 1 year |
| Master of Business Administration | M.B.A. | 1.5 years |
| Masters of Science | M.Sc | 1 year |
| Economics | M.Sc | 1 year |
| Finance | M.Sc | 1 year |
What are the most popular industries for Indian students internationally?
In 2019, traditional industries like Engineering, Technology, and Business saw a massive student influx from India to the UK.
But in 2022, the trend has changed, with off-beat courses like Game Development, Ecotechnology, and Marine Engineering gaining precedence. These courses are not as popular in India yet, so students prefer moving to the UK.
According to Western Union’s Report on education overseas, 52% of Indian students intend to study Artificial Intelligence, Digital Marketing, Ethical Hacking, and Cyber Security in the UK.
Vaibhav Singh, the co-founder of study abroad platform Leap Scholar, agrees:
“Advanced digital skill-based courses that have seen a jump in demand include the likes of Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, etc. among others. Students are looking for courses that are niche, but gaining prominence in the professional world and can offer exciting career opportunities.”
What are the most popular university courses for Indian students abroad?
In the academic year 2020-21, the most popular fields of study for Indians were Business and Management, Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science.
Key insights:
- 78% of Indian students in the US study STEM subjects.
- In 2020-21, 1 in every 3 Indian students studied Maths, Computer Science, or Engineering in the US.
- Canada approved 43,000 Indians to study Business and Management in 2021, an increase from 2016 when there were 11,000 students.
- Management and Business gained a 12% market share between 2016 and 2021.
How much does it cost for Indian students to study abroad?
As per Western Union’s Report, budget plays a crucial factor in the decision-making process of Indian students planning to study overseas. 47% of them prefer short-duration courses, like diplomas, due to high international tuition fees.
Below, we have the segregation of tuition fees by higher education levels and countries.
| Country | Bachelor’s degree (per year) | Master’s degree (per year) |
| Canada | $22,500-50,000 | $21,014-35,000 |
| United States | $26,000-50,000 | $20,000-35,000 |
| Australia | $14,393-32,384 | $15,832-35,982 |
| UK | $13,150-34,190 | $15,030-25,050 |
| China | $1,665-3,030 | $4,200-13,760 |
| Germany | $0-26,300 | $0-36,000 |
| France | $200-3,272 | $287-4,453 |
| Spain | $802-23,577 | $1,179-23,577 |
Wrap up
A surprising trend among Indian students studying abroad is a preference for specialised courses. 52% of students intend to seek niche courses.
But qualifying language exams remain a barrier for 64% of aspirants. Check out our widely accepted and flexible English Language Level Test, if you’re planning to start your study abroad journey.
