Archive · 26 Jul 2025
Indian Students Shift Away from US, UK, and Canada
Fewer Indian students are going to study in popular countries like the US, UK, and Canada.
In 2024, fewer students went abroad overall compared to the previous year.
Canada saw a big drop due to issues with the Indian government.
While fewer students are going to the West, more are choosing places like Bangladesh and Russia, possibly because it's cheaper and easier to get a visa.
This shift shows that students are now looking at different places for their education.
Indian students heading abroad fell to 7.59 lakh in 2024, down from 8.92 lakh in 2023.
Canada saw the largest drop, with a 41% decrease in Indian students.
The US saw a decrease from 2.34 lakh to 2.04 lakh Indian students.
The UK experienced a decline from 1.36 lakh to 98,000 Indian students.
Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Singapore saw increases in Indian student enrollment.
- Who
- Indian students.
- What
- A shift in the destinations of Indian students studying abroad.
- When
- 2024, with comparisons to 2023 data.
- Where
- Primarily India, the US, UK, Canada, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Singapore.
- Why
- Due to visa delays, immigration policies, and geopolitical uncertainty in Western nations.
- Total Indian Students Abroad (2023)
- 8.92 lakh
- Total Indian Students Abroad (2024)
- 7.59 lakh
- Canada - Indian Students (2023)
- 2,33,532
- Canada - Indian Students (2024)
- 1,37,608
- US - Indian Students (2024)
- Approximately 2.04 lakh
- UK - Indian Students (2024)
- 98,000
- Source
- Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
