Additionally, the number of Indian students studying in the US and the UK has decreased, as more students choose to study in France and Germany.
The education ministry told Parliament Monday that the number of Indians studying overseas fell by about 15 percent in 2024 compared to the year before, with the largest drop being among students who chose Canada—a 41 percent drop.
Additionally, according to the ministry data, there were 33.7 percent more Indian students traveling to Russia last year than there were in 2023.
Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar gave data from the previous three years in the lower house in answer to a query about the number of Indians studying abroad posed by Lok Sabha member and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader E. T. Mohammed Basheer.
In 2022, 7,50,365 Indians were studying overseas, according to the data. In 2023, this figure rose to 8,92,989, indicating a post-pandemic growth. But in 2024, it dropped to 7,59,064, indicating a drop of about 15%.
According to the data, the number of students choosing to study in Canada has drastically decreased, falling from 2,33,532 in 2023 to 1,37,608 in 2024—a stunning 41 percent decrease.
Indian students have been significantly impacted by Canada’s move to tighten student visa requirements last year, which has resulted in higher visa denial rates, more stringent application review, and the possibility of study permit cancellation.
Growing political tensions between the two nations are the backdrop for the decline. As New Delhi sought “parity” in diplomatic presence during a dispute over the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada recalled 41 Indian ambassadors in October 2023. When both countries dismissed each other’s diplomats in October 2024 after charges and rebuttals regarding Nijjar’s murder, relations further soured.
Decline in students relocating to the US, UK, and Australia
Data from the education ministry indicates that fewer Indians are studying abroad in nations like Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The number of students traveling to the United States has dropped by 12.9 percent, from 2,34,473 in 2023 to 204,058 in 2024. This is probably because many students decided not to study in the US last year owing to uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s policy.
In the UK, the number of students fell from 1,36,921 in 2023 to 98,890 in 2024, a notable 27.7% fall, presumably as a result of more stringent post-study job laws and visa requirements.
The number of students in Australia decreased by 12 percent between 2023 and 2024, from 78,093 to 68,572. Recent legislative changes, such as increased visa fees, more stringent procedures, and worries about the affordability of housing, are mostly to blame for this.
The number of Indian students visiting China also decreased, falling from 7,279 in 2023 to 4,978 in 2024.
Germany, France, and Russia saw increases
Over the previous three years, the number of Indian students traveling to Russia has significantly increased, according to the data. The number of pupils climbed from 19,784 in 2022 to 23,503 in 2023 and then to 31,444 in 2024.
The number of Indian students studying in France has also increased, rising from 6,406 in 2022 to 7,484 in 2023 and 8,536 in 2024 and beyond.
The number of students in Germany increased as well, rising from 20,684 in 2022 to 34,702 in 2024 from 23,296 in 2023.
The number of students in New Zealand increased significantly as well, from 1,605 in 2022 to 7,297 in 2024. In the meantime, the number of students in the Philippines decreased slightly, from 11,261 in 2022 to 8,101 in 2024.
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