New Delhi: The number of Indians studying abroad dipped by nearly 15 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, with the most significant decline observed in students who opted for Canada—a 41 percent drop—the education ministry informed Parliament Monday.
The ministry data also indicated that the number of Indian students going to Russia increased last year by 33.7 percent compared to 2023.
In response to a question by Lok Sabha member and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader E. T. Mohammed Basheer on details of Indians pursuing their education overseas, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar presented data from the past three years in the lower house.
According to the data, 7,50,365 Indians were studying abroad in 2022. This number increased to 8,92,989 in 2023, reflecting a post-pandemic rise. However, it fell to 7,59,064 in 2024, showing a decline of nearly 15 percent.
The country-wise breakdown of the data revealed a sharp decline in the number of students choosing to study in Canada, with the figure dropping to 1,37,608 in 2024 from 2,33,532 in 2023—a dramatic decrease of 41 percent.
Canada’s decision to tighten student visa regulations last year has had a significant impact on Indian students, leading to increased visa rejection rates, stricter application scrutiny, and the potential cancellation of study permits.
The decline is set against the backdrop of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries. In October 2023, Canada recalled 41 diplomats from India as New Delhi sought ‘parity’ in diplomatic presence amid a row over the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Relations further deteriorated in October 2024, when both nations expelled each other’s diplomats amid accusations and counter-accusations related to Nijjar’s killing.
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Drop in students moving to UK, US, Australia
According to education ministry data, there has also been a decline in Indians going to study in countries like the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia.
The number of students heading to the US has decreased from 2,34,473 in 2023 to 204,058 in 2024—a decline of 12.9 percent. This is likely due to uncertainties surrounding the policies of the Trump administration, which led many students to reconsider studying in the US last year.
In the case of the UK, the number of students dropped from 1,36,921 in 2023 to 98,890 in 2024, a significant decrease of 27.7 percent, possibly due to stricter visa regulations and post-study work policies.
Australia saw a 12 percent drop in student numbers, from 78,093 in 2023 to 68,572 in 2024. This is largely due to recent policy changes, including higher visa fees, stricter requirements, and concerns over housing affordability.
Additionally, there was a decline in the number of Indian students traveling to China, with the figure dropping from 7,279 in 2023 to 4,978 in 2024.
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Russia, France, Germany witnessed uptick
The data shows a significant increase in the number of Indian students going to Russia over the past three years. From 19,784 students in 2022, the number rose to 23,503 in 2023 and further increased to 31,444 in 2024.
Similarly, the number of Indian students heading to France has grown, from 6,406 in 2022 to 7,484 in 2023, and reaching 8,536 in 2024.
Germany also saw a rise in student numbers, with 34,702 students in 2024 compared to 23,296 in 2023 and 20,684 in 2022.
New Zealand too witnessed a sharp increase, with students rising from 1,605 in 2022 to 7,297 in 2024. Meanwhile, the Philippines saw a slight decline, from 11,261 students in 2022 to 8,101 in 2024.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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The decline of Indian students in Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand should go down by around 80%. That should be a correct figure.