A significant decline in the number of Indian students opting for higher education in the United States has raised concerns among US universities and policymakers.
According to Christopher Clary, associate professor at the University at Albany, the 13% drop from 2023 to 2024 is alarming. “The drop in Indian students studying in the US by 13% from 2023 to 2024 should be a cause for concern for US universities and policymakers. I suspect some of it is a depreciating rupee against the dollar, some policy uncertainty ahead of Trump. But it’s a warning sign,” Clary shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The declining value of the Indian rupee has made education in the US more expensive. In March 2023, the rupee traded between approximately Rs 81.71 and Rs 82.72 per US dollar. As of March 11, 2025, the rate stands at around Rs 87.34 per dollar, increasing the cost of tuition and living for Indian students.
Overall decline in Indian students abroad
Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar presented data indicating a broader decline in Indian students going abroad. The number fell by nearly 15% in 2024 compared to 2023:
2022: 7,50,365 students abroad
2023: 8,92,989 students (a post-pandemic increase)
2024: 7,59,064 students (15% decrease)
Canada experiences sharpest decline
Canada saw the most substantial decline in Indian student numbers, dropping by 41% from 2,33,532 in 2023 to 1,37,608 in 2024. The drop is attributed to stricter student visa regulations, increased rejection rates, and potential study permit cancellations. Diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, exacerbated by the October 2023 withdrawal of Canadian diplomats from India and subsequent expulsions in October 2024, have also played a role.
Declines in other major destinations
The decrease in Indian students was not limited to Canada:
United States: Numbers fell from 2,34,473 in 2023 to 2,04,058 in 2024 (12.9% drop). Policy uncertainty related to Donald Trump’s possible return contributed to the decline.
United Kingdom: Dropped from 1,36,921 in 2023 to 98,890 in 2024 (27.7% decrease), attributed to stricter visa rules and post-study work policy changes.
Australia: Decreased from 78,093 in 2023 to 68,572 in 2024 (12% drop), due to higher visa fees, stringent entry requirements, and housing concerns.
China: Fell from 7,279 in 2023 to 4,978 in 2024.
Countries seeing growth in Indian student numbers
Conversely, several countries have seen an increase in Indian students:
Russia: Increased from 19,784 in 2022 to 23,503 in 2023, reaching 31,444 in 2024.
France: Grew from 6,406 in 2022 to 7,484 in 2023 and 8,536 in 2024.
Germany: Jumped from 20,684 in 2022 to 23,296 in 2023, reaching 34,702 in 2024.
New Zealand: Surged from 1,605 in 2022 to 7,297 in 2024.
However, the Philippines experienced a slight decline, with numbers dropping from 11,261 in 2022 to 8,101 in 2024.
The trends highlight shifting preferences among Indian students, driven by economic factors, diplomatic relations, and immigration policies.
