Indian students choosing to study in Canada, the UK, and the US dropped by 164,370 in just one year. According to the Bureau of Immigration, this decline led to an overall 15% reduction in students going abroad, from 892,989 in 2023 to 759,064 in 2024.
Canada was hit the hardest, with student numbers falling by 41% from 233,532 in 2023 to 137,608 in 2024. The UK and the US also saw declines of 27% and 13%, respectively.
Canada Faces Diplomatic and Policy Challenges
The sharp drop in Indian students choosing Canada aligns with ongoing diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and Delhi. In September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, escalating tensions.
As a result, India withdrew security protections for Canadian diplomats, and Canada recalled 41 of its diplomats from India. This strained relationship coincided with Canada tightening its visa and study permit rules, making it harder for students to get approvals.
UK’s New Visa Rules Impact Student Enrollment
In 2023, the UK government introduced a rule preventing most international students from bringing family members unless they were in postgraduate research or government-funded programs. This restriction, implemented in January 2024, likely discouraged many Indian students, contributing to the 27% decline.
Rising Interest in Alternative Destinations
With traditional destinations becoming less accessible, Indian students are exploring new countries for higher education.
- Germany saw an increase of 34,702 Indian students.
- Uzbekistan and Bangladesh recorded jumps of 9,915 and 8,864 students, respectively.
- Russia saw a 34% rise in Indian student enrollments due to affordable tuition, easier visa processes, and growing academic collaborations.
Will the Numbers Rebound in 2025?
Apart from the pandemic year of 2020, this is only the second time since 2019 that the number of Indian students going abroad has fallen. Future trends will depend on diplomatic relations, visa policies, and economic conditions in these countries.
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