In the evolving landscape of preferred destinations for Indian students, a notable shift has occurred over the past year. Although Canada maintains its stronghold as the top choice, followed by the United States, the United Kingdom has surpassed Australia, securing the third position. The insights are derived from the Indian Students Mobility Report 2023, providing entry statistics for the year 2022.
The Shifting Landscape of Indian Student Mobility: A Closer Look at Destination Preferences and Year-on-Year Growth
The data reveals a dynamic pattern, with the UK experiencing the most substantial year-on-year growth at 49.6%, closely trailed by Canada at 46.8%. The United States also witnessed significant expansion at 18.9%, while Australia registered a relatively modest increase of 0.7%. Notably, Canada has dominated as the preferred destination for Indian students in three of the past four years, with the US claiming the top spot in 2021.
In the years 2019, 2020, and 2021, Australia secured the third position, with the UK trailing at fourth. However, this sequence underwent a transformation in 2022. During this period, Canada demonstrated the highest year-on-year growth, signaling potential pent-up demand in the student mobility market after a probable decline due to the Covid-19 pandemic in preceding years.
Navigating Challenges: An Analysis of Indian Student Mobility Amid Diplomatic Tensions and Shifting Preferences in Canadian and Australian Higher Education
Despite recent diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, the Indian Students Mobility Report remains optimistic about sustained student interest. The unfolding situation may pose a risk to projections, particularly if it disrupts the visa-processing capabilities of the Canadian high commission. In such a scenario, a segment of the market may explore alternative destinations.
Over the past five years, Canada has notably increased its intake of Indian students by over 86%, nearly doubling its numbers since 2018. However, projections suggest a potential moderation in Canada’s momentum in the coming years. Meanwhile, Australia’s appeal as a top international student destination has witnessed a gradual decline over the same period. Although it maintained the second position until 2019, it slipped to fourth in 2021. For Indian students specifically, Australia dropped to the third position in 2019 and further to the fourth place in 2022.
