The number of Indians travelling abroad for studies declined by 15 per cent in 2024 as countries worldwide tightened their visa regulations.
As per a reply by Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State in the Education ministry, in the Lok Sabha on Monday, 7,59,064 students went abroad for studies, according to information provided by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI). While this is a dip from 8,92,989 students in 2023, the number of students travelling overseas for education is marginally higher compared to 2022, when it was 7,50,365.
The data pertains to the number of Indians who disclosed their purpose of visit as “Study/Education” while going abroad. The data from BoI for prior years, as per information shared in Lok Sabha earlier, shows that the 2024 tally is higher than in the pre-pandemic days of 2019, when 5,86,337 students went abroad for studies.
Interestingly, the top destination countries that registered the biggest decline (in percentage terms) are Canada, US, and UK, all of whom have tightened Visa regulations for immigrants. In the backdrop of worsening diplomatic relations with Canada in 2024, the country had become stricter on student visa regulations. This had led to increased visa rejections and more scrutiny on applications.
Indian students travelling to Canada dipped 41 per cent; the UK saw a 27 per cent decrease, and 13 per cent fewer students travelled to the US for their studies in 2024. Australia also saw a 12 per cent decline. At 2,04,058, the US welcomed the maximum number of Indian students in 2024. Canada had the second-highest at 1,37,608. China is another country that saw a decline as 7279 students went to China in 2023 while only 4,978 went for studies in 2024.
Interestingly, Germany, Bangladesh, Russia, and Ireland were among the top countries that saw biggest jump in Indian students travelling for studies at 49 per cent, 44 per cent, 34 per cent and 30 per cent increase respectively At 34,702 there was a 49 per cent jump in Indians going to Germany for their studies. 31,444 students went to Russia for studies in 2024 compared to 23,503 in 2023. France, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan are among other countries that saw an increase in Indian students who traveled for studies in 2024.
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