The number of Indian students traveling abroad for higher education saw a significant decline in 2024, with Canada, the UK, and the US experiencing the most substantial drops. According to data from the Bureau of Immigration, student departures to these three nations fell by 27%, primarily due to stricter visa policies, increasing costs, and diplomatic tensions.
Meanwhile, other destinations such as Russia, Germany, and Uzbekistan have witnessed a rise in enrollments from Indian students.
Canada Experiences the Sharpest Decline
In just one year, the total number of Indian students in Canada, the UK, and the US decreased by 164,370. Canada was the most affected, recording a steep 41% drop, as the number of Indian students fell from 233,532 in 2023 to 137,608 in 2024. The UK and the US also saw reductions of 27% and 13%, respectively.
This contributed to an overall 15% decrease in the number of Indians pursuing education abroad, dropping from 892,989 in 2023 to 759,064 in 2024.
Diplomatic Tensions and Stricter Policies Impact Canada
The sharp reduction in Indian students heading to Canada coincided with worsening diplomatic relations between Ottawa and Delhi. The tensions escalated in September 2023 after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In response to these allegations, India withdrew security for Canadian diplomats, which led Canada to recall 41 of its diplomats.
Following these developments, Canada imposed tighter visa and student permit rules. The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced new regulations granting authorities greater power to revoke study and work permits under specific conditions.
UK’s Visa Restrictions on Family Members
The UK also implemented policy changes affecting international students. In January 2024, the British government introduced a rule barring most international students—except those enrolled in postgraduate research or government-funded programs—from bringing family members.
This restriction likely discouraged Indian students, contributing to the 27% decline in enrollments in the UK.
Indian Students Seek Alternative Destinations
As the appeal of traditional study destinations waned, countries like Germany, Russia, and Uzbekistan emerged as preferred choices for Indian students.
Germany experienced an increase of 34,702 Indian students in 2024.
Similarly, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh saw growth, with 9,915 and 8,864 more Indian students enrolling, respectively.
Russia recorded a 34% surge in Indian student enrollments, benefiting from affordable education and more lenient visa policies.
This marks only the second time since 2019, excluding the pandemic year of 2020, that the number of Indian students studying abroad has dropped. Whether these figures recover in 2025 will depend on various factors, including visa regulations, diplomatic relations, and economic conditions.
