The Great Indian Wave Taking Over International Education

Article Featured On: The Times Of India

In recent years, the Indian subcontinent has emerged as one of the leading sources for foreign universities. According to the data from UNESCO Institute of Statistics, India is the second-largest source of international students in the world, after China. The region’s rapidly growing economy and increasing global influence have paved the way for its education system to make a mark on the world stage. If one were to draw a comparison from the last 7-8 years, the Institute of International Education highlights that the number of students from the Indian subcontinent studying in the United States has been gradually rising over the past decade. The majority of these students were from India, which consistently ranks as one of the prominent sources of international students to the United States. According to the Open Doors 2022 Report on International Educational Exchange, published by the Institute of International Education and the State Department in November 2022- 199,182 Indian students studied in the United States during the 2021–2022 academic year, an increase of almost 20% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), China sent 33,569 less students in 2021 than it did in 2020, while India sent 25,391 more.

Also, the Australian Department of Home Affairs (ADHA) revealed that during the first half of the fiscal year 2022–23, nearly 250,000 overseas students were given student visas. Furthermore,  Indians were Australia’s largest student population with over 43,400 visas granted to students, thus surpassing China.

Another data by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has highlighted that India has overtaken China as with 226,450 students, India has become the top source of new international students entering Canada in 2022. This continues to see a positive rising trend with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries contributing to the momentum.

Factors leading to the rise of  Indian subcontinent students’ foreign migration for advanced studies: According to the UK Home Office visa statistics, Indians received the most student visas to the UK during the year ending September 2022, adding to 127,731. This is an increase of 93,470 (+273%) compared to 2019 (34,261) student visa grants to main applicant Indian nation nationals in the year ending September 2022. Many students from the Indian subcontinent pursue advanced studies in specialised fields such as engineering, medicine, computer science, and business. They believe that foreign universities offer better programs in these fields than their home countries. Studying abroad also provides students from the Indian subcontinent with exposure to different cultures, which broadens their horizons and helps them gain a global perspective.

Indian subcontinent surpassing China as the vital source for foreign students: As per the latest industry statistics illustrated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), progressive nations like India from the Indian subcontinent region have been surpassing China as the source of international students. The most popular foreign education destinations for Indian students are the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. One of the major aspects leading to the phenomenal success of the Indian subcontinent as an emerging source for international students is the popularity of English as a foreign language in the region as compared to China. English is widely spoken in the Indian subcontinent, and many students are proficient in the language. Such students may easily enrol in international universities where English is the main language of instruction. The UK, US, Canada, and Australia are the nations with whom the Indian subcontinent has historical, cultural, academic, diplomatic and intellectual relations. This makes it easier for students from the Indian subcontinent to adapt to the respective foreign cultures and environments.

Foreign universities see India as an imperative source of foreign students due to several reasons. Firstly, India has a large and growing population of young people, many of whom are seeking higher education opportunities abroad. As per the latest data provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, the number of Indians enrolled in foreign varsities increased from 4.44 lakh in 2021 to 7.5 lakh in 2022. Secondly, India is home to a large number of talented and highly educated students, many of whom are looking to study at top-ranked universities around the world. Finally, India’s economic growth and increasing global influence are making it an important player in the international education market.

The Indian subcontinent has emerged as an important market for foreign education with a strong foothold on the international landscape.