Market Snapshot: India

India remains one of the world’s most important international student markets, but student behaviour is shifting rapidly. Demand is becoming more value-driven, destination-diverse and increasingly influenced by visa certainty, affordability and post-study outcomes.

Key findings

• U.S. demand down 40–60% (2023–2025), driven by visa uncertainty, OPT and H-1B concerns—despite continued strength in STEM, where ~70% of Indian students still enrol.

• UK is the only “Big 4” market showing growth, while Canada and the U.S. have lost a combined 170,000+ Indian students year-on-year.

• Alternative destinations accelerating: Germany, Ireland, France and Dubai are gaining share due to lower costs, strong job markets and clearer post-study work options.

• Dubai’s rise is significant, with Indian students making up 42% of international higher-education enrolments.

• Students are highly ROI-focused, prioritising affordability, internships, employability and post-study outcomes over rankings.

• Overall Indian spend on overseas education has fallen 58% since 2021, indicating a structural, not temporary, shift.

• Transnational Education (TNE) is expanding quickly, supported by NEP 2020, branch campuses, joint degrees and hybrid delivery.

Why it matters

• India remains a critical volume and strategic market, even as outbound mobility softens.

• Institutions relying on traditional recruitment models or visa-dependent pathways face increasing risk.

• Growth opportunities lie in STEM, value-led pathways, UK-aligned provision, emerging destinations and TNE models.

• Providers that align with ROI, employability and flexible delivery will be best positioned to capture demand as the market continues to evolve.