The number of Indian students moving abroad for higher education has declined sharply over the past two years, with the latest data showing a significant drop from the 2023 peak.
According to data shared by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI), Ministry of Home Affairs, the number of Indians who declared “study/education” as their purpose of travel stood at 894,758 in 2023.
The figure fell to 760,060 in 2024 and declined further to 619,264 in 2025, marking a drop of nearly 31% from 2023. The trend was notably different between 2021 and 2023, when the number of students going abroad increased each year. The figure rose from 445,580 in 2021 to 894,758 in 2023, nearly doubling in two years.
Foreign Universities Set Up Campuses in India
Over the past few years, India has taken several steps to encourage prestigious foreign universities to open campuses in the country. Such campuses give Indian students an opportunity to pursue programs offered by leading global institutions without having to move abroad.
This can reduce the additional financial burden associated with overseas education while strengthening academic collaboration between Indian and foreign institutions. At the same time, several premier Indian institutions have established campuses overseas, expanding their international presence and giving students in other countries access to programs offered by leading Indian institutes.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued 16 Letters of Intent (LoIs) to Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) from Australia, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Of these, six LoIs have been issued to FHEIs in Karnataka, six in Maharashtra, three in Delhi-NCR, and one in Tamil Nadu.
