Study Abroad Rush Cools: Indian Students Going Overseas Fall 31% in 2 Years
The number of Indian students going abroad for higher education has declined significantly over the past two years, falling nearly 31% between 2023 and 2025, according to data shared by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI), Ministry of Home Affairs.
The data shows that 8,94,758 Indians travelled abroad for study or education purposes in 2023. The figure declined to 7,60,060 in 2024 and fell further to 6,19,264 in 2025.
Overseas Education Numbers Decline
The latest figures mark a notable shift in the overseas education trend. Between 2021 and 2023, the number of Indians travelling abroad for education had almost doubled.
In 2021, around 4,45,580 Indians travelled overseas for study purposes. This increased to 8,94,758 in 2023 before beginning to decline.
The data indicates a change in the pace of international student mobility from India.
Foreign Universities Expand Presence in India
At the same time, India has taken steps to encourage reputed foreign universities to establish campuses within the country.
Foreign university campuses can allow Indian students to access international programmes without relocating overseas. This could reduce some of the additional costs associated with studying abroad while also encouraging academic and research collaboration between Indian and international institutions.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued 16 Letters of Intent (LoIs) to Foreign Higher Educational Institutions from countries including Australia, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Of these, six LoIs were issued to institutions in Karnataka, six in Maharashtra, three in Delhi-NCR and one in Tamil Nadu.
Several foreign universities have also received approval to begin academic operations in India. The University of Southampton and the University of New South Wales have established campuses in Gurugram and Bengaluru, respectively.
Indian Institutes Expand Overseas
While foreign universities are establishing campuses in India, leading Indian institutions are also expanding internationally.
IIT Madras established its Zanzibar campus in 2023, while IIT Delhi opened its Abu Dhabi campus in 2024. IIM Ahmedabad established its Dubai campus in 2025.
IIM Ahmedabad launched a one-year full-time MBA programme at its Dubai campus in September 2025, along with a General Management programme for professionals from the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
IIT Madras' Zanzibar campus offers programmes including Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Ocean Structures. More than 100 students are enrolled in various BS programmes at the campus.
IIT Delhi's Abu Dhabi campus offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes. During the 2025-26 academic year, the campus had 171 students.
Government Focuses on Higher Education
The Government of India has introduced several measures to strengthen the country's higher education system, including initiatives under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
These measures include improving infrastructure in publicly funded institutions, promoting accreditation, encouraging research and innovation, and expanding digital education initiatives.
The government is also working to increase access to quality educational opportunities within India.
India Records Higher Representation in QS Rankings
India's higher education ecosystem has also gained greater representation in global university rankings.
According to the QS World University Rankings 2027, 52 Indian institutions feature in the rankings, marking India's highest-ever representation. This compares with 11 Indian institutions in the QS World University Rankings 2015.
India also ranked 38th globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025, reflecting the country's growing presence in research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Study in India Scheme Targets International Students
India is also seeking to attract students from other countries through the Study in India scheme, launched by the Ministry of Education in 2018.
The initiative aims to promote India as an international education destination by offering access to quality higher education at comparatively affordable costs.
The Study in India portal provides international students with information and services related to admissions and visa applications, creating a central platform for accessing India's higher education opportunities.
Changing Higher Education Landscape
The decline in Indians travelling overseas for education comes as India continues to expand its domestic higher education infrastructure and international collaborations.
The growth of foreign university campuses in India, the overseas expansion of IITs and IIMs, and initiatives such as Study in India indicate an increasingly interconnected higher education ecosystem.
While overseas education remains an important pathway for Indian students, the latest figures suggest that the pattern of international student mobility is changing.
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