Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Over 7.5 lakh students went abroad for higher studies last year, compared to 4,44,553 in 2021, with the most preferred destinations being the US, Canada and the UK.

The dip in Covid-19 cases and the lifting of travel restrictions played a major role. In 2020, only 2,59,655 students went abroad for studies, as per the information shared by the Ministry of Education in Parliament. 

Though in 2020 and 2021, travel came to a halt due to the pandemic, the US, Canada and the UK continued to draw students. 

In 2022, 7,50,365 students went abroad, with the maximum – at 1,90,512 – heading to the US. In 2021, 1,25,115 students went to the US, compared to 62,415 in 2020.

Canada, the second most preferred destination, attracted 43,624 students in 2020 and 1,02,688 in 2021. The number went up to 1,85,955 in 2022.

The UK – which has always been a sought-after destination for Indian students – attracted 1,32,709 students in 2022, compared to 77,855 in 2021 and 44,901 in 2020.

Australia too continued to attract Indian students, with 59,044 students preferring its higher institutes in 2022. 

The number stood at 8,950 in 2021 and 33,629 in 2020. 

After these countries, Germany was the preferred choice for Indian students. In 2022, 20,684 students went for higher studies, compared to 16,259 in 2021 and 9,865 in 2020.

After Germany, Kyrgyzstan was the most sought-after destination. In 2020, 14,728 students went to this central Asian country. In 2021, the figure stood at 15,162 compared to 865 in 2020.

Though Ukraine attracted as many as 18,596 students in 2021, the number drastically dwindled in 2022, when only 2,199 stayed back despite the Ukraine-Russia war. Thousands of students, mainly medical students, were evacuated by India.

Russia, which saw only 1,387 students opting for its higher institutions in 2020, saw 15,814 students in 2021. The figure went up to 19,784 in 2022. 

Singapore (17,085), Philippines (11,261), Kazakhstan (8,895), France (6,406), Italy (3,507), Uzbekistan (3,430), Malaysia (2,453), Netherlands (1,901), and New Zealand (1,605) were the other countries that Indian students preferred for higher studies in 2022.

Speaking to The New Indian Express, University Grants Commission chairman Prof M. Jagadesh Kumar said that the number of students who wish to go abroad will continue to increase because India has a large number of students who wish to pursue a university education.

“However, students who wish to stay in India but study at a foreign university campus in India will benefit from the UGC regulations,” he said, referring to the recent UGC draft notification that will facilitate the establishment of campuses of foreign higher education institutions in India.

After the regulations are announced by May this year, the online application portal will be launched by the UGC. 

“Interested foreign universities will start applying after this. Setting up a campus by a foreign university will take time. In the next two to three years, we will see some foreign university campuses in India,” Prof Kumar added. 

He claimed it is a “misnomer to assume that setting up foreign university campuses in India will reverse the trend of Indian students going abroad. Those students who wish to have the experience of working in a different cultural atmosphere and those who want to work abroad after obtaining a degree at a foreign university will continue to go.”

Meanwhile, two Australian universities will soon be setting up their campuses in Gujarat’s Gift City. 

NEW DELHI: Over 7.5 lakh students went abroad for higher studies last year, compared to 4,44,553 in 2021, with the most preferred destinations being the US, Canada and the UK. The dip in Covid-19 cases and the lifting of travel restrictions played a major role. In 2020, only 2,59,655 students went abroad for studies, as per the information shared by the Ministry of Education in Parliament.  Though in 2020 and 2021, travel came to a halt due to the pandemic, the US, Canada and the UK continued to draw students. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); }); In 2022, 7,50,365 students went abroad, with the maximum – at 1,90,512 – heading to the US. In 2021, 1,25,115 students went to the US, compared to 62,415 in 2020. Canada, the second most preferred destination, attracted 43,624 students in 2020 and 1,02,688 in 2021. The number went up to 1,85,955 in 2022. The UK – which has always been a sought-after destination for Indian students – attracted 1,32,709 students in 2022, compared to 77,855 in 2021 and 44,901 in 2020. Australia too continued to attract Indian students, with 59,044 students preferring its higher institutes in 2022.  The number stood at 8,950 in 2021 and 33,629 in 2020.  After these countries, Germany was the preferred choice for Indian students. In 2022, 20,684 students went for higher studies, compared to 16,259 in 2021 and 9,865 in 2020. After Germany, Kyrgyzstan was the most sought-after destination. In 2020, 14,728 students went to this central Asian country. In 2021, the figure stood at 15,162 compared to 865 in 2020. Though Ukraine attracted as many as 18,596 students in 2021, the number drastically dwindled in 2022, when only 2,199 stayed back despite the Ukraine-Russia war. Thousands of students, mainly medical students, were evacuated by India. Russia, which saw only 1,387 students opting for its higher institutions in 2020, saw 15,814 students in 2021. The figure went up to 19,784 in 2022.  Singapore (17,085), Philippines (11,261), Kazakhstan (8,895), France (6,406), Italy (3,507), Uzbekistan (3,430), Malaysia (2,453), Netherlands (1,901), and New Zealand (1,605) were the other countries that Indian students preferred for higher studies in 2022. Speaking to The New Indian Express, University Grants Commission chairman Prof M. Jagadesh Kumar said that the number of students who wish to go abroad will continue to increase because India has a large number of students who wish to pursue a university education. “However, students who wish to stay in India but study at a foreign university campus in India will benefit from the UGC regulations,” he said, referring to the recent UGC draft notification that will facilitate the establishment of campuses of foreign higher education institutions in India. After the regulations are announced by May this year, the online application portal will be launched by the UGC.  “Interested foreign universities will start applying after this. Setting up a campus by a foreign university will take time. In the next two to three years, we will see some foreign university campuses in India,” Prof Kumar added.  He claimed it is a “misnomer to assume that setting up foreign university campuses in India will reverse the trend of Indian students going abroad. Those students who wish to have the experience of working in a different cultural atmosphere and those who want to work abroad after obtaining a degree at a foreign university will continue to go.” Meanwhile, two Australian universities will soon be setting up their campuses in Gujarat’s Gift City. 
Source