Indian students’ top 10 most-preferred countries for education in 2024-25: US slipped at #2; UAE makes debut

This is primarily due to Canada’s notable rise of 350 per cent in popularity as a study destination for Indian students, which led it to climb to the top position in both 2020 and 2024, with 1.79 lakh and 4.27 lakh Indian students moving to the country for education, respectively.

Australia has consistently held the third position since 2016 and 2020, but has now dropped to fourth place in 2024, despite a modest increase to 1,22,000 students this year.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has overtaken Australia, moving into third place, with this shift reflecting a substantial increase in Indian student numbers, rising from just 16,559 in 2016 to 90,300 in 2020 and further to 1,85,000 by 2024.

Additionally, the report introduced new countries — the UAE and Kyrgyzstan — making their debut on the list in 2024.

Meanwhile, Russia, Georgia, and the Philippines have held their positions in the top 10 since 2020, though at significantly lower volumes.

The report indicated that this diversification in choices among Indian students is due to a preference for countries offering more affordable education, particularly in fields like medicine and technology.

Top 10 Countries Preferred by Indian Students for Higher Education Abroad

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