Nearly 19L Indian students studying abroad in 2025: MEA
Nearly 19 lakh Indian students are now studying across 153 countries, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
While overall numbers are up, university enrollments have dipped a bit—from 13.3 lakh last year to about 12.5 lakh in 2025.
Where are Indian students heading?
The US has about 2.55 lakh Indian students, but new enrollments there dropped.
Canada saw a sharp fall mainly due to visa issues and diplomatic tensions, while the UK's numbers also slid thanks to stricter rules.
Meanwhile, Gulf countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are drawing lots of school-age kids from India because of strong expat communities, and Australia remains a go-to for higher studies.
What's behind these shifts?
Tougher visa policies, higher costs, and ongoing diplomatic spats with some host countries have made it harder for Indians to study abroad in 2025.
These changes are shaping where—and how easily—students can chase their global education dreams right now.