Russia sees 34% rise in indians students for higher studies

Indian students heading abroad for higher education have dropped sharply in 2024, with Canada, the UK, and the US seeing the biggest declines. Data from the Bureau of Immigration shows a 27% drop in Indian students travelling to these three countries for education in 2024. Stricter visa rules, higher financial demands, more rejections, and diplomatic issues likely caused this decline.

Meanwhile, alternative destinations like Russia, Germany, and Uzbekistan are witnessing an uptick.

According to data, the total number of Indians studying in Canada, the UK, and the US fell by 164,370 in just one year. Canada alone saw a 41% decline, from 233,532 in 2023 to 137,608 in 2024, making it the hardest-hit destination. The UK and the US also recorded significant drops of 27% and 13%, respectively.

This steep fall contributed to an overall 15% decline in the number of Indians going abroad for studies, dropping from 892,989 in 2023 to 759,064 in 2024.

DIPLOMATIC TENSIONS AND STRICTER POLICIES IMPACT CANADA

The drastic fall in Indian students choosing Canada coincides with rising diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and Delhi. The situation escalated in September 2023, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In response, India withdrew security protections for Canadian diplomats, leading Canada to recall 41 diplomats from India.

Amidst this tension, Canada tightened its visa and student permit rules. The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced stricter regulations, giving authorities more power to cancel study and work permits under certain conditions.

UK RULES LIMIT STUDENTS BRINGING FAMILY

In 2023, the UK government announced that from January 2024, international students — except those in postgraduate research or government-funded programmes — would no longer be allowed to bring family members.

This likely discouraged many Indian students, leading to a 27% drop in those choosing the UK for higher studies.

SHIFT TO OTHER COUNTRIES

While the traditional favourites saw declines, several new destinations gained popularity among Indian students.

Germany saw 34,702 more Indian students in 2024. Uzbekistan and Bangladesh saw increases of 9,915 and 8,864 students, respectively.

Meanwhile, Russia recorded a 34% uptick in Indian student enrolments. Factors like affordable education, easier visa policies, and growing academic partnerships have made these countries attractive alternatives.

This is only the second time since 2019 (apart from the pandemic year 2020) that the number of Indians studying abroad has dropped. Whether the numbers bounce back in 2025 will depend on how visa policies, diplomatic relations, and economic factors evolve.