New Delhi (National Times): In a major reversal of recent trends, the number of Indian students heading abroad has seen a steep and simultaneous decline across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the top three global education destinations. This marks the first time in four years that all three countries have recorded a dip at the same time, according to an analysis by The Indian Express based on official visa data.
In 2024, student visa approvals for Indians dropped by at least 25 percent in all three nations:
- Canada recorded a 32% decline, with the number of study permits issued to Indian students falling from 2.78 lakh in 2023 to 1.89 lakh in 2024, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- The United States saw a 34% drop in F1 student visas issued to Indians, going from 1,31,000 in FY 2023 to 86,110 in FY 2024.
- In the UK, visa approvals for Indian students fell 26%, from 1,20,000 to 88,732, as per the UK Home Office.
Immigration Curbs, Policy Shifts Trigger Decline
This significant downturn follows stricter immigration measures introduced by host countries, many of which are now grappling with domestic challenges such as housing shortages and overloaded public services.
Canada has taken some of the most aggressive steps, ending the popular Student Direct Stream program, imposing a cap on new study permits (leading to a 35% cut in 2024), and pledging a further 10% reduction in 2025. The country also aims to lower the number of temporary residents to just 5% of its total population by 2026.
In contrast, Chinese student numbers in Canada were far less affected, dipping just 3%, from 58,080 in 2023 to 56,465 in 2024, suggesting a disproportionate impact on Indian applicants.
The UK, too, implemented new rules in 2024, primarily targeting international students bringing dependents. The Home Office acknowledged that these changes likely contributed to the drop in visas for main applicants.
Interestingly, the UK’s decline in Indian student numbers began earlier, in 2023, when visa approvals dropped by 13%, from 1,38,980 to 1,19,738, followed by the sharper 26% fall in 2024.
From Decade-Long Boom to Sudden Slump
The downturn comes on the heels of a decade of explosive growth in Indian student mobility. Between 2015 and 2023:
- Canada saw an eightfold rise in Indian student visas, from 31,920 to 2,78,160.
- UK approvals for Indian students increased over ten times, from 10,418 to 1,19,738.
- In the US, F1 visa approvals for Indian students nearly doubled, from 74,831 to 1,30,730.
This growth had propelled Indian students past their Chinese counterparts in all three nations. Despite the current dip, Indians still outnumber Chinese students in both Canada and the US as of 2024. However, in the UK, Chinese students once again surpassed their Indian peers this year after falling behind in 2022 and 2023.
