Global Education News | Stay Informed with Edinbox

India is still the second biggest country sending students abroad, with more than eight lakh Indians studying overseas as of 2024. Besides being a great source country, India is also becoming an international education destination. According to the latest Global Student Flows: India report by the UK, based QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the number of students coming to India is expected to increase by about eight per cent each year until 2030.

The report, now in its eighth edition, makes use of QS flow, mapping technology, the QS International Student Survey 2025, and World University Rankings data to shed light on the international student mobility involving India. It looks at the trends of students coming and going and presents three scenarios of what India's higher education could be like in the future.

It is estimated that the number of international students in India will reach 58, 000 by 2025. This figure might increase significantly due to the global trend of stricter visa policies and more expensive education in popular English speaking countries. These changes are causing many students to look for alternative study destinations that offer convenience and affordability.

Regional demand driving growth

South Asia remains the largest contributor to India’s international student population, accounting for nearly half of all foreign enrolments. Nepal and Bangladesh together make up more than 30 per cent of arrivals, with Nepal projected to see annual growth of around 11 per cent.

Afghanistan, however, is expected to grow at less than one per cent annually due to visa approval constraints, reducing its share of India’s international student cohort.

Demand from Sub-Saharan Africa is also increasing. Student numbers from the region are forecast to grow by approximately six per cent per year, supported by large youth populations, limited domestic higher education capacity, and India’s relative affordability.

Zimbabwe is highlighted as a rapidly growing market, with projected annual growth of around 11 per cent, moving it from the seventh-largest African source country for India in 2024 to sixth by 2030.

Meanwhile, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region continues to contribute steadily to India’s inbound flows. Students from the United Arab Emirates are expected to account for roughly 5% of India’s international student population by 2030.

Government reforms have been a key factor in boosting India's appeal as a study destination. With the Study in India scheme, admission procedures have been made easier and financial constraints have been removed for foreign students.

Moreover, The National Education Policy 2020 has allowed foreign universities to open their branches in India and has also increased the number of seats available to international students. According to University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, educational institutions can allocate 25% extra seats for overseas students.

Besides these initiatives, India has made a visionary ambitious plan to attract five lakh international students by the year 2047. Nevertheless, the report mentions that proper follow up of the policies will only lead to success in the goal; and a lot of investment in infrastructure and student aid must be made at the same time.

India is still the second largest source of international students in the world with over 800, 000 Indians pursuing higher education abroad as per 2024 data.

But the enrolments in the traditional Big Four destinations the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia are expected to fall slightly by 0.5% per year on average until 2030.

Rather, Indian students are turning to other foreign study destinations such as Germany, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as they offer more affordable and accessible education paths. Already, Indians are the biggest international student community in both Germany and the UAE. This is a clear example of the diversification of Indian students' outbound mobility globally.

Challenges around reputation and employability

Despite the positive outlook, the report highlights several structural challenges facing Indian institutions.

While universities in India have improved in employer reputation – with the median Employer Reputation rank rising by 61 places since 2017 – academic reputation has seen little progress. Prospective students from regions such as the Middle East and the United States continue to cite institutional reputation as a key decision factor.

Another challenge relates to graduate employability. According to a 2025 Mercer-Mettl report, only 42.6 per cent of Indian graduates are considered employable. 

The QS International Student Survey 2025 also found that half of prospective students globally want universities to communicate more clearly about work placements and industry partnerships.

The report further warns that rapid growth in international enrolments without parallel investment in housing, campus facilities, and student support services could undermine the student experience that currently drives India’s appeal.

“India has long been central to global student mobility — as both a major sending market and an increasingly influential destination,” said Ashwin Fernandes, Chair QS India and Vice President for Strategic and International Engagement at QS.

“The conditions are shifting in India’s favour, from government policy and affordability to regional demographic pressure. But sustaining this momentum will require institutions to close the gap between reputation and real-world graduate outcomes.”

Three potential futures for 2030

The report outlines three possible scenarios for India’s higher education sector by 2030.

Under a “Regulated Regionalism” scenario, geopolitical fragmentation strengthens regional student mobility, positioning India as a key hub for students from South Asia, Africa, and the Gulf.

Each year thousands of Indian students hope for a study abroad experience in UK universities striving for world class education, international exposure and a bright career. However, living and studying overseas may not always be as exciting as brochures and social media portray.

In her revealing story, Lakshita Bhagtani MSc Management at University of Exeter shares her experience as an international student in the UK from university applications to managing expenses and cultural adjustments. Picking the right course and university is one of the biggest challenges for students wishing to study overseas according to Lakshita.

While most aspirants rely heavily on education consultants, she suggests that students should first do their own research about universities before making a decision.

Being aware of the course content, career opportunities and reputation of the university will undoubtedly help in avoiding disillusionment.

The process of applying for the program demands meticulous planning. Students, according to Lakshita, should make sure that crucial papers like the Statement of Purpose (SOP), Letters of Recommendation (LOR), and English proficiency certificates are properly organized. Some universities, for instance, may give IELTS waivers if students can prove that their prior education was in English through a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate.

Finances are indeed another big worry for international students. Apart from tuition fees, which are the most talked about, Lakshita points out that a lot of students fail to consider the hidden costs of living in a foreign country. Things like using public transport, doing grocery shopping, buying winter clothes, and daily necessities will, most certainly, continue to grow. Preparing a sound budget plan before coming will give some students a chance to stay clear of money, related worries in the first few months.

Of course, along with study related pressures, the UK lifestyle comes with its own set of unexpected challenges. Things like the weather, difference in cultures, study pressure, and eyesick can impact fresh students in their first few weeks. According to Lakshita, quite often, it is the very first month abroad when things are the toughest, as the students not only have to deal with the cold weather but also start to get used to eating new types of food along with different teaching styles.

Part time work is one more very important element of a student's life. Even though a lot of international students earn a living by doing part time jobs, those who are balancing work and studies need to have a lot of discipline and scheduling.

Actually, Lakshita's story teaches one very important lesson for student aspirants: studying in a foreign country is not only about getting a foreign degree it also demands one to be resilient, to do careful planning and to live with the reality of the situation. For those who get ready properly, this can well be one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives.

Any country wanting to turn itself into a global education hub is sooner or later confronted with a crucial question: just how many of the foreign students that study there choose it? And secondly, how ready are its universities to accommodate them? Aside from the other factors, India has decided to work on imprinting itself more strongly on this world academic map.

As part of a much larger scheme to brand India as a globally attractive study destination, through the Study in India programme, the Ministry of Education has set the target to scale up the number of international students enrolling in Indian higher education institutions to two lakh annually by 2030.

Presently India is hosting a relatively limited number of foreign students when compared to top global educational hubs like the United States, the United Kingdom, or Australia. According to the estimation of government officials, around 50, 000 foreign students come to India for higher education every year.

Now the government seeks to increase this number by four times over the next five years, which is an indication of their will to promote Indian universities to the world. The belief of the decision makers is that besides the positive impact on the academic reputation of India, the increasing number of international students will also at the same time allow raising of cultural understanding and research partnerships amongst the campuses.

Preparing Universities for Global StudentsBesides mere promotional campaigns, attracting more international students will require universities across the country to ensure that their campuses are able to support a diverse student population.Officials have started consulting with several institutions including central and state universities to figure out how to get prominent international enrolments.

Those in on the talks include University of Delhi.At the heart of the matter is infrastructural development. The universities are getting the message that in order to create a campus that is friendly to foreign students they will need to increase the number of hostel rooms, continue with international student support services, and upgrade the campus administrative systems.

Role of States in the Expansion Plan

While there will be a few central universities getting the chance to spearhead the initiative, it is quite expected that state governments will be playing a major role in extending capacity for international students.

The issue was discussed during the Chief Secretaries’ Conference in January, where policymakers examined how states could strengthen campus infrastructure and administrative support systems. Since many foreign students are likely to enrol in state universities, improvements in admissions processes, accommodation, and student services will be crucial to the programme’s success.

Foreign University Campuses May Boost Enrolment

Another factor expected to influence international student numbers is the establishment of foreign university campuses in India. Such campuses will also be allowed to admit international students, potentially broadening the range of academic programmes available.

These institutions may introduce new academic collaborations, joint degrees, and research partnerships, making India a more competitive destination in the global higher education market.

Global Outreach Efforts

To support the initiative, the government is preparing international outreach campaigns aimed at students and academic institutions abroad. These efforts may include education fairs, university partnerships, and awareness programmes in different countries to highlight the opportunities available in Indian higher education.

Such strategies are commonly adopted by nations seeking to expand their share of the international student market.

Current International Student Presence

India is already a hub for international students. In a Rajya Sabha meeting, it was revealed that currently more than 72, 000 students from almost 200 countries are studying here. While answering the queries in Parliament, Sukanta Majumdar stated that the administration is keen on expanding its ties with foreign universities and wants to lure more international students to Indian universities. Numbers are just one side of the coin. Usually, the first thing one does while setting up a chart of the international education ecosystem is to set the targets quantitatively. The main problem is that universities are expected to sustain a multicultural student community. Amenities like accommodation, on and off, campus support, culturally, tailored activities as well administrative formalities that are smooth often decide whether international students feel a sense of belonging. In case India manages to raise the number of foreign students to 2 lakhs every year by 2030; it can change the face of Indian universities quite dramatically. The lecture rooms, dormitories, and the research centers might become even more globalized placesat the same time mirroring Indias academic goals and its rising stature in international education.

A sorry came from Harvard when a message online, posted by its team teaching ancient Indian languages, upset some Hindus. The comment had ties to studies of old texts and sparked strong reactions among believers.

Friday brought words from the office, expressing strong regret over sharing a thoughtless picture tied to their Sanskrit course. Though brief, the message stressed years spent teaching the language, standing by its ideas and heritage. Behind the scene, effort continues to honor what Sanskrit carries through time. Mistakes happen, yet dedication does not fade easily here. The past matters, so does how they move ahead quietly.

The statement also said internal processes around social media are being reviewed. "We are reviewing our internal social media process to ensure future posts more accurately reflect the mission and values of the Department, " it noted.

Now here's something clear, the department made sure folks wouldn't mix things up. That job posting? Got nothing to do with Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute. Turns out, they're two different setups under the same university roof.

What's the controversy?

Something stirred when a picture popped up for the college's beginner Sanskrit class. A group called CoHNA, standing for Hindu voices across North America, took issue with how it showed both Sanskrit and Hindu beliefs. They claimed the visual sent a hostile message about their faith, calling the post outright prejudice against Hindus.

The artwork in question -- titled Master of Puppets -- was created by Indian artist Anirudh Sainath under the brand Molee Art, according to a few social media users. The piece drew on themes from the Mahabharata and depicted Krishna's Ras Leela, claimed netizens. 

CoHNA has welcomed the department's apology, calling it a rare instance of a university department formally expressing regret over such concerns. In posts on X, the group said it was encouraged to see respect shown towards Sanskrit, "an ancient language that has influenced civilisations across the world".

On its website, Harvard describes 'Classical Sanskrit' as a language that shaped intellectual and cultural life across South Asia for nearly three millennia. It notes that the language has been called "the language of the gods" and that major literary, philosophical and scientific works were composed in it.

Harvards South Asian Studies department teaches Sanskrit, starting from the basics, moving up through more complex forms. Instead of just grammar drills, learners explore grand epics: the Mahabharata shows up early, then the Ramayana joins later. Philosophy pieces mix in alongside poetry, building depth across lessons. Surprisingly, new students hear that Sanskrit might feel simpler than expected. By June, after months of steady work, reading classics like the Bhagavad Gita becomes possible, if youve got a dictionary nearby.

Built in India, the platform includes Vasu AI Coach, LE AI Interviewer and LE AI Quality Compliance Specialist to streamline decision-making and compliance

Leverage Edu, a leading global education-to-employment platform, has launched LE AI, its proprietary suite of agentic AI systems designed to transform international education and talent mobility.

Built and deployed from India, LE AI brings together a coordinated suite of purpose-built AI products such as Vasu AI Coach, LE AI Interviewer and LE AI Quality Compliance Specialist. These products are designed to power decision-making, evaluation and compliance across high-stakes workflows.

Early deployment of LE AI has already delivered measurable results, including 5 times higher enrollments enabled by structured AI interviewing, the elimination of over 20,000 hours of manual interviews, and a reduction in student application turnaround time from 6-7 weeks to 2 hours.

LE AI’s agentic systems are built as governed decision engines, combining LLM-based reasoning with retrieval-augmented generation over verified institutional, policy and eligibility data, alongside deterministic rule engines for validation. This distinction ensures outputs are auditable, explainable, and correct by design, enabling deployment across 27 countries spanning complex, evolving regulatory environments.

Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder and CEO of Leverage Edu, said the company is at an inflection point where AI is shifting from experimentation to core infrastructure in education and talent mobility.

LE AI is AI embedded at the foundation, enabling trusted decisions, scalable evaluation and faster access to opportunity for students worldwide, he said.

India is definitely set to become a global power in applied AI. It is with great pride that we reveal the tech that was built here, that is now helping students from all around the world access education and employment on a scale never seen before, he said.

Vasu AI, a Coach Who can be reached through WhatsApp, offers personalized, eligibility, based guidance to students, thus, empowering them to take informed decisions with self, assurance. LE AI Interviewer is a smart AI interview tool that can carry out a structured interview, analyze the answers of candidates based on the set rubrics and allow making decisions with high confidence while also escalating the cases of borderline decisions for human review.

LE AI Quality Compliance Specialist leverages automation to review applications and documents for eligibility, completeness, and genuineness. It not only helps in considerably speeding up the processing but also increases the level of trust, and the quality of decision, making.

As part of its 150th year anniversary celebrations, the University of Bristol officially opened its Mumbai Enterprise Campus in Powai on Tuesday, thus signalling a move towards the global expansion of the university. The university is one of the six institutions that were handed a letter of intent by the University Grants Commission last year to set up campuses in Mumbai.

At the inauguration, the management team revealed a series of partnerships with industries and academia, among which is a collaboration with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, coupled with a philanthropic gift of 1.5 million in India, UK research collaboration and a student mobility drive between the two countries.

The Mumbai campus, the university’s first international campus, is set to open in August 2026 near Powai Lake, directly opposite IIT-Bombay. Its nearness to the top engineering college should facilitate joint work on various academic activities such as the invention of new teaching and learning methods.

The university has also inked an MoU with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which has a significant presence in the UK. The MoU is targeted at collaborating in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), industry, based learning, live projects, placements, and talent mobility initiatives across India and the UK. This partnership is considered one of TCS' major global university alliances. Bristol, recently awarded AI University of the Year 2024, houses Isambard, AI which is touted as the fastest university supercomputer in the world.

"...In a world where AI is transforming everything from education to employment, being able to work at a global scale, to influence those transformations will be absolutely crucial for universities and particularly for the University of Bristol, because we host the UK's national AI supercomputer and we feel very responsible for ensuring that it's an ethical transformation as we move into that new AI-enabled world," told Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-chancellor and President of the university, to TOI during an interaction.

Venguswamy Ramaswamy, Global Head of TCS Education and TCS iON, in a press statement, said, “This partnership with the University of Bristol represents a powerful convergence of two organisations committed to shaping the future of AI-driven innovation... Together, we will create pathways that blend cutting-edge research with real-world industry application, strengthen talent readiness, and expand mobility and community initiatives across India and the UK..."

Beyond TCS, Bristol confirmed partnerships with other industry leaders and British Council, and the Shanta Foundation, signalling an integrated approach combining research, finance, industry and cultural collaboration. A key financial boost comes from a £1.5 million donation from the Shanta Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Waymade Capital and co-founded by Bristol alumnus Bhikhu Patel.

Patel, in a statement, said, "...This gift from the Shanta Foundation will benefit students, both in India and in the UK, through scholarships and travel, creating exciting opportunities and developing further connections between our two countries.”

Professor Welch added, "Our new alliances with leading industry partners and the philanthropic support will create unparalleled opportunities for students, researchers, and communities in both Mumbai and Bristol."

In its first year, the campus is expected to enrol up to 250 students across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in data science, economics, finance and immersive arts, a unique programme, which will be suited for the city's creative industries. Student numbers are projected to exceed 2,500 by year five. The initiative aligns with India’s National Education Policy (NEP). The fee for undergraduate programmes has been pegged at Rs 15 lakh and for postgraduate ones at Rs 20 lakh. The university will be working towards making scholarship schemes available to needy students.

Further strengthening the transnational link, Bristol has launched the Isambard Global Visiting Professorship Scheme. The first appointee is Kushe Bahl, a lead partner at McKinsey who heads the firm’s AI, digital and analytics work in India.

Additionally, a new collaboration under the British Council’s Climate Skills Programme will work with 80 young people across Bristol, Mumbai and Thane, equipping them with green skills through training, mentorship and grants.

Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India at the British Council, said, “The British Council’s Climate Skills programme reflects a shared commitment to preparing young people for the challenges and opportunities of the future. We are delighted to forge a new meaningful partnership between University of Mumbai and Bristol University, through the Climate Skills Global Collaboration Grants. The partners will mentor talented young people in the UK and India to develop green skills, strengthen climate resilience and employability..."