India emerges as global education hub, sees 8% rise in foreign students annually

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.