As global education pathways become increasingly competitive and outcome-driven, Indian students are making more strategic choices about where they study abroad. A recent policy report by NITI Aayog highlights a significant shift in student mobility trends, with Canada emerging as the most preferred destination for Indian students, overtaking traditionally dominant markets like the United States.

These five countries–Canada, the USA, the UK, Germany, Australia, the UAE and Russia–together absorbed 13.36 lakh Indian students who studied abroad in 2024. However, despite sending a large number of students abroad, India hosts only around 50,000 international students for its programs. 

Here’s the table for reference: 

According to the NITI Aayog report, Canada has overtaken the USA as the most popular destination for Indian students to study abroad. Today, it’s in the second spot. While the UK and Australia traded places, the two countries firmly remained at the top of the list of popular destinations for Indian students.  

Here’s a complete list of countries that Indian students prefer to study in.  

Canada 

The country is a popular study abroad destination for Indian students, thanks to its globally recognised programs, strong research facilities and affordable tuition.  

Studying in Canada offers a combination of excellent programs, permission to work during studies, and a post-graduation work permit, which allows many students to work up to three years after graduation and then obtain permanent residency. 

The country boasts numerous globally ranked universities that offer excellent STEM and business programs, a high return on investment in education, and clear immigration rules. 

For these reasons, year after year, until 2016, Canada has seen a steady increase in the number of Indian students. From 2015 to 2023, the number of students on Canadian study permits jumped from 31,900 to 2,80,000, an uptick of more than 770%.

The USA 

The USA is a top study destination for Indian students due to its eminent universities, which are arguably among the best in the world, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford, and Harvard. If you have a degree from one of these universities, your resume will carry weight and will open doors to top roles in some of the biggest companies in the world. 

Studying in USA is preferred by many Indian students thanks to its STEM fields like AI, data science, engineering, cybersecurity, and biotech. Graduating from the US in a STEM field is a surefire way to accelerate your career and salary. 

MBA in the US is also highly sought after. The US is also a top destination for business and management degrees with top b-schools such as Harvard, Stanford and Wharton offering top notch programs. 

Among the degrees, US offers the most significant ROI, hands-on learning and research, a global alumni network and access to some of the biggest internships in the world with Fortune 500 companies. 

Read Also: Top Destinations to Study MBA Abroad 2025

The UK

The United Kingdom (UK) has famed universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, the London School of Economics and others that are legendary for their superior degrees. The universities in the UK emphasise critical thinking, independent learning, and real-world applications.  

Studying in the UK also offers many short-term intensive courses that span a year, helping students save on tuition fees and living expenses. 

The Graduate Route also offers stay-and-work opportunities to eligible students for up to two years after a bachelor’s degree and up to three years after a PhD.  

The UK is also a visa-friendly country to Indian students, with over half a million visas issued to Indians in recent years.  

The country also has a huge Indian population that helps Indian students feel at home despite being miles away from home. 

The UAE

The United Arab Emirates was among the top student destinations for Indians in 2024. Places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer a mix of global degrees, job opportunities and proximity to home, which makes them a popular choice for students. 

The UAE is home to host branch campuses of some of the best universities of UK, Australia and Canada, for example, the University of Wollongong in Dubai, Middlesex University Dubai, Canadian University Dubai. These campuses offer the same degree at a lower overall cost than the main university, allowing students to save significantly on their tuition fees.

The UAE also offers fresh graduates the opportunity to work in a competitive, tax free market in sectors like IT, finance, logistics and healthcare, which is great for students who want to transition to work quickly after studies. 

Being a regional business hub, Dubai also offers brilliant internship opportunities, helping students build network and move into bigger roles. 

The biggest advantage of studying in UAE is the safety factor. The region is consistently rated as one of the safest places in the world to live and work, thanks to its excellent law-and-order situation.

Australia 

Australia has high-quality degrees that are globally recognised, some of them ranking in the world’s top programs for engineering, business and IT.

Indian students prefer to go to Australia for higher studies since their degrees are globally recognised, programs are made with career growth in mind and projects and internships build employable skills. 

Students can work 48 hours per fortnight during study on a student visa, helping with costs and experience.

The Temporary Graduate visa lets graduates work in Australia for up to 2-6 years, depending on the level and location of study. 

The country also has a tremendous demand for skilled IT, engineering, healthcare and business professionals. 

Apart from these benefits, Australia also offers a good standard of living for student living in cities like Melbourne and Sydney. 

Germany 

Studying in Germany has been growing in popularity due to the combination of brilliant STEM programs, low tuition fees and excellent career prospects. 

Most German universities charge no traditional tuition fees, only a small semester fee that ranges from 150 to 400 euros.  

Compared to US, Australian and UK degrees, German degrees are much cheaper, which is an advantage for many Indian families who want affordable yet reputable educational degrees for their children. 

The German Academic Exchange Service, known as DAAD, funds over 100,000 students and researchers worldwide, covering their living costs, study expenses, and travel expenses.

Russia 

Russia, which has historically maintained an excellent diplomatic relationship with India, also ranks among the top destinations for Indian students, primarily due to its affordable degrees and unique cultural and academic experiences.

Public universities in Russia charge lower tuition fees than US, UK or Australian universities. That’s why Russia is popular among Indian students who want to pursue medicine, engineering, and other technical fields.

While Canada has consolidated its position as the top destination for Indian students due to its favourable immigration pathways and strong ROI, countries like the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, and the UAE continue to offer compelling advantages depending on a student’s academic goals, financial planning, and long-term career vision.