The landscape in higher education for Indian students has, over the last couple of years, seen a significant change. The enchantment of a foreign degree is slowly wearing off. With increasing global tensions, tightening of visa conditions, and a general uncertainty in the economic outlook, more Indian students and their families are now looking seriously at domestic education as a genuine, attractive alternative. This shift is not some short-term reaction to current global events but shows a deeper attitudinal change in how Indian students approach higher education.
The Reshaping of Indian Education Trends
Since then, countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia have been major destinations for Indian students going for advanced education in those countries. However, off-and-on geopolitical problems and economic constraints in those countries made them less attractive. Stringent visa policies have also led to a higher rejection ratio, and public unrest and political tensions in regions like Russia and Ukraine and in parts of the UK are further discouraging students.
For instance, since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, a lot of Indian students have started exploring options even within the country. Recent news reports about unrest in Bangladesh, which had become a destination for medical studies as an alternative, have spurred Indian students to think twice. The spiking frequency of violence and political unrest has made parents and students worry about such destinations.
Challenges for Studying Abroad and the Rise of Universities in India
The social challenges have, however, prompted Indian universities to start getting into the breach. Platforms like Collegedekho have rebranded from being a platform for greater study abroad opportunities to one blowing the trumpet on domestic study. “We are now focussing on the domestic market,” says Ruchir Arora, co-founder of Collegedekho. The shift in strategy is also because of the changing wave: students are now going to Indian institutions because nobody is really sure about the international educational paradigm now.
What was once considered plan B has now emerged as a preferred choice—Indian colleges. With foreign universities increasingly setting up shop in the country and private institutes introducing new kinds of programs, the clamour for India as a study destination is getting loud. Students who earlier looked at the west are now seriously contemplating the alternative of pursuing their degrees at home-country colleges.
This trend has also been noted by education consulting companies like Career Mosaic and Crimson Education India. “Due to this uncertainty, a significant number of high school students are currently considering Indian universities as serious options for their primary US/UK shortlist,” says Kunal Mehra of Crimson Education India. This view is echoed by Manisha Zaveri, joint managing director of Career Mosaic, which is expanding its domestic footprint by brokering partnerships between Indian and global universities.
The Future of Domestic College Benefits
The numbers say it all. While the number of Indian students opting for studies overseas from India grew by 45% in 2023, in 2024, this growth finally started to decelerate and was reserved for a dramatic slowdown with an increase of only 1.28% as compared to the previous year. Ministry of External Affairs figures put this number for 2024 at 1,335,878 Indian students abroad, up fractionally from 1,318,955 in 2023. Other platforms, such as iSchoolConnect, have reported a 12% rate of deferral, which suggests that students are either postponing or reconsidering their study plans in foreign countries.
With quality education becoming accessible even in smaller cities and states in India, the attraction to stay in the country grows. With global universities establishing their campuses in India and Indian ones offering competitive programs, the dream of a foreign degree might soon settle into the aspiration of a world-class education within India’s borders.
Conclusion
It also brings with it a new paradigm for the Indian student amidst changing education dynamics across the globe and the new-found rise of Indian universities. Foreign markets have become more volatile, and with such volatility, the benefits accruing from pursuing a degree at home are made even clearer. Indeed, it is quite possible that the future of higher education for Indian students lies right in their own backyard, where they can achieve the most devoutly wished-for academic and career goals without the risks and uncertainties involved in studying abroad.
