Thursday, 11 Sep, 2025
By: Anshul Vipat
The decline in the intake is attributed largely to the difficulties in gaining H-1B status. Image Source: IANS
The number of Indians studying in the United States decreased by nearly 13 per cent in 2020-21 as compared to the previous academic year
The numbers of Indian students opting for programs in United States saw a significant drop while student enrollment at Canadian colleges and universities has seen an increase.
According to the Open Doors Report published by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), the number of Indians studying in the United States decreased by nearly 13 per cent in 2020-21 as compared to the previous academic year. Between the 2016-17 and 2020-21 academic years, Indian students enrolled in master’s level science and engineering programs at U.S. universities declined by nearly 56% or 47,230.
The decline in the intake is attributed largely to the difficulties in gaining H-1B status (over 70% of H-1B registrations were rejected for FY 2022 due to the low annual ceiling) and ultimately permanent residence in the United States, along with policies implemented against high-skilled immigration during the erstwhile Trump administration and lessened attractiveness of a U.S. education. Indian graduate students are a significant source of talent for U.S. technology companies and a key source of entrepreneurs, physicians and researchers in America.
And while Indian students are declining in the states, it seems their preferred destination is a country just right up north. Canada, which has recently relaxed its immigration policies saw a sharp increase in Indian students. From 2016-19, international students from India studying at Canadian colleges and universities increased by a whopping 182 percent. Overall, international student enrollment at Canadian colleges and universities increased 52% between the 2016-17 and 2019-20 academic years.
The major reason behind the slow but gradual shift is Canada's visa and immigration schemes that allow international students to remain in the country after their studies. International students who complete their studies at a Canadian designated learning institution are eligible to obtain a PGWP (Post-graduation work permit) which is commonly seen as the first major step towards obtaining permanent resident status.
Last year, through its Study Permit program, Canada had a whopping 217,410 permits were issued (highest among other countries), which is 4.2% higher than the same period in 2019. There is also a cost factor to consider. International undergraduate fees in Canada is significantly cheaper than US’ average cost.
According to the figures of India’s ministry of external affairs, there currently 215,720 Indian students holding Canadian study permits, which is 1.8% more than the 211,930 in the US. The difference may be small now, but trends indicate a growing preference for Canada.
