Where Indian students actually want to study abroad
For prospective students, the US and UK used to be automatic choices: get a degree, stay, and work. That route still exists. But now, students are now comparing visa rules, and exploring new options.
Germany now attracts the most Indian student interest
When Indian students search for study abroad options, Germany now captures the biggest slice of interest on Studyportals at 16.5%, ahead of both the UK (14.3%) and the US (10.6%). This represents a real shift in how students are weighing their options.
Austria and the Netherlands see major increases in interest
Several destinations are seeing explosive growth in Indian student interest:
- Austria: Up 55%
- India (staying home for international education): Up 35%
- Netherlands: Up 11%
- UK: Up 10%
Meanwhile, others are experiencing sharp declines:
- Canada: Down 39%
- New Zealand: Down 20%
- Australia: Down 15%
Multiple factors are driving the shift
Recent data shows that India’s share of outbound students has declined, down 3.4 percentage points at the undergraduate level and 8.1 percentage points at the master’s level in just one year.
The reasons are adding up. Many traditional destinations have introduced tighter visa rules and reduced post-study work rights. For many Indian students, the ability to work after graduation was a key factor in choosing where to study. Without that option, the equation changes.
The H-1B fee shocked prospective US students
Then came what many are calling a major concern for US study plans: a new $100,000 fee for H-1B work visas, announced in September 2025. Indian nationals account for more than 70 per cent of H-1B recipients and have long relied on this pathway to work in industries like tech after graduation.
The fee doesn’t actually apply to students already in the US who transition from F-1 student status to H-1B after graduation. But the chaotic rollout—with workers scrambling to return before the September 21 deadline—reinforced a perception: US immigration pathways are becoming unpredictable. For families weighing costs against uncertain outcomes, that perception alone is enough to shift their choices toward Europe.
Education consultants report that queries and applications for US universities have dropped significantly since the announcement. One founder of an education consultancy described the sentiment amongst prospective students as “pretty dismal”. Students who had planned to study computer science or engineering with the goal of working in Silicon Valley are now reconsidering entirely.
Europe offers a more accessible alternative
Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands offer a compelling alternative. Many public universities charge little or no tuition. Programmes are increasingly taught in English. And post-study work pathways are becoming more accessible. For families weighing costs against uncertain visa outcomes elsewhere, the maths is starting to favour Europe.
Experts point to Germany’s free or low-cost tuition and work allowances as particularly attractive to Indian families who are no longer willing to pay premium US tuition fees for uncertain job prospects.
Plus, staying in India has become a viable option
Almost 3% of Indian student interest now focuses on staying in India. More international universities are opening branch campuses there, and Indian institutions are expanding their English-language programmes. The appeal is obvious: get an international credential without the visa complications, travel costs, or cultural adjustment.
One university official in Delhi noted that students are increasingly considering branch campuses in India or exploring entrepreneurship and remote work opportunities as alternatives to traditional study abroad paths.
Students have become more strategic about their choices
Indian students haven’t given up on international education. They’ve just become more strategic about it. They’re comparing visa policies, calculating costs, and asking harder questions about what they’ll get in return.
For universities competing for Indian students, brand recognition alone won’t be enough anymore. Students want clear pathways, reasonable costs, and real career outcomes. The institutions that can deliver on those fronts will succeed. The ones that can’t will watch students look elsewhere. And recent trends suggest they already are.
