With Canada tightening its study visa policies, and similar measures anticipated in Australia and the UK, Indian students looking to study abroad may find themselves facing new challenges. Experts predict a significant drop in the number of Indian students enrolling in these traditionally popular countries for higher education starting in 2025.
As restrictions increase, many students are shifting their focus to other countries in Europe, such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Ireland, as well as destinations like New Zealand and Malta. However, education consultants say that while these alternative locations are seeing increased interest, they are unlikely to completely offset the expected decline in student numbers heading to Canada, Australia, and the UK.
Currently, around 730,000 Indian students are pursuing higher education in these three countries, according to Vaibhav Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer of iSchoolConnect, a platform for study abroad services. Gupta anticipates that the number of Indian students traveling to Canada, Australia, and the UK could drop by approximately 125,000 in the coming years. “This shortfall may be made up for by students opting for destinations like the US or various European countries, including France, Germany, and Italy,” he said. Canada, which has already reduced study visa approvals by 35% for 2024, is expected to make an additional 10% cut in 2025.
Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder of the consultancy Collegify, explained that this 35% reduction could prevent around 80,500 Indian students from securing study permits in 2024, with a further 23,000 likely to face difficulties the following year. Additionally, Canada’s decision to link post-graduation work permits to labor market demands is expected to push students to be more strategic when selecting their courses.
Educational consultants report that many students who had planned to study in Canada are already redirecting their applications. "In the past two days, we've seen a considerable shift, with students rethinking their applications to Canada," said Akshay Chaturvedi, CEO of Leverage Edu.
The UK has also introduced new hurdles for international students. The government recently raised the minimum financial savings required for a student visa, adding to an already strict policy enacted in January that prevents most students from bringing dependents, except those enrolled in postgraduate research programs. Since about 40% of Indian students in the UK typically travel with dependents, this change is expected to result in a 15-20% drop in postgraduate applications, Khandelwal noted. He also pointed out that the increase in financial requirements will disproportionately impact students from lower-income backgrounds, leading to an estimated 5-7% decline in applications.
Australia, meanwhile, has capped the number of new international students at 270,000 annually, starting in 2025, and has introduced stricter visa requirements. Saurabh Arora, founder of University Living, highlighted that these measures in Australia, Canada, and the UK are creating a more competitive environment for Indian students, limiting the number of study permits granted.
Countries like Spain and Germany have seen noticeable increases in international student enrollments over the past two years—28% for Spain and nearly 13% for Germany. Other destinations, including New Zealand and Dubai, have also experienced a surge in interest, with both reporting around 10% increases in student intake between 2021 and 2023.
Despite the new restrictions, some universities in these countries are pushing back. Michael Wesley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global, Culture and Engagement at the University of Melbourne, criticized Australia’s cap on international student enrollments, calling it a "terrible idea."
For Indian students, these changes underscore the importance of planning ahead, applying early, and carefully considering alternative destinations for their international education journeys.
Source - Economic Times, Leverage edu, Study Abroad
By Dialect Diaries
