Nepal has emerged as the predominant source of international students studying in India, according to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for the academic year 2023-24, released by the Ministry of Education. The survey indicates that foreign students from 173 countries were enrolled in various higher education institutions across India during this period.

In total, 58,134 international students were enrolled in universities and colleges throughout the country, marking a significant presence of foreign nationals in the Indian higher education landscape. The AISHE serves as a crucial repository of data influencing policy-making, planning, and monitoring by collecting comprehensive details from educational institutions through a web-based Data Capture Format.

Karnataka Emerges as Leading State for Foreign Students

Karnataka has been identified as the top state for hosting foreign students, with 7,914 individuals enrolled in its higher education institutions. This figure is closely followed by Punjab, which accounted for 7,902 foreign students. Other states that featured prominently included Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, hosting 6,190, 5,953, and 5,694 students respectively.

The data reveals that a significant majority of international students, approximately 73.6 per cent, were enrolled in undergraduate programmes. Specifically, 42,779 international students were pursuing these courses, comprising 27,849 male and 14,930 female students. Additionally, 16.8 per cent of foreign enrolees were engaged in postgraduate programmes.

Furthermore, smaller numbers of students were enrolled in diploma, PhD, certificate, and integrated courses, indicating varied academic interests among international enrolees in India.

Increase in Foreign Enrolments Reported

The enrolment of foreign students in India has seen a notable rise, increasing from 48,898 in the 2019-20 academic year to 58,134 in 2023-24. This represents an increase of 9,236 students, or 18.9 per cent, over a span of five years. This growth trend has been observed across both male and female demographics.

Male enrolment rose from 32,386 to 37,295 while the number of female students increased from 16,512 to 20,839 during the same period. The data highlights the growing appeal of Indian educational institutions among students from various regions.

In addition to students from neighbouring countries, India attracted individuals from diverse nations such as Lebanon, Burkina Faso, Mongolia, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Chile. To further facilitate and enhance international enrolment, the Ministry of Education initiated the Study in India (SII) programme in 2018, aiming to establish India as a preferred destination for higher education.

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