The United Kingdom has also maintained its position as the top destination for international students for the fourth consecutive year
The United Kingdom has also maintained its position as the top destination for international students for the fourth consecutive year
Four million Indian students have ventured overseas in pursuit of international studies, marking a leap in the global education landscape.
Recent data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) revealed that Asia remains the powerhouse for international students in OECD nations.
In 2021, nearly 60 percent of all international students within OECD member countries hailed from Asia, predominantly from China and India.
The OECD’s latest report, titled “International Migration Outlook: 2023,” identified China and India as the top two countries of origin for international students in OECD nations, boasting numbers of 8,85,000 and 4,24,000 students, respectively.
In 2020, due to border restrictions stemming from the pandemic, the number of permits issued to international students saw a sharp decline. However, by 2022, international student flows had made a significant recovery, reaching an all-time high in approximately half of OECD countries. The OECD issued over 1.9 million residence permits to foreign tertiary-level students in 2022, a record high, and a 24 percent increase compared to 2019.
The report also said the United Kingdom has maintained its position as the top destination for international students for the fourth consecutive year, surpassing the United States. Japan, Australia, and Canada.
The UK Home Office granted 54 percent more study visas to Indian students in comparison to 2022, making the UK a preferred destination for them. These statistics, provided by Gradding, show a sevenfold increase in Indian study visas since 2019, with nearly one-third of the 500,000 visas going to Indian students. This is expected to bring over 300,000 Indian students to UK universities in the upcoming academic session.
“The reason people choose the UK is that the country gives good value for money. Studying in the UK is an acceptable value for money, and the average costs there are lower than in other countries like the US and Australia,” Mamta Shekhawat, founder of Gradding, said in a statement via Financial Express.
Several OECD countries have introduced sweeping changes and reforms to their migration policy frameworks, with a particular focus on international students:
In May, the UK government imposed strict restrictions on student visa rules, allowing only post-graduate research students to bring family members. This was in response to a surge in dependents of international students, increasing by 750% between 2019 and 2023, contributing to record-high immigration numbers in 2022.
Spain has also increased work opportunities for foreign students by raising the weekly working limit from 20 to 30 hours during their studies, simplifying the transition from student to work permits, including self-employment options.
Australia has extended post-study work rights for international graduate students, particularly those from Australian higher education providers in specific sectors like health, teaching, engineering, and agriculture.
In a bid to retain top international students and promote their integration, Korea has introduced a fast-track program for permanent residence and naturalization for outstanding foreign scientific and technological talents.
In May, it was revealed that international students, including a significant number of Indians, contribute positively to the UK economy, even after accounting for other expenses, the Economic Times reported.
“International students put nearly 10 times more into the economy than they take out – boosting both local and national economic wellbeing,” said Dr Gavan Conlon, partner at London Economics, which had been commissioned to conduct the analysis.
Indian students studying in Canada are also contributing an estimated $8 billion to the Canadian economy each year, as per estimates from Sikh Vox. This figure encompasses tuition fees, living expenses, and other costs associated with Indian students pursuing education in Canada.
In the academic year 2019-20, Indian students, despite a 4.4 percent decline in their numbers, contributed $7.6 billion to the US economy, as reported by Hindustan Times.
According to the US Department of Commerce, international students, including Indian students, added $44 billion to the US economy in 2019, with Indian students contributing $7.69 billion.
