India beats China in number of international students in USA: Survey

New Delhi: For the third year in a row, a record number of Indian students travelled to the United States of America to pursue higher education. According to the Open Doors Report (ODR) released on Monday, the number of international students from India to the USA increased by 35 per cent and resulted in an all-time high of 268,923 students in the academic year 2022-23.

According to the data, India surpassed China to become the largest source of international graduate students in the United States for the first time since 2009/10.

Indian students constitute more than 25 per cent of the over one million foreign students studying in the USA. The release of the Open Doors Report marks the beginning of International Education Week (IEW), which celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

Work and study go hand in hand

According to ODR data, the number of Indian graduate students rose by 63 per cent to 165,936 students, an increase of nearly 64,000 students, compared to last year, while Indian undergraduate students also increased by 16 per cent.

ODR data also shows India leading in the number of individuals (69,062) who pursued optional practical training (OPT), a type of temporary work permission that allows eligible students to get real-world experience related to their field of study.

Record number of visas

The US Embassy and Consulates in India issued a record high number of student visas during the main student visa season of June-August 2023. Consular officers across India issued 95,269 visas in the F, M and J categories. This is an 18 per cent increase over 2022 during the same period.

US Ambassador Eric Garcetti remarked: “You did it, India! Each and every Indian student in the United States and the families supporting their success deserve recognition for this achievement. The decision to study abroad, and your choice of the United States, represents a valuable investment by you and your families. You are bringing our countries closer together and leading us towards a bright future. We celebrate the strength of the Indian educational system that prepares students to compete globally and look forward to seeing India continue to lead. We also look forward to balancing these record numbers. We want to see equal numbers of women pursuing studies in the United States and see more US students coming to experience all that India has to offer.”

Free centres for assistance

To assist Indian students in finding the right study opportunity, the US Department of State offers free advising services to prospective students, both virtually and in-person, at six EducationUSA advising centres throughout India in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, and two in Hyderabad.

All six centres are staffed by EducationUSA advisors who offer accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date information about opportunities to study in the United States, helping Indian students find the best program and fit from among more than 4,500 accredited US higher education institutions.

Students and families seeking additional facts about studying in the United States can download the EducationUSA India app, available for free on iOS and Android devices. The app provides the latest information about the college application process and is a quick and easy first step to planning higher education in the United States. Also, visit the EducationUSA website for more details.