India Leads China In Sending International Students To US
With 29% of the total international student population, India has emerged as the top country to send students to the United States. According to the latest Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, for the first time since 2009, Indian students have surpassed China’s student population. Overall during 2023-4, the US hosted a record 1.1 million international students.
In the 2023-24 academic year, more than 330,000 Indian students were enrolled in US higher education institutions. The graduate student enrollment rose by 19% reaching 196,567 students. Also, the number of students enrolled in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs after graduation increased by 41%, bringing the total to 97,556.
Read also: Canada Extends Work Limit For International Students To 24 Hrs/Week.
While expressing excitement over Indian student’s achievements, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti said, “I am thrilled to share that, with over 330,000 students, India has sent more students to the US than any other country this year. This is International Education Week. Let’s celebrate the power of education to build tomorrow’s leaders and deepen our bonds. I came to India first as a 19-year-old student, and I know firsthand the value of these exchanges.”
So far China was the largest source of international students to the US however, now fell to second place with a 4% decline in enrollment. A total of 277,398 Chinese students were enrolled in undergraduate and non-degree programs.
Also, the number of American students studying in India has gone up from 336 in 2021-22 to 1,355 in 2022-23, marking a growth of 303.3%.
The majority of the students with 56% are enrolled in STEM disciplines, with math and computer science to be the leading fields of study with 25% of international students. Engineering also remains a priority field to study, with 19% of students enrolled. Other popular fields include business and management (14%), physical and life sciences (8%), social sciences (8%), and fine and applied arts (5%).
