India surpasses China, sends more students to US in 2023-24: Report
India sent more students to the United States (US) than any other country in the academic year 2023-24. A whopping 3.30 lakh Indians opted to study in the United States, said the ‘Open Doors’ Report released by the US today.
Speaking at the launch of the “Women in STEMM Fellowship” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine), US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said: “For the first time since 2009, India sent more students to the United States than any other country.”
“In academic year 2023-24, over 3,30,000 Indians pursued higher education in the United States, a 23 per cent increase from the previous year. China stood at the second place with 2,77,398 students,” Garcetti said.
The report said the total number of international students at US colleges and universities reached an all-time high of more than 1.1 million (11,26,690) international students in 2023-24, a seven per cent increase from the previous academic year.
In academic year 2022-23, China topped the list by sending 2,89,526 students to the US, followed by India at 2,68,923.
The report highlights growth across various levels. India retained its position as the top sender of international graduate-level students for the second year in the US, with nearly 1,97,000 students, a 19 per cent increase from the previous year.
The number of Indian students in Optional Practical Training (OPT) programmes surged by 41 per cent to 97,556, reinforcing India’s role as a leading source of skilled professionals in the US. Also, undergraduate enrolments from India rose by 13 per cent, reaching over 36,000 students.
The report also shows an increase in American students choosing India as a study abroad destination, witnessing an increase from 300 to 1,300 pupils in a year.
The “Women in STEMM Fellowship”, a partnership between John Hopkins University Gupta-Klinsky India Institute and the US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment, is aimed at supporting early-career women scientists and researchers in India to become leaders in their STEMM fields.
Johns Hopkins University president Ronald J Daniels said: “At Johns Hopkins University, we believe that empowering women in STEMM is essential for advancing global innovation. The fellowship, launched in partnership with the US State Department, is designed to help Indian women scientists gain critical research skills, access mentors, and connect with global networks.
Free digital guide soon
The US Consulate General in Mumbai and the University of Denver will soon launch a free “Digital Guide on Internationalisation: Simplifying US-India Higher Education Institution (HEI) Collaboration and Partnerships.” This guide will provide Indian colleges and universities with information about the US educational system and resources for internationalising their campuses by partnering with US colleges and universities.
