By Sanjay Laul, Founder of MSM Unify, a Laul Global Company
The number of Indian students studying abroad continues to grow although they now choose to study in additional international destinations. The total number of Indian students studying abroad increased from 1.3 million in 2023 to more than 1.8 million in 2025 while the US and Canada and UK maintained their positions as top destinations and Asia and the Middle East and Europe and emerging educational centers became increasingly popular for 2026 enrollment.
Outbound Demand Remains Strong
The government reports that more than 1.8 million Indians pursue education outside their home country since 2022 when the number was 1.3 million. Border records indicate that 7.6 lakh students departed for higher education during 2024.
Costs, Rules and Currency Reshape Plans
The financial environment together with policy developments have undergone significant changes despite the reported growth numbers. Families maintain their desire for international education but they now prefer to reduce their time abroad while selecting cheaper study destinations with simple visa procedures and combining Indian education with brief international study.
Asia and the Middle East Move Into Focus
Search and application data in 2025 show a clear lift for selected Asian and Middle Eastern destinations. Aggregated data from a major student search platform, analyzed by sector observers, highlight strong growth in interest for Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates between March and June, with Indian students noted as important contributors to that rise.
Further analysis of longer-term mobility patterns concludes that Asia is consolidating its position as a leading destination region for international students. The region’s appeal rests on a mix of relatively lower tuition levels in many systems, a growing supply of English-taught programs, and the prospect of employment in expanding urban economies.
In the Gulf, Dubai has emerged as a visible symbol of this shift. The latest higher-education report from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority shows that Indian nationals now account for about 42 percent of the international student population in Dubai’s higher-education institutions for 2024–25.
For Indian applicants, proximity, flight connectivity and cultural familiarity combine with campus investment and evolving work options to make the Gulf a more prominent part of shortlists.
Europe and Regional Hubs Gain Ground
Students who speak English as their native language select Austria, Malta, Portugal and Spain because these countries offer affordable tuition rates and affordable living expenses and work authorization after graduation. The combination of English and local language education in Germany, France and Italy makes these countries attractive to Indian students who want to study and live abroad.
Platforms Help Families Navigate a Wider Map
The wider geographic spread of destinations has increased the need for clear, comparative guidance. In this space, education-and-technology groups and online marketplaces now play a significant role alongside traditional counselling channels.
Laul Global, an education and technology holding company based in Canada, operates a network of public-private partners in Asia, Africa and about twenty countries worldwide, with a focus on skills, labor-market outcomes and impact investing in education.
Such platforms, alongside independent counsellors and institutional representatives, are increasingly being used by families to compare tuition, likely living costs, admission rules and work options across multiple regions rather than only one or two traditional favorites.
Outlook for 2026 Intakes
Overall, current evidence suggests realignment rather than a retreat from international study. Indian students still look outward in large numbers, but they now distribute applications across a wider set of countries and regional hubs.
The 2026 cycle will challenge institutions and governments and intermediaries to speed up their recruitment methods and information systems and student assistance programs because of changing student enrollment patterns.
The upcoming application period for families will focus on obtaining definitive information while minimizing unknowns. Transparent information on fees, funding options, work entitlements and visa conditions will sit alongside rankings and reputation when choices are made.