Tight visa rules abroad fuel surge in foreign students choosing India

While the momentum is building, experts believe continuous structural reforms are essential to sustain the trend.

With global universities tightening admission policies and visa hurdles increasing, India is stepping up as a viable education destination for students who once looked overseas, ANI reported, citing senior officials from leading educational institutions.

Programmes such as the e-Student and e-Student-X visas are streamlining access for international learners, making Indian campuses more attractive to students from across the world.

‘Reimagining India’s role’

“India is not just reforming education, we’re reimagining our role in the global academic community,” said Amruta Ruikar, Head of International Admissions and Promotions at Symbiosis International University, told ANI.

She highlighted the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as the foundation for new opportunities, including joint degrees, credit transfers and cross-border collaborations.

“Study in India, ICCR scholarships and GIAN all send a clear message: India wants to be a destination, not just a departure point, for quality education,” she added, noting that the country’s openness to students from politically or economically unstable regions is a key differentiator.

World-class curricula, local advantage

According to ANI, experts say Indian institutions now offer globally benchmarked curricula, interdisciplinary programmes and rich international exposure, all without the steep costs of studying abroad.

Dr Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor of Mahindra University, told ANI that competing with the world’s best requires “going beyond traditional metrics” by investing in global partnerships and cultural agility.

Mahindra University has already forged alliances with Virginia Tech, CentraleSupélec and Babson College to provide its students with international academic opportunities.

Sustained reform needed

While the momentum is building, experts believe continuous structural reforms are essential to sustain the trend.

“The scope for Indian universities to lead global academic innovation is growing, but it must be backed by continuous structural reform,” said Dr Kannan, Director, SRM Group of Institutions, Ramapuram and Tiruchirappalli, as quoted by ANI.

He emphasised the need for sustained investment in digital learning, research and student life, alongside policies that enable academic autonomy and international mobility.

At SRMIST Trichy, partnerships with bodies like the Officers Training Academy (OTA), ICAR-NRCB, and L&T EduTech are driving joint research, faculty exchange and skill development.

Simplified access, stronger appeal

Initiatives like the Study in India portal and financial aid for foreign students have simplified access to Indian higher education. The “Institution of Eminence” status granted to some universities has also enabled structured collaborations with top global institutions.

According to a recent ICRA report cited by ANI, India’s higher education sector is projected to see a 9–11 percent revenue growth in FY2026, driven by rising enrolments, expanding seat capacities and the launch of new courses.