UAE Beats US, Bangladesh to Become India's 2nd-Largest Source of International Students

The UAE accounted for 7% of all foreign students enrolled in Indian higher education institutions in the most recent academic year, according to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE). This places the Gulf nation ahead of Bangladesh and the United States, which have traditionally been among the top source countries.

Nepal remains the largest contributor, sending 24.1% of all international students to India. The UAE's rise reflects a growing trend of students from the Gulf region seeking degrees in Indian universities, driven by factors such as cultural proximity and the availability of affordable education.

The AISHE report, released by the Ministry of Education, compiles data on enrollment, faculty, and infrastructure across Indian higher education institutions. It does not provide a breakdown of the specific fields of study or the number of students from each country, but the overall figures indicate a shift in the geographic composition of India's international student body.

The increase in students from the UAE comes as India has been working to attract more foreign students through initiatives like the Study in India program, which aims to position the country as a global education hub. The latest data suggests these efforts are beginning to yield results, particularly in the Gulf region.