The total number of foreign students enrolled in Indian higher education institutions reached 58,134 in the academic year 2023-24, marking a significant increase of 19.3% from 48,726 students in 2022-23, according to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report released on July 9, 2026. The data also reveals persistent gaps in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, six years after its launch.
Top Source Countries for Foreign Students
Students from 173 different countries were enrolled across Indian universities and colleges. Nepal contributed the largest share at 24.1%, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 7.0%, the United States at 5.9%, Bangladesh at 5.9%, Nigeria at 5.5%, and Zimbabwe at 4.0%. These six countries together accounted for over half of all foreign enrolments.
The dominance of Nepal reflects strong educational ties and geographic proximity, while the presence of students from the UAE, US, and African nations indicates India's growing appeal as a study destination.
Course-Level Distribution and Gender Trends
Undergraduate (UG) programmes attracted the highest number of foreign students, with 73.6% of the total enrolments. Postgraduate (PG) courses accounted for 16.8%. Among UG students, 4,930 were female and 27,849 were male, highlighting a gender disparity that calls for targeted outreach to female international students.
At the UG level, the most popular fields were Arts (32.1%), Science (13.5%), Engineering & Technology (12.9%), and Commerce (12.0%). At the PG level, Social Science stream led with 18.6%, followed by Management at 18.2%.
NEP 2020 Implementation Lags Behind Targets
The AISHE report underscores that only 56% of universities have introduced the 4-year undergraduate programme recommended by NEP 2020. Similarly, only 58% have adopted the National Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes. Multiple entry and exit options, a key flexibility feature, are offered by just 49% of universities. Meanwhile, a mere 6% have launched online programmes, indicating slow digital transformation in higher education.
Despite these gaps, overall university enrolment grew by 33.4% between 2019-20 and 2023-24. State public universities saw a 23.5% increase, while Institutes of National Importance (INIs) recorded a robust 42.2% rise, reflecting their growing attractiveness.
