Nepal continues to send the largest number of students to India while Karnataka has emerged as the top destination for international students, according to the Ministry of Education's All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for 2023-24. The survey recorded 58,134 foreign students enrolled in Indian higher education institutions (HEIs) from 173 countries, marking an 18.9% increase over five years from 48,898 in 2019-20.
Top countries sending students to India
Nepal accounted for 24.1% of all foreign students in India, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 7%, the United States at 5.9%, Bangladesh at 5.9%, Nigeria at 5.5%, and Zimbabwe at 4%. The top 10 countries together contributed 63.8% of the total international student population.
Karnataka leads among states
Karnataka hosted 7,914 foreign students, narrowly ahead of Punjab (7,902). Maharashtra enrolled 6,190 international students, Uttar Pradesh 5,953, and Tamil Nadu 5,694, rounding out the top five states. The survey highlighted that Karnataka's lead underscores its appeal as a higher education hub, driven by institutions like the Indian Institute of Science and numerous universities.
Enrolment by course level
The majority of foreign students—73.6%—were enrolled in undergraduate programmes, with 42,779 students (27,849 men and 14,930 women). Postgraduate programmes attracted 16.8% of students (9,845 enrolments), while smaller numbers pursued diploma, PhD, certificate, and integrated courses.
Growth over five years
Foreign student enrolments rose from 48,898 in 2019-20 to 58,134 in 2023-24, an increase of 9,236 students or 18.9%. Male enrolments grew from 32,386 to 37,295, while female enrolments increased from 16,512 to 20,839 during the same period.
Diverse nationalities represented
India also attracted students from Lebanon, Burkina Faso, Mongolia, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Chile, among others, in the 2023-24 academic year. The Ministry of Education launched the Study in India (SII) programme in 2018 to further boost international student inflows.
Survey methodology and purpose
The AISHE collects detailed data from HEIs across India through a web-based data capture format, covering student enrolment, faculty, infrastructure, and examination results. It serves as the primary official source of higher education statistics, informing policy formulation and sector monitoring.
