Beyond the Big Four: Indian students flock to Singapore, Ireland & Dubai for overseas studies

Policy changes & costs drive Indian students to newer study destinations

In 2025, study abroad consultancy platform Gradding reported a 38 pc surge in Indians opting for newer destinations like Singapore, Ireland, and Dubai, signalling a shift away from traditional favourites such as the UK, US, and Canada, which have seen a marked drop in enrollments.

Studying abroad has long been viewed in India as a symbol of prestige and is often a pathway to better opportunities and a more secure life overseas. This number has been rising steadily, mainly due to growth in the Indian economy as well as availability of scholarships and student loans.

The growth continued last year as figures from the Ministry of External Affairs indicate a slight rise in the number of Indian students abroad, from 1.32 million in 2023 to 1.34 million in 2024. Canada leads the list with 427,000 Indian students, followed by the United States with 337,000, the United Kingdom with 185,000, Australia with 122,000 and Germany with 42,997.

However, the overall picture is far from smooth. News reports and immigration data reveal a sharp drop in student departures to historically popular destinations in 2024. According to the Bureau of Immigration, there has been a 27 pc decline in the number of Indian students going to Canada, the UK, and the US. Canada saw the steepest fall at 41 pc, followed by the UK at 27.7 pc and the US at 13 pc.

Interestingly, as traditional destinations witness a downturn, alternative countries are gaining traction. Russia has seen a 34 pc rise in Indian student enrollments, while Germany welcomed 34,702 more Indian students in 2024. Uzbekistan has also emerged as a growing hub, hosting 9,915 Indian students, as many seek more affordable and accessible routes to global education.

Adding to this shift, a recent report by study abroad consultancy platform Gradding highlights the rising popularity of emerging destinations among Indian students. Countries like Ireland, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore are witnessing a surge in interest, with overall demand for these locations increasing by 38 pc in recent years. Singapore, in particular, has witnessed a 25 pc growth in Indian student enrollments.

These trends reflect a growing preference among Indian students for newer, more dynamic study destinations beyond the traditional choices.

Emerging destinations take centre stage

According to overseas education consultants, a mix of key factors, including restrictive immigration policies in traditional destinations, greater affordability, and lower tuition and living costs has fuelled the growing shift of Indian students toward these emerging study hubs.

Vijay Nair, founder of Chennai-based consultancy Education Matters, notes that stricter immigration rules in the “Big Four” countries, namely the UK, the US, Canada and Australia have played a major role in this changing trend.

“The US and Canada have seen a definite slowdown, mainly because of political uncertainties, tighter visa rules, and increased scrutiny on immigration. As for the UK, the recent removal of dependent visas for international students combined with ongoing economic challenges has further reduced its appeal,” Nair tells Media India Group.

Disha Roy Choudhary, Senior Counsellor and Operations Manager at Kolkata-based Imperial Overseas Educational Consultants, notes that it is not just restrictive policies steering students away from the Big Four. She observes that employment prospects, extended stay-back options, and overall affordability have played a significant role in fuelling the growing preference for newer study destinations over traditional ones.

“In recent years, I have seen more Indian students choosing Asian countries like Singapore and South Korea, as well as less crowded places like Ireland. From my interactions with students and parents, it is clear that priorities are changing it is not just about personal growth anymore. Employment opportunities, longer stay-back options, and Return on Investment (ROI) have become top concerns. Affordability plays a big role too, families want lower costs but better results. Studying in Singapore or Dubai can be much cheaper than in the US or the UK without sacrificing quality. Institutions like the Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Singapore offer programmes that boost global employability,” Roy tells Media India Group.

Echoing similar sentiments, Rozy Efzal, co-founder and director of the Mumbai-based ed-fintech platform Invest4Edu, highlights that proximity to key hubs like Singapore and Dubai has significantly influenced the preference for these locations among Indian students.

“Countries like Singapore and Ireland have made visa policies much more student-friendly, making it easier for international students not only to study but also to work after graduation. Plus, Singapore’s close cultural ties and geographical proximity to India make it a convenient and attractive choice for many students,” Efzal tells Media India Group.

Ritesh Jain, co-founder of the Bengaluru-based educational consultancy LaunchED Global, emphasises that improvements in university rankings, increased collaborations, and effective marketing campaigns have all contributed to the growing popularity of these emerging destinations.

“Singapore’s global reputation attracts career-driven students, while Ireland’s tech and pharma sectors and Dubai’s hospitality and business scenes are also big draws. Their universities are improving in global rankings, boosting credibility. Stricter immigration policies and geopolitical tensions in traditional destinations are pushing students toward these friendlier options. Plus, more marketing and collaborations have expanded access and awareness,” Jain tells Media India Group.

The permanence of this decision

Meanwhile, several major destinations often referred to as the ‘Big Four’, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have introduced stricter immigration policies in recent years. These measures include tighter student visa requirements, increased financial thresholds, and more rigorous post-study work regulations, making it more challenging for international students to study and settle in these countries.

For instance, Canada imposed a 35 pc cap reduction on study permits, limiting approvals to around 360,000, and introduced stricter visa and permit regulations, granting authorities greater power to revoke study or work permits under specific conditions. As a result, the number of Indian students dropped sharply by 41 pc, from 233,532 in 2023 to just 137,608 in 2024, according to Bureau of Immigration data.

Similarly, the UK’s policy changed in January 2024, which barred most international students except those in postgraduate research or government-funded programmes from bringing family members.

According to experts, these changes have respectively contributed to a 41 pc and 27 pc decline in Indian students choosing Canada and the UK for higher education.

Amidst the fall in numbers, most educational consultants view this either as a temporary shift driven by immediate geopolitical tensions and policy changes or as the beginning of a longer-term realignment in student preferences.

According to Nair and Choudhary, students opting for newer destinations for overseas studies is a temporary trend, driven by current global conditions. They see it as part of a broader diversification in student choices rather than a permanent shift.

“This is just a temporary market correction, not a permanent shift. The traditional Big 4 USA, UK, Canada, and Australia still account for 70–80 pc of Indian students going abroad who spend USD 9,600–10,800 annually. Their strong academic reputation, alumni networks, research infrastructure, and post-study work options are not easily matched by newer destinations. The current dip is mostly due to policy changes and economic cycles, which should stabilise in the next 2–3 years,” adds Nair.

Choudhary sees this development as a sign of growing diversification in the choices Indian students are making when it comes to overseas education.

“It is more of a diversification of choices. It is natural for students to explore other options when things like visa rules, stay-back policies, or political situations get uncertain. But these are temporary roadblocks. Every country goes through policy changes, and while that impacts international education in the short term, it does not mean students are turning away for good. I see this as more of a momentary pause. Traditional destinations have the infrastructure and global reputation that newer destinations are still building toward. So while places like Singapore, Ireland, and Dubai are gaining traction, I believe students will continue to see the Big 4 as their long-term goal once things stabilise,” adds Choudhary.

However, Jain and Efzal see this development as a long-term shift and a structural change of significant magnitude.

“The drop in Indian student enrolments in traditional destinations does not look like a short-term dip, it feels like a bigger trend as tighter visa rules and tougher immigration laws in countries like the US, the UK and Canada have made it harder for students to study and work there. On top of that, rising tuition fees and living costs have made these places unaffordable for many,” adds Efzal.

“This shift feels more structural than temporary. For Indian students, brand value matters less now compared to factors like cost of living, job prospects, and immigration outcomes. Unless the older destinations reform their policies, students will keep diversifying. Today, decisions are driven by employment relevance and return on investment, not just reputation,” adds Jain.

Limitations of alternative education hubs

However, while emerging education hubs are gaining traction, consultants caution that these destinations still present notable limitations.

One key concern is the limited number of universities and academic programmes available, unlike countries like the US, which offer hundreds of established institutions across diverse disciplines. This lack of variety can restrict flexibility for students making life-altering academic decisions.

“Countries like Ireland and Dubai are definitely emerging as promising study destinations, but they come with their own set of challenges especially for Indian students. One major issue is the limited number of universities. Unlike the US, where students have hundreds of well-established options across disciplines, these newer destinations offer far fewer choices, which limits flexibility when making such an important decision,” admits Choudhary.

In addition, the job markets in many of these newer destinations are relatively smaller and less diverse, leading to fewer employment opportunities after graduation.

“The job markets in these countries just aren’t as large or diverse as in the US or Canada, which limits employment options after graduation,” adds Nair.

Students may also face challenges in social and cultural integration, particularly where Indian communities are smaller or local support systems are underdeveloped.

“Students can face social and cultural adjustment issues due to smaller Indian communities or limited local support. Language can also be a challenge, Irish English, for instance, can be tough to understand because of the accent,” adds Jain.

Financial constraints also remain, as fewer scholarships and limited on-campus or part-time work options during studies can make budgeting difficult. Moreover, many of these countries are still refining their post-study work policies, permanent residency pathways, and visa regulations, creating uncertainty for long-term planning.

Another major concern is the global recognition of degrees, qualifications from lesser-known institutions in newer destinations may not carry the same weight internationally, which can impact future job prospects.

“Degrees from universities in these newer countries aren’t as widely recognised internationally as those from established destinations, which can affect job prospects,” notes Efzal.