India’s higher education map is becoming more international. The country hosted 58,134 foreign students from 173 nations in 2023-24, compared with 39,517 students from 158 countries in 2013-14. That is an increase of 18,617 students, or nearly 47%, over a decade. Nepal has not merely stayed ahead during this expansion. Its share has grown.
The newly released AISHE 2023-24 report places Nepal at 24.1% of all foreign enrolments, up from 21% a decade earlier. The figures also show fresh movement from the UAE, the United States, Bangladesh, and African countries, giving Indian campuses a broader international mix.
What The Latest Foreign Student Enrolment Data Shows
The Ministry of Education released the AISHE reports for 2022-23 and 2023-24 on July 8, 2026. The official PIB release says more than 90% of registered higher education institutions participated in both surveys. AISHE is India’s main official source for university and college enrolment figures, although institutions upload the data themselves.
Key findings from the latest report include:
- India enrolled 58,134 foreign students representing 173 countries in 2023-24.
- Nepal contributed 24.1%, followed by the UAE at 7%.
- The United States and Bangladesh each accounted for 5.9%.
- Undergraduate courses attracted 73.6% of all foreign students.
- Karnataka hosted 7,914 students, narrowly ahead of Punjab with 7,902.
The source-country list has changed sharply since 2013-14. Afghanistan, Bhutan, Malaysia, Sudan, and Iraq once followed Nepal. Now, the UAE ranks second, while Nigeria and Zimbabwe have entered the leading group. The top ten countries supplied 63.8% of foreign students, slightly below 65% a decade ago. PIB India’s official X update also announced the release.
Why Nepal Remains India’s Top Source Country
Geography does much of the early work. Nepal and India share an open border, long-standing cultural links, and deep people-to-people contact, according to the Ministry of External Affairs’ India-Nepal bilateral brief. For a Nepali student, studying in Delhi, Punjab, Karnataka or Uttar Pradesh can mean shorter journeys and easier family contact than moving to Europe, North America or Australia.
Academic familiarity adds another layer. Indian universities offer popular choices in engineering, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, agriculture, business, and humanities. English-medium teaching is common in professional programmes, while Hindi and shared linguistic habits can make daily life less daunting for many Nepali students.
Scholarships have built a steady education corridor. The bilateral brief says India provides more than 1,500 scholarships every year for Nepali nationals studying in India or Nepal. Around 38,000 Nepali citizens have benefited from Indian government scholarships since 2001. The ICCR scholarship portal also lists the Sushma Swaraj Silver Jubilee Scholarship Scheme specifically for Nepali nationals.
Cost can also influence decisions. The Study in India portal presents India as a cost-effective destination and lists over 8,000 courses across more than 600 institutes. Partner institutions may offer merit-based fee waivers ranging from 10% to 100%.
Where Foreign Students Study And Which Courses They Pick
Karnataka has emerged as the leading state for foreign student enrolment, but by only 12 students over Punjab. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu complete the top five. These states combine large university networks, professional colleges, established student cities, and stronger international admission teams.
Course choices remain tilted towards first degrees. Of all foreign students, 73.6% were enrolled at the undergraduate level and 16.8% at the postgraduate level. BTech alone attracted 14,900 students, far ahead of BSc with 4,589 and BBA with 3,641. MBA recorded 3,306 foreign enrolments, while 1,117 students were pursuing MBBS.
One detail needs care. AISHE’s foreign-student category includes non-resident Indians, persons of Indian origin, and other foreign nationals. That wider definition may partly shape the strong numbers from countries with large Indian communities, including the UAE and the United States. Not every entry represents a first-generation international student.
Can India Build A Bigger Global Education Hub?
The 47% decade-long rise is encouraging, but India still needs smoother admissions, dependable hostel space, transparent fee information, and stronger campus support. Foreign students also need quicker answers on visas, registration, healthcare, banking, and course recognition. A polished recruitment campaign cannot replace a reliable student experience after arrival.
Universities can learn from Nepal’s continuing lead. Proximity helped, but scholarships, familiar courses, and years of institutional contact kept the pipeline active. India’s next growth phase may come from pairing those strengths with targeted outreach in Africa, West Asia, Southeast Asia, and neighbouring countries.
The latest figures show progress, not a finished job. India is attracting more students and nationalities, while Nepal remains the anchor of that growth.
FAQs
Why do Nepali students prefer India?
Nearby campuses, cultural familiarity, scholarships, courses, and affordable costs keep India attractive for Nepali students.
How many foreign students studied in India in 2023-24?
India recorded 58,134 foreign students from 173 countries during the 2023-24 academic year across campuses.
Which Indian state hosts the most foreign students?
Karnataka leads with 7,914 foreign students, narrowly ahead of Punjab, which hosts 7,902 students overall.
Which course attracts the most foreign students in India?
BTech ranks first with 14,900 foreign students, followed by BSc, BBA, and MBA programmes nationally.
Does Study in India provide scholarships directly?
No, partner institutions offer merit-based scholarships or fee waivers based on academic performance and policies.
