Despite visa hurdles, India becomes largest source of international graduate students in US
PTC News Desk: Despite visa issues, the United States remains the top choice for Indians seeking higher education, according to the Open Doors Report. According to the Open Doors Report (ODR), the number of Indian students studying in the United States increased by 35%, reaching an all-time high of 268,923 students in the academic year 2022-23.
The US Department of State funds the Open Doors report, which is a definitive annual survey of foreign students and scholars in the United States, as well as US students studying abroad in credit-bearing courses, conducted by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
In addition to highlighting the rate of growth of the international student population in the United States, the report includes information on countries of origin, sources of financial support, fields of study, host institutions, and academic level.
The Open Doors Report data show that India has surpassed China to become the largest source of international graduate students in the United States for the first time since 2009-10. Furthermore, the number of Indian students pursuing higher education in the United States increased by 63% to 165,936 students, representing an increase of nearly 64,000 students over the previous year.
According to the report, the number of Indian undergraduate students increased by 16%.
More than a quarter of the over one million international students studying in the United States are Indian.
The release of the Open Doors Report marks the beginning of International Education Week (IEW), which promotes the global benefits of international education and interaction.
According to ODR statistics, India also has the most people (69,062) who pursued optional practical training (OPT), a type of temporary work permit that allows qualifying students to gain real-world experience in their field of study, according to the US Embassy press release, which cited the ODR report.
- With inputs from agencies
