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In recent years, there has been a notable shift in the preferences of Indian students seeking higher education abroad. While traditional destinations like the US, UK, or Canada have been popular, Russia is emerging as the most preferred destination among Indian students.
As per the data issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, in 2024, the number of students pursuing higher education in Russia has witnessed an upsurge of ~35% as compared to the last year. Moreover, the data cited by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation shows that there has been a significant and constant increase in the number of students enrolling for higher education in Russian educational institutions, from around ~20,000 in 2022 to over 23,500 in 2023 and over 31,400 in 2024.
In addition, the number of students opting for studying in the United States has witnessed a downward trend owing to unfavourable policies adopted by the US in recent years. As per the recent studies, the number of students considering the United States has dropped from ~234,000 to ~204,000 in 2024, depicting a shortfall of over 12% in a year.
Moreover, the New Delhi Embassy has been issuing several advisories for Indian students studying in the United States. It has also been reported that Canada has experienced a downfall of around 40% in enrollment.
With a marked increase in enrollment figures for Russian institutions, it is evident that the country has become an attractive alternative to traditional study destinations like the US and Canada. This shift can be attributed to various factors, including more favorable policies, cost-effective education, and the growing appeal of Russian academic institutions.
