International Student Arrivals to the US Drop 19%, India Sees Sharpest Decline
2 Min Read
International student arrivals to the United States fell by 19% this August, marking the steepest annual drop since the pandemic, according to new federal data. The decline was most pronounced among students from India, America’s largest source country, which saw arrivals fall by 45% compared to last year.
The US International Trade Administration (ITA) reported that 33,285 fewer Indian students travelled to the country this August, a month that typically sees the highest volume of incoming students before the autumn semester. Experts attribute the drop primarily to visa challenges and political uncertainty.
“It’s a toxic combination of both visa challenges and declining interest, but visa uncertainty is the primary driver,” said Nikhil Jain, founder and CEO of the Indian education consultancy ForeignAdmits. Jain noted a 30% decrease in US master’s applications due to suspended visa interviews that left many students unable to enrol this term.
The data also revealed declines from other key countries, including China (12%) and South Korea (11%), while the largest percentage falls were seen from Iran (86%), Syria (63%), and Nigeria (48%). Regionally, Africa saw a 32% decline, followed by Asia (24%) and the Middle East (17%).
Experts warned that the decline might also reflect existing students’ reluctance to leave the US during the summer, fearing re-entry issues amid tightening visa policies.
Indian education consultants echoed the data, reporting fewer US applications across all study levels. “If policy uncertainty persists, the US risks losing its status as the default first choice for Indian students,” said Namita Mehta, president of The Red Pen, who highlighted a 19% drop in graduate applications and a similar fall in MBA interest.
While elite institutions remain largely unaffected, smaller universities are facing the brunt of the decline. “Students who once only considered the US are now diversifying, exploring Germany, Ireland, and Singapore,” added Jain.
The trend reflects growing unease about the future of post-study work rights and rising H-1B visa costs, with experts warning that the “American Dream” may be losing its appeal among international students.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
Top Stories
ICEF Launches AI-Powered Compliance Platform to Monitor Education Agents
September 8, 2025 | By Daniel
UK Remains Top Choice for Pathway Students Despite Tougher Visa Rules
September 5, 2025 | By Jace
China’s New K Visa Targets Global STEM Talent Amid AI Race
September 4, 2025 | By KaiMore Articles
Europe’s New Digital Border System: What Indian Travellers Need to Know
Europe is introducing a major digital upgrade to its border control process. Starting 12 October 2025, the…
By Daniel
Record Indian Student Enrolment at USC Despite H-1B Concerns, Says Dean
Despite ongoing visa challenges and new H-1B fees under the Donald Trump administration, the…
By Aahana
South Korea Introduces K-STAR Visa to Attract Global STEM Talent
South Korea has unveiled a new visa pathway designed to attract top global talent in…
By Kai
Wales Rejects UK International Student Levy, Reaffirms Commitment to Global Students
Wales has confirmed it will not adopt the UK government’s controversial international student levy, signalling a…
By Vaidant
Lancaster University Expands to India with New Bengaluru Campus
Lancaster University has announced plans to establish a new campus in Bengaluru, India, joining a…
By Henry
Academic Freedom Shrinks in the US and India, New Report Warns
Academic freedom in the United States and India is facing an alarming decline, according to the Free to Think 2025…
By Vaidant
Starmer Rules Out Visa Changes, Highlights UK University Opportunities in India
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out introducing new visa routes for Indian students and…
By Kai
France Launches Lafayette Fellowship to Attract American Students
France has announced the launch of the Lafayette Fellowship, an exclusive new programme designed to attract top…
By Ezra
Montreal’s Historic YMCA International Language School to Close Amid Policy Turmoil
The YMCA International Language School in Montreal, a fixture in Canada’s language education sector for…
By Daniel
Lawsuit Challenges Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Hike
A coalition of US labour unions, universities, healthcare providers and visa holders has launched the first…
By Advay
US Senator Demands End to OPT Amid Jobs and Espionage Concerns
A senior United States senator has urged the government to halt work authorisations for…
By Jace
Trump’s 15% Cap on International Students Sparks Alarm in US Universities
The United States is bracing for a major shift in higher education as the Donald Trump administration…
By Advay
Lithuania Moves to Tighten Rules on International Students
Lithuania is preparing new restrictions on international students following concerns that some have been…
By Aahana
UCL Granted Extra CAS Numbers After Allocation Exceeded
University College London (UCL) has been granted additional Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) allocations…
By Henry
Canada’s PGWP Decline Threatens Workforce Amid Global Talent Shifts
Canada’s labour market is bracing for intensified shortages as post-graduation work permit (PGWP) approvals are…
By Kai
Phased Rollout of New UK BCA Thresholds Confirmed Amid Immigration Crackdown
UK universities have been told to prepare for a “phased implementation” of new Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA)…
By Neerav
UK Overtakes US as Top Destination for Business Education
The United States has lost its long-held crown as the leading destination for business education, with the United Kingdom…
By Henry
Global Demand for US Master’s Degrees Falls by 60% Amid Policy Uncertainty
International student demand for US master’s degrees has plummeted by 61% in 2025, raising concerns about the…
By Vaidant
US Proposes 15% Cap on International Student Enrolments
The United States government has proposed a sweeping new compact that could dramatically reshape international student…
By Aahana
Canada ‘No Longer Competitive’ in Global Talent Race, Warns CBIE
Canada is losing its competitive edge in attracting international students due to a string of federal…
By Daniel
Trump Proposes H-1B Visa Overhaul Favouring Higher Paid Workers
The United States is set for a major shake-up of its H-1B visa programme, with the Trump administration proposing a new…
By Ezra
Report Warns UK International Fee Levy Could Slash Student Enrolments by 77,000
The United Kingdom’s higher education sector could face a severe blow if the government proceeds with plans to…
By Advay
UKVI Reportedly Stops International Students at Airports for Extra Checks
International students travelling to the United Kingdom are reportedly being stopped by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) officials…
By Henry
US College Leaders Express Growing Concern Over Trump Administration
Nearly three-quarters of US college leaders have expressed extreme concern over the Trump…
By Ezra
Australia Faces Decline in Student Commencements but 2025 Target Remains Within Reach
Australia’s international education sector has recorded a notable fall in new student…
By Siya
Austria Strengthens Education Ties with India Through STEM Initiatives
Austria has announced a major expansion of its higher education collaboration with India, launching new STEM-focused…
By Ezra
France Strengthens Position as International Student Hub Amid US Decline
France has cemented its position as a leading study destination, hosting nearly 445,000…
By Daniel
Uncertainty Surrounds New $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee in US
Confusion continues to swirl around the United States’ decision to impose a new…
By Neerav
Irish ELT Sector Holds Firm Despite Adult Enrolment Decline
Ireland’s English Language Teaching (ELT) sector welcomed more than 60,000 international students…
By Vaidant
Coventry University Project Wins Study Abroad and Exchange Award
Coventry University’s innovative Telepresence in Theatre project has been named…
By Aahana
Indian Students Reassess Study Abroad Plans After US H-1B Visa Fee Shock
A sudden hike in H-1B visa fees in the United States has unsettled thousands of Indian students and professionals…
By Jace
Scotland Appoints Ben Macpherson as New Higher Education Minister
Scotland has appointed Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, as its new minister for higher…
By Kai
International Students Maintain US Study Plans Despite Concerns, Survey Shows
Despite rising concerns over safety, stability, and visa hurdles, a new survey suggests that most international…
By Ezra
IIE Launches Five-Year Survey on International Higher Education Partnerships
The Institute of International Education (IIE) has launched a five-year global survey examining the landscape of…
By Daniel
Indian Student Loses Court Appeal After Canada Denies PGWP
An Indian student has been denied a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in Canada after both Immigration, Refugees…
By Aahana
Germany to Offer Free Student Visas for Indian Short-Term Programmes
Germany has announced a major step to support international education by introducing gratis visas, visas issued free of…
By Kai
United States tops global student satisfaction survey
The United States has retained its position as the world’s leading destination for international student…
By Jace
Saudi Arabia and Australia deepen cooperation in education and research
Saudi Arabia and Australia are forging closer ties in higher education, scientific research, and skills development following…
By Henry
Indian study-abroad sector welcomes GST relief after Supreme Court ruling
India’s study-abroad consultancy sector has expressed relief and optimism following a Supreme Court decision and a subsequent…
By Siya
US visa policy shift raises equity concerns for international students
New guidance from the United States Department of State is sparking widespread concern across the global…
By Aahana
Scotland steps up efforts to retain international students post-graduation
Scotland is intensifying its internationalisation drive, with higher and further education minister Graeme Dey declaring…
By Vaidant
US Institutions Dominate Global MBA Rankings 2026
The United States has reaffirmed its dominance in postgraduate business education, taking…
By Henry
European Universities Urged to Avoid Recruitment Pitfalls of ‘Big Four’
European universities have been warned to avoid the recruitment mistakes made by major study…
By Daniel
Australia Sees Fall in Student Visa Lodgements Amid Integrity Crackdown
Australia’s student visa system is undergoing significant change as application numbers…
By Kai
Hungary Offers Tuition-Free Higher Education with Monthly Stipend
Hungary has announced an attractive opportunity for international students through its flagship Stipendium…
By Neerav
Independent English Language Benchmarking Body ELSA Launches
A new non-profit organisation, the English Language Standard Authority (ELSA), has officially launched with the aim…
By Ezra
Germany Waives Visa Fees for Indian Students in Landmark Move
Germany has announced that Indian students will no longer be required to pay visa fees for short-term academic…
By Advay
Canada Opens PR Pathway for International Education Students
Canada has announced a new immigration pathway that allows international students in education to transition…
By Siya
London Met Tops UK Rankings for Student Value Added
London Metropolitan University has been named the best in the UK for the progress its students make, according…
By Aahana
China Approves 46 New TNE Partnerships in Major Higher Education Expansion
China’s Ministry of Education has approved 46 new transnational education (TNE) partnerships as the country looks…
By Ezra
English Path Expands with New Campus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
English Path (EP), a global leader in language training, has announced the opening of a new campus in Riyadh, strengthening…
By Daniel
Global ELT Recovery Stalls as Canada, UK and Australia Face Setbacks
The global English Language Teaching (ELT) sector is facing slower-than-expected recovery, with major study…
By Jace
West Africa Emerges as Growing Study Destination for International Students
West Africa is seeing a surge in international student interest as affordability and visa accessibility drive demand…
By Advay
Australia’s New Tertiary Education Commission to Steer Long-Term Reform
Australia has launched the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC), a new independent body tasked with driving…
By Neerav
Canada Rejects 80% of Indian Student Visas in 2025 as Germany Gains Ground
Canada has rejected nearly 80% of student visa applications from India this year, marking one…
By Vaidant
Universities of Greenwich and Kent to Merge into ‘Super-University’
Two prominent UK universities, the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent, have announced a merger…
By Kai
UK International Student Numbers Double Over Past Decade
The number of international students in the United Kingdom has more than doubled over the past decade, reinforcing…
By Siya
US Visa Applicants Must Now Interview in Home Country
The US State Department has announced that, effective 6 September 2025, all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including…
By Ezra
Harvard Secures Court Victory Against Trump Administration
Harvard University has won a major legal battle against the Trump administration, with a federal court ruling that the…
By Vaidant
Malvern College to Open New Campus in Saudi Arabia by 2027
UK independent school Malvern College has announced plans to open its first Saudi campus in Riyadh, marking a…
By Jace
Home Office Moves Towards ‘Digital by Default’ English Language Testing
The UK Home Office has taken a major step towards introducing a digital-first approach to English language testing, as part of its…
By Aahana
Indian Students Face Stricter Visa Rules as US Tightens Policies
Indian students planning to study in the United States are facing tougher challenges after the US government enforced stricter…
By Aahana
USC Launches New Undergraduate Degree in Artificial Intelligence
The University of Southern California (USC) has announced the launch of a new undergraduate programme in Artificial Intelligence, marking a…
By Henry
ICEF Launches AI-Powered Compliance Platform to Monitor Education Agents
ICEF, a leading accreditation and training organisation in the international education sector, has unveiled an…
By Daniel
TOEFL Launches ₹10 Lakh Initiative for Indian Study Abroad Aspirants
Indian students planning to study overseas have been given a fresh boost through a new initiative by ETS, the organisation behind…
By Advay
Germany Surpasses US and Canada as Top Study Destination for Indian Students
Germany has overtaken the United States and Canada as the leading choice for Indian students seeking higher education…
By Henry
UK Remains Top Choice for Pathway Students Despite Tougher Visa Rules
The United Kingdom continues to hold its position as the leading destination for…
By Jace
India and Germany Agree on Gratis Visas to Boost Student Exchanges
India and Germany have agreed to introduce gratis visas for short-term school and college visits, a move aimed at…
By Aahana
China’s New K Visa Targets Global STEM Talent Amid AI Race
The launch of the new K visa is being hailed as a landmark step in China’s bid to secure global technological leadership…
By Kai
US Visa Curbs Fail to Deter Young Ghanaians from Pursuing the American Dream
New visa restrictions imposed by the United States have done little to dampen the ambitions of Ghanaian students…
By Neerav
Indians’ Spending on Foreign Studies Falls to 7-Year Low Amid US Visa Curbs
Indians’ spending on foreign education has slumped to a seven-year low, with tighter visa rules in the United States and…
By Ezra
APPG Calls for Regional Focus on International Students’ Economic Impact
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Students has urged the government to adopt a comprehensive…
By Henry
International Universities Explore Campuses in Bangladesh
International universities are showing increasing interest in setting up campuses and dual degree programmes…
By Vaidant
Canada Raises Financial Proof Requirement for Study Permits from September 2025
International students applying for study permits in Canada will soon face stricter financial…
By Advay
UK warns international students against overstaying visas
The UK government has begun sending text and email alerts to international students whose…
By Jace
Spain launches fast-track route for US-affected students
Spain has unveiled a new education fast-track to attract international students impacted by…
By Aahana
UK universities boost career support for Indian and Chinese graduates
Two leading UK universities have joined forces to strengthen career prospects for their…
By Siya
British Council vows to continue work in Ukraine after Kyiv strike
The British Council has pledged to continue its mission in Ukraine despite its Kyiv headquarters…
By Daniel
Remittances for Indian Students Abroad Fall to Five-Year Low
Remittances by Indians for studying abroad dropped to a five-year low of USD 138.8 million in…
By Kai
Canada Rejects Nearly Two-Thirds of Study Permit Applications in 2025
Canada’s study permit approval rate has plunged to its lowest in over a decade, with…
By Advay
International Students in the UK Urged to Sharpen Skills for Tougher Job Market
International students in the UK are being encouraged to sharpen their skills, build strong…
By Neerav
US Proposes Four-Year Limit on Student Visas, Sparking Backlash
The United States government has unveiled a controversial proposal to cap student visas…
By Daniel
July Sees Sharp Decline in US Student Visa Arrivals
The United States has recorded a steep fall in international student arrivals this…
By Henry
UK to Host 40 Gazan Students on Funded University Scholarships
The United Kingdom has confirmed plans to welcome around 40 students from Gaza to take up…
By Kai
Trump Backs 600,000 Chinese Students in US Universities
US President Donald Trump has announced plans to allow 600,000 Chinese students…
By Siya
Korea Struggles to Match International Graduates with Employers Despite Record Numbers
South Korea is seeing record growth in its international student population, with more than…
By Ezra
Canada Accepts TOEFL Essentials for Economic Migration
In a significant development for international applicants, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship…
By Jace
UK Government Opens Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2025
Applications are now open for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2025, announced by the…
By Vaidant
Niger East Senator Sends 200 Students Abroad on Landmark Scholarship
In a landmark educational initiative, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa of Niger East has…
By Aahana
OPT programme under threat as US lawmakers push for termination, new taxes, and stricter rules
The United States Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, a crucial pathway for international…
By Daniel
Trump Administration Slashes $100m in Study Abroad Funding, Sparking Backlash
The United States has announced sweeping cuts to study abroad programmes, slashing $100 million in funding…
By Advay
Egypt and Czech Republic to Strengthen Higher Education Cooperation
Egypt and the Czech Republic are set to deepen their higher education ties, with both countries agreeing…
By Henry
UK Universities Eye Expansion in India’s GIFT City
UK universities are exploring opportunities in Gujarat’s GIFT City as India positions…
By Jace
US TOEFL Raters Claim Loss of Work as ETS Moves Scoring Offshore
A petition by TOEFL speaking raters in the United States has accused the Educational Testing…
By Siya
Fulbright at 75, Reform at 30: Celebrating US–Korea Educational Exchange
South Korea is marking two major milestones this year; the 75th anniversary of the…
By Kai
Calls grow in India to boycott US study amid tariff row
Tensions between India and the United States are spilling into the education sector as calls mount…
By Aahana
University of Strathclyde Opens Scholarship and Postgraduate Applications for 2025
The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, United Kingdom, has announced that applications…
By Vaidant
Alumni Urge Harvard to Resist $500m Settlement with Trump Administration
Over 15,000 Harvard alumni, faculty, researchers and staff have signed an open…
By Neerav
SAT & TOEFL Olympiad 2025 Registrations Open for Classes 9–12
Registrations are now open for the SAT & TOEFL Olympiad 2025, offering students in Grades…
By Henry
Surge in Chinese Students as UK University Acceptances Rise by 13%
The number of Chinese undergraduates accepted into UK universities has surged by 13% in the past…
By Siya