Indian Students In US Reach All-Time High, Second Only To China; 63 Per Cent Growth In Graduates; STEM Most Popular

The Open Doors 2023 report, jointly released by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE), highlights that India remains the second highest source country for students studying in the US.

In the academic year 2022-23, the number of Indian students reached a record high of 2.69 lakhs, reflecting a significant year-over-year increase of 35 per cent. This report underscores the continuing trend of Indian students choosing to pursue their education in the United States.

In 2022-23, China continued to be the leading country sending students to the US, with a total of 2.90 lakh students. However, there was a slight decrease in the number of Chinese students studying in the US, with a negative growth rate of -0.2 per cent year-over-year.

Indian graduate students experienced a significant growth of 63 per cent, while undergraduates saw a 16 per cent rise. Additionally, India remains the leading source of students on OPT, with 69,062 students participating in optional practical training. These findings were shared by Dr Mirka Martel, head of research, evaluation & learning at IIE, during a press briefing to unveil the report.

Among Indian students studying in the US, the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) remain the most popular, with a particular emphasis on mathematics and computer-related subjects, Times of India reported.