The Open Doors 2023 report on international educational exchange, released today in Washington DC by the US department of state’s bureau of educational and cultural affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE), an educational not for profit organisation; reveals that India continues to be the second leading country of origin of students to the US, reaching an all-time high of 268,923 students in 2022-23, an increase of 35% year-over-year.China remained the top-sending country in 2022-23, with 289,526 students studying in the US, but with a negative growth rate (-0.2% year-over-year).
Overall, the United States hosted more than one million (1,057,188) international students during the 2022-2023 academic year, a 12% increase compared to the previous academic year, the Open Doors report says.
“International students from India increased by 35%, reaching an all-time high of 268,923 students. The number of Indian graduate students increased by a robust 63%, and there was a 16% uptake in undergraduates. India continued to be the Number 1 place of origin of students on OPT [optional practical training, which supports students to gain practical work experiences after they complete their academic studies] with 69,062 students,” Dr Mirka Martel, head of research, evaluation & learning at IIE, said at a press briefing while releasing the report.
The big increase in the number of Indian students in the US was largely due to graduate student numbers increasing to 165,936, by 63%, over the previous year. Undergraduate student numbers grew 16% to 31,954 and OPT at 1.3% to 69,062. The most popular fields of study for Indian students in the US remain STEM subjects, especially maths and computer.
In reply to a question from the Times of India on whether the Open Doors report has looked into the trend of widespread job cuts by the big tech companies in the US and lower job opportunities and the impact on the number of Indian students choosing to remain in the US on OPT after they finished their courses; Dr Martel said: “Our data is continuing to indicate that we have robust growth, and robust interest from Indian students to continue their study here in the US. In fact, we are seeing OPT numbers increase. And perhaps the Fall 2023 snapshot [which presents international student enrolment patterns for the current 2023-24 academic year] is the largest indicator we have thus far of many of these increases, particularly for international graduate students, translating into higher rates of OPT.” She added that a 17% increase is seen overall in international students on OPT in the Fall 2023 snapshot. “That’s a double-digit increase in OPT numbers as of Fall 2023-24. Again this is building on the eight per cent growth we already reported in Open Doors. So, we’re going to see robust growth over two years, or we’re seeing that already in optional practical training. Which means more places are opening up. Students are approved for OPT, and they’re taking advantage of those opportunities as well.”
For the first time in three years, the total number of international students on OPT grew by 8% to 198,793 students, according to the Open Doors report. This was driven by the strong rebound of international graduates last year now pursuing post-study work opportunities. “As incoming classes of international students, particularly graduates, continue to grow post-pandemic, the number of students on OPT will likely continue to grow,” the report says.
Replying to another question from TOI on whether many Indians on temporary work permit visas such as H1Bs; who were facing jobs losses over the past several months and the risk of going out of visa status; were enrolling at US universities on student visas; Dr Martel said that US institutions have reported increases in their new Indian student enrolment in the Fall 2023 snapshot. “These are students who are studying at their institution for the first time. Over half of higher education institutions in the Fall 2023 snapshot are saying that they have more new Indian students this fall than they had a year ago.”
The Fall 2023 international student enrolment snapshot, which presents international student enrolment patterns for the current 2023-24 academic year and is a part of the Open Doors survey, also shows continued momentum for international student mobility in the United States. US higher education institutions reported an 8% increase in international students in Fall 2023, with growth across all academic levels and OPT. India continues to be the highest priority for undergraduate and graduate recruitment, according to the Fall 2023 snapshot. Seventy per cent of US institutions are prioritising undergraduate outreach and 80% of US institutions are prioritising graduate outreach for students in India.
Soaring beyond pre-pandemic levels to nearly record highs, the number of international students who enrolled for the first time at a US college or university during the 2022-2023 academic year increased by 14% year-over-year to 298,523, building on the 80% increase in the prior year, according to Open Doors. For the first time since 2014-15, international student enrolment in the US across all academic levels increased in 2022-23. Graduate student enrolment increased the most, with 467,027 international students pursuing master’s, doctorate, or professional degrees (+21% year-over-year). Undergraduate student enrolment grew (+1% year-over-year) for the first time in five years. In addition to enrolled international students, 198,793 students pursued OPT.
Commenting on the big growth in the number of Indian students choosing the US as their campus destination, Marianne Craven, acting deputy assistant secretary for academic exchanges, bureau of educational and cultural affairs, US department of state, said: “I wanted to reiterate how important the education relationship is between United States and India. Perhaps the most important that it’s been. Certainly a very significant relationship to continue strengthening those ties, continuing to see the student flows and that academic cooperation.”
“This year we issued over 140,000 student visas in mission India. That’s the most we’ve done in 20 years, so that’s pretty significant for us,” Brenda Grewe, acting managing director, visa office, bureau of consular affairs, US department of state, added.
Overall, the United States hosted more than one million (1,057,188) international students during the 2022-2023 academic year, a 12% increase compared to the previous academic year, the Open Doors report says.
“International students from India increased by 35%, reaching an all-time high of 268,923 students. The number of Indian graduate students increased by a robust 63%, and there was a 16% uptake in undergraduates. India continued to be the Number 1 place of origin of students on OPT [optional practical training, which supports students to gain practical work experiences after they complete their academic studies] with 69,062 students,” Dr Mirka Martel, head of research, evaluation & learning at IIE, said at a press briefing while releasing the report.
The big increase in the number of Indian students in the US was largely due to graduate student numbers increasing to 165,936, by 63%, over the previous year. Undergraduate student numbers grew 16% to 31,954 and OPT at 1.3% to 69,062. The most popular fields of study for Indian students in the US remain STEM subjects, especially maths and computer.
In reply to a question from the Times of India on whether the Open Doors report has looked into the trend of widespread job cuts by the big tech companies in the US and lower job opportunities and the impact on the number of Indian students choosing to remain in the US on OPT after they finished their courses; Dr Martel said: “Our data is continuing to indicate that we have robust growth, and robust interest from Indian students to continue their study here in the US. In fact, we are seeing OPT numbers increase. And perhaps the Fall 2023 snapshot [which presents international student enrolment patterns for the current 2023-24 academic year] is the largest indicator we have thus far of many of these increases, particularly for international graduate students, translating into higher rates of OPT.” She added that a 17% increase is seen overall in international students on OPT in the Fall 2023 snapshot. “That’s a double-digit increase in OPT numbers as of Fall 2023-24. Again this is building on the eight per cent growth we already reported in Open Doors. So, we’re going to see robust growth over two years, or we’re seeing that already in optional practical training. Which means more places are opening up. Students are approved for OPT, and they’re taking advantage of those opportunities as well.”
For the first time in three years, the total number of international students on OPT grew by 8% to 198,793 students, according to the Open Doors report. This was driven by the strong rebound of international graduates last year now pursuing post-study work opportunities. “As incoming classes of international students, particularly graduates, continue to grow post-pandemic, the number of students on OPT will likely continue to grow,” the report says.
Replying to another question from TOI on whether many Indians on temporary work permit visas such as H1Bs; who were facing jobs losses over the past several months and the risk of going out of visa status; were enrolling at US universities on student visas; Dr Martel said that US institutions have reported increases in their new Indian student enrolment in the Fall 2023 snapshot. “These are students who are studying at their institution for the first time. Over half of higher education institutions in the Fall 2023 snapshot are saying that they have more new Indian students this fall than they had a year ago.”
The Fall 2023 international student enrolment snapshot, which presents international student enrolment patterns for the current 2023-24 academic year and is a part of the Open Doors survey, also shows continued momentum for international student mobility in the United States. US higher education institutions reported an 8% increase in international students in Fall 2023, with growth across all academic levels and OPT. India continues to be the highest priority for undergraduate and graduate recruitment, according to the Fall 2023 snapshot. Seventy per cent of US institutions are prioritising undergraduate outreach and 80% of US institutions are prioritising graduate outreach for students in India.
Soaring beyond pre-pandemic levels to nearly record highs, the number of international students who enrolled for the first time at a US college or university during the 2022-2023 academic year increased by 14% year-over-year to 298,523, building on the 80% increase in the prior year, according to Open Doors. For the first time since 2014-15, international student enrolment in the US across all academic levels increased in 2022-23. Graduate student enrolment increased the most, with 467,027 international students pursuing master’s, doctorate, or professional degrees (+21% year-over-year). Undergraduate student enrolment grew (+1% year-over-year) for the first time in five years. In addition to enrolled international students, 198,793 students pursued OPT.
Commenting on the big growth in the number of Indian students choosing the US as their campus destination, Marianne Craven, acting deputy assistant secretary for academic exchanges, bureau of educational and cultural affairs, US department of state, said: “I wanted to reiterate how important the education relationship is between United States and India. Perhaps the most important that it’s been. Certainly a very significant relationship to continue strengthening those ties, continuing to see the student flows and that academic cooperation.”
“This year we issued over 140,000 student visas in mission India. That’s the most we’ve done in 20 years, so that’s pretty significant for us,” Brenda Grewe, acting managing director, visa office, bureau of consular affairs, US department of state, added.