India’s higher education institutions enroll foreign students from 173 countries, according to the Ministry of Education’s All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24. The survey finds 58,134 foreign students are enrolled in universities and colleges across India in the 2023-24 academic year, with Nepal providing the largest share of international students. Nepal accounts for 24.1% of foreign student enrolments, followed by the UAE (7%), the US (5.9%), Bangladesh (5.9%), Nigeria (5.5%), and Zimbabwe (4%). The top 10 source countries together make up 63.8% of all foreign students.

In terms of where students study within India, Karnataka is the leading destination, hosting 7,914 foreign students, narrowly ahead of Punjab (7,902). Maharashtra (6,190), Uttar Pradesh (5,953), and Tamil Nadu (5,694) complete the top five states.

The data show most foreign students are enrolled in undergraduate programmes (73.6%, or 42,779 students), compared with post-graduate programmes (16.8%, or 9,845 students). Foreign student enrolments rise from 48,898 in 2019-20 to 58,134 in 2023-24, an increase of 18.9%. The Ministry also operates the “Study in India” programme launched in 2018 to attract international students.