Indian Students Rethink Overseas Degrees as Rupee Drops 10% and UK-US Enrolments Slide
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 21
Indian Students Rethink Overseas Degrees as Rupee Drops 10% and UK-US Enrolments Slide
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 21
Summary
More Indian students are delaying or downsizing overseas study plans as a weaker rupee, tighter visa rules and poorer job prospects make foreign degrees harder to justify.
The cost squeeze has intensified quickly: the rupee is down more than 10% against the dollar in the past year and 35%-47% against major study-destination currencies since 2019, forcing some students abroad to refinance loans.
Enrolment data already show the impact, with UK and US enrolments from India down 20% over two years, 76% of UK universities reporting lower January intake, and US enrolments falling nearly 7% year on year to February 2026.
Demand has not disappeared, but it is shifting toward cheaper alternatives such as Germany, Ireland and Italy, where lower tuition and better post-study work options offer a stronger value proposition.
That shift threatens universities and local economies in the US and UK, which rely heavily on Indian students even as Chinese enrolment growth has slowed.
As AI reshapes careers, which nations now offer the most future-proof education and job prospects for international students?
With international student revenue collapsing, can Western universities innovate their way out of a deepening financial crisis?
2025-2026 Sees Sharp Drop in Indian Students Abroad: Currency Crash and Policy Shifts Reshape Global Education
Overview
Between 2025 and 2026, the number of Indian students enrolling in higher education abroad dropped sharply, as students began to rethink traditional aspirations due to rising costs and visa uncertainties. Many institutions in the Americas reported that Indian students, after paying deposits, could not start their studies because of visa delays or denials, creating a bottleneck and losses for both sides. Financial concerns have become more important than university reputation, with the falling rupee making overseas education even less affordable. These challenges are causing students to seek new pathways and adapt their plans for international education.