Indians are second highest student visa recipients

July 28 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Indian's seek student visas

According to new research, Chinese and Indian students lead the world in studying abroad, while a US student visa retains the position as the most desired visa for students.

Indian students are currently studying in 55 different countries around the world, with the US topping the list. After the US, Indian students most frequently study in Australia and the UK, according to the figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry says there are currently 100,000 Indian students studying in the US, although the real number may be higher as many do not register with an Indian embassy. Software and engineering are among the most popular subjects for Indian students who have made the move to the US to study.

The downturn in the global economy has had little impact on the desire among Indian students to experience study in another country. Some 500,000 Indian students are studying abroad worldwide. These students are in various educational streams including undergraduate, post graduate, doctorate and professional and vocational qualifications.

UNESCO figures show that, in 2007, 2.8 million students used student visas to study abroad, broadening their horizons and equipping them with valuable cultural insights and experience.

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