India drives global recruitment as 100+ universities vie for talent

With India expected to continue leading the way as an international student source destination, over 100 universities from the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the UAE visited the country to connect with prospective students.

“Whilst it is still early in the cycle, we have seen some encouraging early signs for the 2025 recruitment year. Events have been busier than anticipated, and students seem more discerning about finding the right university for them,” said Morgan Edwards, regional manager, Lancaster University, who participated in a recruitment fair organised by education consultancy, SI-Global, in November 2024.

While pursuing overseas education has been immensely popular in major cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, students from India’s tier-2, tier-3 cities comprise a major part of the international student cohort.

A study last year by edtech startup UpGrad Abroad found that around 57.2% of the 25,000 respondents who wished to study abroad hail from tier 2 and 3 cities, compared to 42.8% who belong to tier 1 cities.

Whilst it is still early in the cycle, we have seen some encouraging early signs for the 2025 recruitment year. Events have been busier than anticipated, and students seem more discerning about finding the right university for them.
_{Morgan Edwards, Lancaster University}

Moreover, an August 2022 report by the Institute of International Education and IC3 revealed that in recent years, smaller Indian towns and cities such as Vijayawada, Warangal, and Tirupati are contributing a significant number of prospective students wishing to study overseas.

The trend was evident in the recent November fairs conducted by SI-Global.

While Mumbai and Delhi saw a student turnout two to three times bigger than in previous years, cities such as Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Coimbatore also witnessed a huge participation rate, according to the consultancy.

Beyond academic programs, Indian students are increasingly focused on the future, carefully weighing the career opportunities their international education can unlock.

“Employability has always been important for our Indian students, but there is a noticeable increase in their focus on this, and rightly so,” said Edwards.

Rising focus on employability among Indian students is key in light of the recent “World Future Skills Index,” released by QS, where India was ranked 25th and recognised as a “future skills contender.”

As per the report, despite India’s success in attracting investment in innovation, it still faces critical challenges in the education and employment sectors.

The fairs also saw continued interest in traditional destinations such as the UK, Canada, and Australia, all of which have dealt with major policy disruptions.

However, emerging destinations such as Ireland, New Zealand, and the UAE also piqued student interest owing to their rising Indian student population.

“We are big believers in the India market. We’re not worried about the weather; we see immense potential for the UK and other destinations,” stated Rob Grimshaw, CEO, SI-Global.

“Like our partner universities, we remain committed to the market and are doing the smart things necessary to maximise the flow of students to universities.”

“We’ve been privileged to partner with over 100 universities, delivering innovative and expertly executed events that attract the brightest and best students,” said Edwards.

“While there are still challenges in the market, what we’ve achieved shows that with the right strategy and commitment, there is plenty of reason for optimism.”

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