Indian students interest in US falls 46%, Canada 75%
HYDERABAD: Indian Students interest in studying in the United States and Canada has fallen sharply over the past year, according to IDP Education. Inquiries about education opportunities in the US dropped by 46% between May 2024 and May 2025, the organisation said. In Canada, interest fell even more steeply, with a 70–75% decline over two years.
Geopolitical shifts impact US and Canada
“The changing geopolitical landscape is a major factor,” said Piyush Kumar, regional director for South Asia, Latin America and Canada at IDP Education. “In the US, the environment became less favourable even before Donald Trump returned as president. From June last year, visa approvals began to decline. Elections usually slow visa issuance, but this time students were also uncertain about Trump’s policies, which reduced interest further.”
India–Canada tensions add to student worries
On Canada, Kumar pointed to a series of setbacks: “Two years ago, diplomatic tensions between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Indian government triggered this downward trend. Later, when the US imposed 80% tariffs on Canadian goods, exports fell and the economy weakened. Students began to feel that studying in Canada offered limited work options and most would be forced to return home.”
He added that Canada’s current policies may remain until 2027, but conditions could improve if rules become more student-friendly thereafter.
Demand for UK, Australia steady
Meanwhile, demand for Australia and the United Kingdom has held steady. Australia even announced a 9% increase in student intake compared with last year. “Australia is moving ahead in a structured way while continuing to expand student numbers,” Kumar said.
IDP Education, set up in 1969, offers free guidance on universities, courses, applications and visas in countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. It also conducts the IELTS English proficiency test. Globally, about 1 lakh students are enrolled in over 800 universities through IDP, which operates 73 offices in 63 Indian cities.
