The Most Popular Study Abroad Destinations for Indian Masters Students

#1 United States

First up on the list is the world’s most popular study abroad destination, the United States. It attracts over 900,000 international students each year, of which at least 100,000 are Indian students . With around 1,700 universities offering Masters degrees from across 50 states, the study options are endless. The US also has plenty of support available to talented Indian students wishing to study there. For example, the Fulbright-Nehru Masters Fellowship scheme funds students in a range of different key subject areas.

#2 Australia

Next up is Australia, the land of adventure. There’s more to Australia than sun, fun and glorious beaches. Many of its universities are considered world-class research centres that attract hundreds of thousands of international students each year. In fact, in 2019, just over 59,000 of those students were from India.

Although not the cheapest destination on this list, there are plenty of funding opportunities for Indian students. One of the most exciting is Destination Australia which helps Masters students study in a regional area, outside of their major cities, so you can truly absorb the culture and way of life of the country.

#3 Germany

We’re not surprised that Germany ranked highly on this list. With over 17,000 Indian Masters students studying here in 2019, they would have taken advantage of Germany’s top-ranked universities and minimal fees. Most of Germany’s public universities have free tuition to all international students. Those that do charge offer much more affordable prices compared to the US or Australia.

While tuition in Germany can be very cheap (if not free), there are still funding opportunities out there to help cover the cost of living. The Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) offers various scholarships international postgraduate across the world. You can check out DAAD India to find out what’s on offer for you.

#4 UK

Just behind Germany is the UK, with almost 17,000 international Indian students attending university in 2019. Although a much smaller country, the UK attracts similar numbers of international students to Australia, making it an excellent hub to meet people from all over the world.

Boasting world class universities and a number of funding opportunities, the UK is a great place to consider. The prestigious Chevening Scholarship programme is a great choice for ambitious Indian students looking for a career in leadership positions. You can read all about this programme in our Chevening Scholarship guide for Indian applicants. The British Council also award up to £10,000 to qualifying international students through the GREAT Scholarship scheme.

#5 Canada

The last, but most certainly not least, popular destination for Indian Masters students is Canada. With just shy of 10,000 Indian students choosing the study here, this country has a lot of appeal. Known as one of the friendliest countries in the world, you’ll find one of the most diverse student bodies in the world, attracting over 200 nationalities each year.

Although close to the US, you’ll find that Canadian tuition fees are more affordable for international students. Additionally, there are multiple scholarship schemes set up specifically for internationals. One of the largest funding providers is Global Affairs Canada (GAC) who have lots of opportunities available for Indian postgraduates.