Abstract
This study explores the geographical origins, academic preferences, and key factors influencing the enrollment of international students in Indian higher education institutions. Drawing on primary data from interviews with 25 international students and secondary data from All India Survey on Higher Education reports, it provides an in-depth analysis of student mobility trends and factors shaping their choices. The results indicate that the international student enrollment is significantly below the Indian government’s target of 500,000 by 2024. Students come from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Nigeria, with Karnataka and Punjab emerging as the most preferred states within India. Engineering, particularly the Bachelor of Technology, is the most sought-after discipline. Key factors influencing enrollment include affordable education, scholarship opportunities, cultural proximity, and career prospects. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for targeted policy measures to improve infrastructure, streamline administrative processes, and enhance international student support services to strengthen India’s position as a global education hub.
Keywords
international students, educational choices, higher education, academic disciplines, Indian university, AISHE, India
ORCID Identifiers
Sanjeev Kumar Jha: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5015-038X
DOI
10.5038/2577-509X.9.2.1412
Recommended Citation
Jha, S. (2025). Internationalization of Indian higher education: Mapping the origins and academic choices of international students. Journal of Global Education and Research, 9(2), 172-192. https://www.doi.org/10.5038/2577-509X.9.2.1412
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
