MUMBAI: Germany has overtaken the United States as a preferred destination for Indian students, marking a dramatic shift in global education choices, according to upGrad’s latest Transnational Education (TNE) Report 2024–25. The findings reveal a surge in Indian applications to German universities — from 13.2% in 2022 to 32.6% this year — while applications to U.S. institutions dipped 13% year-on-year.The study, based on insights from over one lakh respondents, signals a fundamental pivot: students are no longer asking, “Where can I go?” but “What immediate career outcomes will this degree give me?” This career-first pragmatism is reshaping the landscape. The UAE, which now hosts 42% Indian students in its international student population, joins Germany as a breakout star in higher education.Traditional magnets are losing shine. Canada’s share fell from 17.8% to 9.3% in just two years, while the U.S. ceded ground to European and Middle Eastern hubs. The “Big Four” — US, UK, Canada, Australia — are no longer default choices, said Praneet Singh, AVP, University Partnerships, upGrad Study Abroad.
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“Indian students today are far more intentional — weighing geopolitical shifts, visa uncertainties, and costs. Europe, the Middle East, and APAC have emerged as smarter, future-ready alternatives.”The report shows how affordability is shaping ambition. One in three students now funds education via loans, while 28% rely on scholarships. Only 19.9% prioritise permanent residency — long seen as the holy grail of study abroad — whereas 45.7% say their chief concern is career ROI.Preferred programs echo this recalibration: 86.5% opt for master’s degrees, with management/MBA enrolments doubling from 30% to 55.6% in three years. STEM too has surged, now attracting nearly 39%.Nearly half of respondents were between 20–24 years of age, with a significant share from Tier-2 cities. In fact, 57.2% of upGrad’s FY25 enrolled batch comes from outside metro centres — signalling the spread of global aspiration beyond India’s big cities.UpGrad says its model enables learners to start coursework in India before transitioning overseas, with the flexibility to recalibrate destinations during the first year. “The future of international education,” Singh said, “isn’t about simply moving abroad — it’s about moving ahead, strategically and purposefully.”
