Over the years, China has been the biggest driver of international student numbers to all the top destination countries including US, Australia, Canada, UK and New Zealand. In the last three years, India has seen a healthy surge too.
Students from India and China account for anywhere between 35-45% of the total international students in the Top 3 destination countries: US, Australia and Canada.
In the US, Indian and Chinese students account for nearly 45% of total international students, and this proportion has been growing steadily over the years. Over the past decade or so, there has been a big spike from Chinese students.
In the past two years however, the momentum in terms of % increase of student numbers has been higher with India than China.
The other country where the two groups – Indians and Chinese – have a dominant presence is Canada. Today, Indians and Chinese account for 42% of international students in the country.
Just six years back, in 2010, they accounted for only 30%. That’s very rapid growth in numbers, and the biggest reason why Canada has displaced UK as the third-most popular destination country.
Canada has been low-key in its marketing, but with first UK tightening its visa norms, and now the US government not exactly eager to welcome people from abroad, Canada’s stellar qualities are coming to light.
Canada has always a multi-cultural society, which consciously seeks diversity. That’s the reason that two of the Top 3 universities in North America with the highest proportion of international students to domestic students are from Canada.
University of Toronto and University of British Columbia (UBC) have 20-25% of their student population from outside the country. In UBC, out of total student population of 62,000, about 14,400 are international students.
In Australian universities also, the market-share of students from India and China is high, at 37.5%. So if you are looking for countries where Indian students already account for a large chunk of international students, look no further than US, Canada and Australia.
And given the propensity for Canadian universities to seek diversity, Canada is giving a run for its money to the US also.
If you are looking to study in Canada and looking for advice on options, call us at +91 8527816109 or write to us at enquiry@mdotm.in.
