Indian Students Spent $11.7B Annually in Canada; Panjab Contributes $3.7B

According to Saurabh Arora, CEO of University Living, Indian students collectively spent $11.7B while pursuing higher education in Canada during the last academic year. Panjab alone contributed $3.7B. The Indian Student Mobility Report (ISMR) for 2023-24 highlights Panjab, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana as the top contributors to India’s international student population. The report also reveals that Indian students’ overall expenditure on international education surged to $60B in 2023, up from $37B in 2019, and is projected to reach $70B by 2025. On an average, each Indian student spends about $27K on tuition fees alone and when accommodation and living expenses are added the total reaches approximately $40K. This means Panjab’s contribution, initially reported at $3.7B, could realistically be closer to $7B annually. The number of Indian students studying abroad is expected to grow from 1.18M in 2022 to 1.5M by 2025. Canada remains a preferred destination due to its robust academic programs, post-study work opportunities, and immigration pathways, despite recent study permit restrictions that have caused uncertainty. With Canada, Australia, and the UK tightening visa rules, Indian students are expected to face significant hurdles in securing study permits for spring 2025, prompting a shift towards alternative destinations like Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, New Zealand, and Malta. Experts predict a 35% cut in Canada’s student intake, potentially denying 80K Indian students study permits in 2024 alone.