-Shreyosi Chakraborty

The total number of foreign students reduced from 49,348 in the year 2019-20 to 48,035 in 2020-21 which corresponds to a dip of 2.7 per cent, revealed the All India Survey for Higher Education (AISHE) survey report. 

The foreign students enrolled in India come from 163 different countries from across the globe. Highest share of foreign students come from the neighboring countries, of which Nepal contributes 28.25%, followed by Afghanistan
8.4%, Bangladesh 5.7% and United States 5.1%. The top 10 countries from where students come to India includes United Arab Emirates (4.8%), Bhutan (3.8%), Sudan (3.3%), Nigeria (2.9%), Tanzania (2.7%), Yemen (2.3%).

According to a professor of a reputed private university, India does not have good opportunities when it comes to job scenario. Students from foreign university would prefer heading to one of the western countries for better career and job prospects rather than coming to India.

The number of male students coming from these top 10 countries was higher than the number of female
students. The highest number of foreign students are enrolled in Undergraduate courses, (75.9%) followed by Post Graduate (16.2%) with enrolment in rest of the levels constituting 7.9% .

Looking at the state-wise distribution, the largest number of foreign students come to Karnataka (8,137), followed by Punjab (6,557), Maharashtra (4,912), Uttar Pradesh (4,654), Tamil Nadu (3,685), Delhi (2,809), Gujarat (2,646), Andhra Pradesh (2,385) and Odisha (2,180)

The highest number of students are enrolled in B.Tech. (11,245 students) followed by B.Sc. (having 3439 students) B.B.A. (3314 students) B.Com. (2605 students) B.E. (2541 students). M.B.A (2099 students), B.Pharma (2021 students). B.C.A (1918 students).

B.A has a total number of 1817 students with 51.6% female students. M.B.B.S has total number of 944 students with 60.1% female students. Ph.D. has 1444 students. At the Post Graduation level, M.Sc. the enrolment of 1384 students has been reported. 1197 students are enrolled at M.A. level. Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S) has total number of 325 students with 63.7% female students. Diploma programme has reported the enrolment of 1448 foreign students. BBM has total number of 177 students.

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