Why Interest in US and Canadian Universities is Falling Among the Students

Over the past two years, fewer Indian students are turning to the United States and Canada as their overseas study destinations.

According to a global education services provider that conducts the IELTS exam, enquiries from Indian students about studying in the US have dropped sharply, while those for Canada have plunged even more. What’s going on? And what might this mean for students planning to study abroad?

Piyush Kumar, Regional Director for South Asia, Canada, and Latin America, says the numbers are hard to ignore. In May 2025, enquiries for studying in the US from Indian students fell by about 46.4 percent compared to May 2024. For Canada, the slide has been deeper and slower: over the past two years, interest has dropped by roughly 70–75 percent.

A variety of factors are at work here, some policy-driven, others more about perception and timing.

What’s causing the drop

One major reason is visa delays and uncertainty. Kumar notes that over the past year, especially since mid-2024, visa approval rates in the US have become more unpredictable. 

Students hear stories of long waiting times, tougher scrutiny, and sometimes outright rejections. Even though these issues existed before, recent political tensions, changing immigration policies, and talk of stricter rules have made many students nervous.

Canada has been facing its own headwinds. Among the policies cited by IDP are changes to post-study work rights. For students in fields outside certain pre-approved "streams," the ability to stay and work after graduation has become restricted. 

This policy shift has been in place “till 2027,” and students see it as a deterrent—if you study something not in those six approved streams, you may not be able to work after graduating.

Geopolitics plays a role too. Disputes between India and Canada in recent years have apparently added friction, and Canada has also been indirectly impacted by its economic ties with the US.

Since about 80 percent of Canada’s exports go to the US, any economic or policy instability affecting the US tends to ripple outwards. Students, hearing about trade wars, diplomatic rows, or visa crackdowns in the US, may assume that Canada too is becoming a tougher place to go, even if the policies are different.

It’s also simply a matter of timing. In election years in the US, visa approvals frequently tighten, policies are debated, regulatory changes are floated. Kumar suggests that some of the uncertainty now comes from political change and "noise" about possible upcoming adjustments. Students tend to delay their plans when things feel unstable.

Student stories: when hope meets hesitation

Imagine a student from a mid-sized Indian city who has long dreamed of studying engineering or business in Canada. They’ve worked hard: high grades, IELTS prep, scholarship research.

But when they begin the visa paperwork, they are thrown off by stories in forums about rejected visa interviews, or about their course not being in the approved post-study work stream. Suddenly the risk seems high: will their degree lead to a job permit, or will they return empty-handed after years away from home?

Or consider another student eyeing a US university, excited by research or opportunity, but hearing about long visa waits or possible policy changes that might affect work after graduation. That student might decide: maybe Australia, maybe UK, or even somewhere closer, looking more stable and more certain.

These are real considerations. For many families, the cost, effort, and emotional investment of studying abroad make uncertainty a risk they don’t want to take.

What this means for students

If you’re a student in India thinking about studying abroad, here are a few things to watch:

• Understand visa policy details for your destination, especially "post-study work" eligibility. It may differ by course or stream. What you choose to study could affect your ability to stay and work afterwards.
• Keep in mind processing times and interview risks. Budget extra time and money in case there are delays or additional requirements.
• Stay updated on political or policy changes in both your home country and the destination country. These could affect admissions, visa rules, or immigration.
• Explore alternative destinations. The UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland all remain competitive options. Some are growing their international student numbers and improving the support they offer.
• Get reliable counselling. Working with expert advisors who know the current policies (not just hearsay) can help avoid surprises.

What’s ahead

Canada’s restrictions, including the limitation of post-study work to certain streams, will stay until at least 2027. After that, there might be reviews or adjustments. For now, "the next two years are likely to be soft" for Canada in terms of student interest.

In contrast, Australia is doubling down on international student growth. UK remains steady. With changing global dynamics, some students may even look to non-traditional destinations in Asia or Europe, not just English-speaking countries.

Conclusion

The drop in enquiries to the US and Canada reflects a mix of policy changes, perceived risk, and shifting global student flows. 

For Indian students, these are no longer just distant policies; they're real barriers affecting hopes, finances, and decisions. While the US and Canada have long been top picks, current conditions are pushing many students to reconsider.

What’s clear is that students today demand more certainty over work rights, visa approvals, admissions, and support.

Destinations that can offer that will remain competitive. As for the rest, we'll see how policies evolve, and whether countries like the US and Canada can regain trust among students in India.