It is Australia & Canada now for Indian students over the US

The US is one of the top study abroad destinations and continues to rank as the top spot amongst international students. While the US remains a top study abroad destination, statistics show that an increasing number of Indian students are shifting toward Australia and Canada for overseas education. The strict visa rules, political instability, high living costs, post-study work options, etc., in the US, are some of the major factors driving Indians towards countries like Australia and Canada. Over 330,000 Indians have applied for a US student visa in 2024, indicating a high demand. However, most countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, and Germany, have recently announced new visa policies and regulations affecting thousands of international students. Despite the revised visa policies, more Indian students are applying for Australian and Canadian universities to overcome US visa difficulties.  
 

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Why are Indian Students choosing Canada and Australia over the US in 2025?

The US is one of the top countries to study abroad, with over 330,000 Indians migrating to the US in 2024. However, due to recent US student visa changes and immigration regulations, there has been a drastic decrease in the overall number of student visas granted. Indian students, in particular, were the most affected, marking a 30% drop in the number of US student visa issuances.
 

Some of the major reasons that are influencing Indians to choose Canada and Australia over the USA are as follows:  
 

• Strict immigration policies
• High education costs, including tuition fees and living costs
• Uncertain post-study opportunities in the US surrounding the H-1B visa program and the Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• "Catch and revoke" program that monitors the social media activity of student visa holders.
• The current US job market makes it difficult for Indians to find and secure jobs.
• The universities in the US have reduced their scholarships, grants, and other bursaries, making it harder for Indians to afford the high cost of living.
   

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What makes Canada and Australia stand ahead of the US for International students?

While the USA remains a top country for international students, international students are showing interest in countries like Canada and Australia, etc., as they are comparatively affordable, have plenty of post-study opportunities, and have less-stricter visa policies.
 

The table below has a detailed comparison between Canada, Australia, and the US for international students:

Factors	Canada	Australia	USA
Visa rules and regulations	• Capped the overall number of Canada study permits to 437,000 • Mandatory requirement of Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) for student visa applications with exemptions for K-12 and exchange students • Canadian DLIs will regularly verify the authenticity of acceptance letters and cross-check the student’s academic status • Canada will no longer accept student visa applications at the Port of Entry  • Border control officials now have increased authority to revoke or modify the student visa status  • Graduate students who were previously exempted from the visa regulations, will now be faced with the same conditions	• Student visa applicants must provide a mandatory Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) • Updated the minimum English language requirements of IELTS band score of 6.0 compared to the 5.5 • Genuine Student (GS) requirement • Updated the minimum financial requirements • Capped the overall number of Australian study permits to 270,000 • Updated the student visa fees to AUD 1,600 • Onshore applications will no longer be allowed, requiring candidates to apply from outside Australia	• Students must enroll in a SEVP-Approved Institution that the government authorizes • Introduced stricter visa rules for US student visas • F-1 visa holders enrolled in academic programs can stay outside the country only for a maximum of 5 months   • F-1 visa holders can now apply for immigrant visas under the EB category • The US government has imposed rigorous financial requirements • Introduced the “Catch and revoke” program that monitors the social media handles of students, revoking visas of those who are found as a potential danger to the country. • Individuals who wish to renew their visas that expired 12 months go will be required to attend an in-person interview   • Students must submit Form I-20 to apply for the F-1 visa • International students must carry their ID card with them at all times • The validity of the F-1 visa could be decreased to 2-4 years from the current 5 years
Cost of living (per annum)	CAD 15,000 to CAD 20,000	AUD 20,000 to AUD 27,000	$10,000 to $25,000
Average Tuition fees (per annum)	CAD 40,114	AUD 20,000 to AUD 50,000	$20,000 to $50,000
Post study work opportunities	Canada PGWP (Post study work permit) valid for up to 3 years	Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) valid for 18 months to 3 years	Optional Practical Training (OPT) valid for up to 12 months
International Student Retention	88.60%	72.70%	41.00%
Number of students who returned back to their home country after studies	11.40%	27.30%	59.00%
In how many years can you get PR after studying in the country?	3 years upon meeting eligibility	3-5 years	10 years for a Green Card

 

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