India seeks international student surge

16 May 2025

Anant Upadhyay looks at the Indian government’s policy to allow institutions to grow international enrolments with up to 25% more places beyond their current capacity.

India hasn’t been a major international student destination, but that may all be about to change.  For many leading institutions, domestic applications have meant there simply hasn’t been space for international students. 

However, as part of India’s ambitious National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced a key reform to boost the internationalisation of Indian higher education: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) may now admit international students through up to 25% supernumerary seats, over and above their sanctioned capacity in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

This initiative, originally framed in 2022 and now being actively implemented, aims to create a more globally connected academic ecosystem in India. The UGC Secretary, Prof. Manish R. Joshi has urged HEIs across the country to take up the option of the additional international places, commenting, “Internationalisation of higher education is an essential aspect of the NEP,” adding that “many Indian HEIs are now committed to increasing their global outreach.”

The additional places will be exclusively reserved for foreign nationals (defined as students holding a foreign passport) and will not include those enrolled under existing exchange programs or bilateral government MoUs. Importantly, these additional places will not dilute opportunities for domestic students.

Indian HEIs are encouraged to:

• Be transparent in their admissions processes for international applicants
• Clearly publish information on program availability, fees, eligibility, and application timelines on their websites, and
• Establish dedicated offices for international students to provide ongoing support and collect on-going data on international enrollments.

India is positioning itself as a preferred global education destination—offering quality, diversity, and affordability at scale.  However, creating the places for international students doesn’t mean they will be filled, institutions will need to think about what students want and expect from a study experiences.  Increasingly, domestic institutions are also going to find international competition at home with the University of Western Australia, the University of York and the Illinois Institute of Technology all announcing investments in India in recent weeks.

CarringtonCrisp’s soon to be published ‘International India’ report suggests there is demand from international students to study in India.  However, a lack of knowledge about Indian higher education, perceived language barriers and competition from other countries means many students hesitate when they think about India as a study destination.  Good value courses and a booming economy are cited by prospective students as reasons to consider India. 

For Indian institutions wanting to grow their international enrolment, understanding what will attract students and what barriers will need to be overcome are key steps to success.  Building a strong international brand linked to India’s rapidly advancing economy will be essential to attract international students.

To receive copy of the ‘International India’ report when it is published, send an email to anant@carringtoncrisp.com