Impact of Trump's Policies on Indian Students' International Education Dreams

Policies for international students have significant implications for the higher education dreams of Indian students.

- Authored by: Kalpesh Banker, Managing Partner at Edu- Shine Search Partner

For years, the United States has been the first choice for Indians dreaming of studying abroad. Top universities, great job opportunities, and the American lifestyle have attracted lakhs of Indian students to enroll in the US education ecosystem. However, the situation today is contrastingly different. Under President Donald Trump's second term, the policy framework has been altered in a significant manner. Strict visa rules have been applied, job options have shrunk, and overall costs have risen exponentially. Collectively, these changes have made a big dent in the popularity of the US education system and made the country a less attractive destination for Indian students.

DWINDLING VISA NUMBERS

One of the biggest problems Indian students face is getting a student visa (called the F-1 visa). In 2023, over 130,000 Indian students got these visas, and the number dropped to around 86,000 in 2024. The reason behind this drop is the stricter visa policies adopted by the U.S. government of late. The verification checks have been hardened, with many Indian students claiming their visas have been revoked even after arriving in the US. This has caused quite a panic and uncertainty among families.

DECREASING WORK OPPORTUNITIES