Did you know that approximately 1.8 million Indian students were overseas to study abroad in 2025? That’s a pretty impressive number, and it’s set to keep growing.
What Entices So Many Young Indians To Pursue An Education Away From Home?
Top-notch academic standards and global career advantages are a couple of the reasons. But choosing to study abroad is certainly not an easy or simple decision. To help you figure out whether it’s the right option for you, our Gradstar Global experts lay out the top reasons our students head overseas.
Global Recognition in Academic Excellence
Australia & The USA
36 of Australia’s 43 universities are among the global best according to QS World University Rankings 2026. The USA continues to lead with 192 world-ranking universities, including MIT at #1.
United Kingdom (UK)
The UK remains a powerhouse with 90 universities in QS Rankings. Imperial College London is #2, Oxford #4, and Cambridge #6. 17 UK institutions are in the global Top 100.
Canada
Canada's reputation reaches new heights with 4 universities in the global Top 100, led by McGill (#27) and University of Toronto (#29). University of Alberta hit #94.
Germany
Germany's Technical Universities dominate. TUM is #22 globally, followed by LMU Munich (#58) and Heidelberg (#80), reflecting world-class standards in research.
Ireland
Ireland punches above its weight with Trinity College Dublin at #75. UCD rose to #118, while Queen’s University Belfast broke into the global Top 200.
Why These Countries Rank?
These numbers are a good indicator of the quality of education these countries promise. Key metrics include:
Experience-Based, Industry-Focused Learning
Interested in a degree in forensic psychology? How about a prime business analytics program or a BSc in Agriculture? Looking at study abroad destinations can hugely diversify your options. While these programs may be available at home, a degree abroad gives you unparalleled opportunities to build a career out of them.
You can discover a degree to study anything from linguistics to filmmaking to neuroscience to biomedicine abroad. And with the right program at the right university, these degrees can accelerate your career opportunities in a field you are passionate about.
"Faculties develop programs by looking at industry demands. You're graduating job-ready in the biggest economic and business epicentres of the world."