International schools are opening campuses en masse in India.

This wave opens up a new and promising market for studying abroad in this Asian country.

For many Indian students, studying abroad has long been a gateway to global career opportunities. However, with rising tuition costs and stricter visa requirements from various countries, that dream is becoming more difficult to achieve than ever before.

Sakshi Talreja is a prime example. In 2024, she received the opportunity to study at two universities in Australia but was forced to give it up due to financial burdens. A turning point came unexpectedly when Deakin University in Australia opened a campus in Gujarat, India.

Deakin is one of at least 14 international schools that have established or are planning to establish campuses in India. India's appeal lies in its massive student population, abundant faculty, and rapidly developing economy , creating a pressing need for highly skilled human resources.

The Indian government is also actively inviting universities ranked in the world's top 500 to improve the quality of higher education and expand access to global curricula for domestic students.

This trend emerged at a time when the number of Indian students studying abroad had significantly declined. In 2024, this number fell by approximately 15%, from nearly 900,000 to around 760,000, due to rising living costs, the depreciation of the rupee, and restrictions on long-term residency in many countries.

The presence of international schools in India provides students with new options while allowing foreign schools to continue generating revenue from Indian students, who account for a significant portion of their global income.

This trend is also expected to attract Asian students in particular, and international students in general, to choose India as a study destination. This will contribute to making India a new and promising study abroad market in the world .

However, it is undeniable that tuition fees at international institutions are significantly higher than the domestic average. For example, a two-year postgraduate program at the Deakin campus in Gujarat costs approximately 1.85 million rupees, nearly 10 times the tuition fees at many private universities in India. Even so, this is still only half the cost of studying in Australia, while the cost of living is also considerably lower.

Dr. Deepak Bajaj, Academic Director of Deakin's India branch, said: "Students will still receive the same educational standards and qualifications as in Australia without facing an excessive financial burden."

Another concern is the risk of a "brain drain" in public schools, as international institutions have stronger financial resources. However, international educational institutions often attract returning professionals, young lecturers, and industry experts seeking teaching opportunities, thereby creating new talent rather than depleting existing resources.

Despite high expectations, the success of this model still needs time to be proven. Some experts emphasize that an "international brand" does not equate to the same quality as the original establishment.

Furthermore, overseas institutions cannot fully offer the benefits of a global experience. Therefore, students aiming to settle abroad remain unlikely to be persuaded to stay in India unless international schools expand their overseas internship, exchange, and professional practice programs.

Nistha Tripathi, Director of 24NorthStar Study Abroad Consulting Company, warned: “The most important thing is to ensure the rigor of the program and the quality of the facilities. If we cannot recreate an international learning environment, the value of the degree will diminish.”

According to The Straits Times

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