The US Consulate General in Chennai is organizing free US higher education fairs

In various Indian cities this month, such as Bengaluru, Manipal, Mangalauru, Kochi, and Coimbatore, the US Consulate anticipates a surge in the enrollment of international students in US higher education institutions. Projections suggest that the number of Indian students opting for US education will soon surpass that of their Chinese counterparts. In the academic year 2022/23, US institutions hosted 1,057,188 international students, with 268,923 hailing from India, engaged in Optional Practical Training (OPT).”

The consulate officials expect the number of Indian students to increase in the next academic year.

They believe that organizing education fairs in cities beyond state capitals will offer more opportunities for talented international students to consider the USA for their education. Despite a 35% increase in Chinese students in 2022, the consulate is confident that India will contribute the largest number of international students in the upcoming academic years.

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According to consulate figures, between 2021-22, 948,000 international students pursued their studies in the US. In FY 2022, the Department of State issued over 581,000 student visas, marking the highest count since FY 2016. Christopher Hodges, US Consulate General in Chennai, highlighted the significant interest in academic inquiries from South India, particularly in computer science, artificial intelligence, and business administration among international students in the US. The data also disclosed that 55% of international students in 2022/23 favored STEM fields, with computer science and math as the foremost choices. This preference is driven by the 36-month stay-back option in the US after completing their courses, enhancing the appeal for international students in the US.

During the 2021-22 academic year, a substantial number of international students, reaching 948,000, chose the US for their studies, supported by the issuance of over 581,000 student visas by the Department of State in FY 2022 – a record high since FY 2016.

Christopher Hodges, the US Consulate General in Chennai, highlighted the strong interest among South Indian students in computer science, artificial intelligence, and business administration. Notably, 55% of international students in 2022/23 preferred STEM fields, attracted by the 36-month stay-back option in the US after completing their courses. The top preferences included STEM (55%), Math and Computer Science (23%), Engineering (19%), Business and Management (15%), and Social Sciences (8%) among international students in the US.

Hodges emphasized the US-India initiative on critical and emerging technologies (iCET), stressing its pivotal role in advancing fields such as commercial space, artificial intelligence, quantum, and green hydrogen. He highlighted the collaboration between American universities and South Indian business and research partners as a catalyst for growth and innovation among international students in the US.

Dr. MC Sudhakar, a participant in the Bengaluru education fair, expressed the Department of Higher Education’s openness to fostering international partnerships and collaborative education with American universities. Acknowledging the priority given to skill-based education, he proposed joint classes between government universities in the US and Karnataka. This initiative recognizes potential financial challenges for international students in the US, and Sudhakar pledged full cooperation to address such concerns.