LeapScholar, South Asia's largest end-to-end study abroad platform, has released its “Application-based Survey 2024”. The survey revealed that students from State Boards are just as eager to pursue higher education abroad as their peers from international, ICSE, and CBSE boards. Furthermore, Coimbatore has emerged as one of the leading cities contributing to this group of aspiring students. Some of the other leading cities in India include Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Vizag, and Lucknow, among others.
This finding deflates the popular belief that students from international/ICSE and CBSE boards have exposure to and aspirations for studying abroad. It points towards inclusion of a broader and more diverse demographic. Females represent a noteworthy share of this trend, accounting for 34%.
“Over the years, Coimbatore has seen a steady increase in students pursuing higher education abroad. This mirrors the national trend, as the number of Indian students pursuing education overseas has been increasing steadily over the years. According to government data, 13.3 lakh Indian students are pursuing higher education abroad in 2024, up from around 7.5 lakh in 2022. At Leap, we have been at the forefront of this change, playing a key role in empowering students to realize their global ambitions. It is truly inspiring to see the growing aspirations of the Indian students who are now considering and embracing international education like never before,” said Arnav Kumar, Co-founder, Leap.
Additionally, the survey revealed emerging education destinations and subject areas that are gaining traction among students. While top destinations like Canada, UK, US remain the top choices, Indian students are increasingly looking beyond these destinations, with Japan and the Netherlands emerging as exciting new options.
In terms of study disciplines, while STEM courses are still popular, they are no longer the only draw for international students. Instead, students are exploring a range of subjects, including Psychology, Law, Sport Sciences, Architecture, Building, and Planning, Performing Arts, and Social Sciences, indicating a desire for a more well-rounded and diverse educational experience.