For the first time, student applications from India to mainland Europe have surpassed those to the UK, according to edtech platform Leverage Edu, a New Delhi-based, AI-enabled platform that supports students with overseas education and career guidance. The shift, recorded for the upcoming summer intake, marks a significant change in international education trends.

Akshay Chaturvedi, founder and chief executive officer of Leverage Edu, stated, “More than one-third of our student business now comes from outside the traditional Big 4—US, UK, Canada, and Australia. This summer, Europe as a cluster has overtaken the UK, which is unprecedented.”

Countries like Germany, Ireland, France, and Italy are leading this surge, driven by simplified visa rules, lower tuition costs, better post-study work options, and the growing availability of English-taught programmes. Germany remains the top choice, followed by Ireland, France, and Italy.

Students are increasingly focused on return on investment, career prospects, and quality of life. Many are choosing Europe for courses in data science, AI, healthcare, business analytics, and renewable energy. Early results show Indian graduates from European universities, especially in Germany and Ireland, are entering high-demand sectors like healthcare, clean tech, and finance.

The shift comes amid growing visa uncertainty and housing challenges in traditional study destinations. Leverage Edu’s data suggests this is not a short-term trend but a lasting rebalancing of global student preferences.

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