Enquiries from Indian students aspiring to study in the United States have dropped by more than 46 per cent in the past year, while interest in Canada has fallen by nearly 75 per cent over the last two years, according to officials at IDP Education.

Founded by the Australian government in 1969, IDP Education is a global leader in international education services, offering free guidance on university selection, applications, visa processing and pre-departure planning. It also co-owns the IELTS English language proficiency test.

Piyush Kumar, regional director for South Asia, Canada and Latin America at IDP, attributed the decline to geopolitical tensions and restrictive policy changes.

“In the last 6–12 months, the situation has clearly impacted students planning to go to the US. Visa approval rates usually fall during an election year, but since President Trump’s return, discussions on policy changes have further dampened interest,” Kumar told PTI.

Canadian enrolments, meanwhile, have been hit by strained diplomatic ties with India, new restrictions on post-study work rights and economic pressures linked to US tariffs. “Students feel this is not the right time to go to Canada. Work rights have been limited to six streams, and many fear they will be forced to return without employment opportunities,” Kumar explained. The measures will remain in place until 2027.

By contrast, demand for study in the UK and Australia has remained steady. “Australia has announced a 9 per cent increase in student numbers this year, though with managed growth,” Kumar said.

Each year, nearly 100,000 students enrol through IDP at more than 800 partner universities worldwide. In India, the company operates 73 offices across 63 cities, and is investing in artificial intelligence tools to enhance its counselling services.

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