Has the craze for studying abroad waned? Cambridge students increasingly opting for undergraduate studies in India

According to the Cambridge Destination Survey 2025-26, half of the Cambridge students in India preparing for university in 2025 chose to pursue their undergraduate studies within the country.

Many believe that students are increasingly inclined towards studying abroad these days; however, a recent report suggests otherwise. In fact, the number of students choosing to pursue undergraduate studies in India—rather than going abroad for graduation—is on the rise. According to the Cambridge Destination Survey 2025-26, half of the Cambridge students in India preparing for university in 2025 opted to stay in the country for their undergraduate education. While this figure stood at 47 percent in 2024, the proportion of students heading abroad for undergraduate studies dropped from 42 percent to 40 percent.

The survey, conducted by Cambridge International Education, covered 404 schools across 49 countries and reached approximately 24,637 students; 112 schools from India participated. The report indicates that the growing trend of Indian students staying within the country for higher education is not merely the result of circumstances in a single year but is being viewed as a structural shift.

According to Rod Smith, Group Managing Director at Cambridge International Education, the perspective on value in education is changing. Students are no longer making decisions based solely on the cost of a degree; instead, they are considering the entire trajectory—from education to employment and long-term opportunities.

Consequently, many Indian families are not completely abandoning the idea of ​​studying abroad but are deferring it to a later stage. The report highlights that pursuing a Master's degree abroad after completing graduation in India is becoming a preferred path for students. In other words, while the trend used to be to head straight abroad for a bachelor's degree after school, students are now exploring the option of studying at an Indian university first and then pursuing a master's degree overseas.

A key point highlighted in the report is that the country is becoming its own biggest competitor. Indian universities are no longer merely an option for students who cannot afford to study abroad or fail to secure admission there; many students are now choosing them as their first preference.

Schools participating in the survey cited the transformations within Indian higher education institutions as a primary reason for this shift. The emergence of high-quality private and interdisciplinary institutes, along with the growing acceptance of branch campuses of foreign universities and international study programs in India, has made it easier for students to pursue their education domestically.

Cambridge-style programs offer students the flexibility to study different subjects simultaneously—for instance, combining mathematics with economics or physics with computer science. According to the report, Indian universities are also increasingly offering such multidisciplinary options in fields like data science, business analytics, and artificial intelligence. Consequently, students now have access to academic options within the country that previously required traveling abroad.

Despite the growing employability associated with undergraduate studies in India, the desire among students to study abroad has not vanished. According to Rod Smith, Indian students have not abandoned their aspirations for overseas education. Counselors covering India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh noted in the survey that students view local undergraduate studies as a stepping stone toward pursuing postgraduate education abroad.