The US continues to be the most popular overseas education destination for
Indian students
with the
US Embassy
expecting an increase in demand for
student visas
in 2024 over the previous year, when 140,000 student visas were issued in India, according to official figures. Indian students were the largest group of international graduate students in the US in 2023.
However, there have been several deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students in the US over the last few months; which is causing concern among Indian parents this year. While not connected in any way and caused by different reasons including accidents, suicide, overdoses, and homicide; but with several deaths of Indian students in universities across the US; parents in India are anxious about sending their children to the US for education.
“We want to acknowledge and mourn the tragic deaths of some Indian students in the United States over the past few months. The United States is strongly committed to the safety and welfare of all students on campus, including international students. Building safe and inclusive communities is part of what
US universities
do every day as they welcome and support American and
international students
to campus,” acting spokesperson of the US Embassy in Delhi, Nicole Holler, told The Times of India in a recent interview.
Universities across the US, that have seen a big growth in the number of Indian students, too, are concerned over issues of safety and security of international students. “Families who send their students to a university outside of their country should look at those universities’ public safety records. Parents looking at our safety statistics from the past decade will find an exemplary record. We also offer support services from our international student affairs, counsellors, advisors, and peer-student organizations including ones with students from India,” Mark Daly, director of international affairs at University of Missouri-Kansas City, told the Times of India. UMKC, a popular destination for Indian students, reports a healthy demand for admissions from India this year; with 841 Indians enrolled in the current spring semester.
The University of Southern California Los Angeles, too, is popular having received record numbers of applications from Indian students seeking admission to programmes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels this year. USC authorities are also committed to the safety of students. “The university is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students, helping them focus on academic and personal growth while feeling secure on campus and in our neighbourhood. The university takes a comprehensive approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of our entire community,” Timothy Brunold, dean of admission, USC, said and added that USC’s office of international services assists international students throughout their entire time at the university.
Concerns over the reports of deaths of young Indian students in the US are, in fact, leading to students and their families in India doing more research and considering the safety measures and student support services offered by institutions before making a decision. “Deaths of many Indian students in the US over the last few months have indeed caused considerable concern among Indian parents and students. These incidents highlight the importance of addressing the safety, mental health, and overall well-being of international students. Parents are increasingly worried about the
support systems
in place at US universities, including access to healthcare, counselling services, and emergency assistance,” says Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder and director of education consultancy Collegify.
English (US) ·