Washington: A sharp drop in Indian student enrollment in US universities has been reported following tighter immigration and visa policies, prompting many to seek higher education opportunities in European countries instead.

The Trump administration's continued crackdown on immigration has included stricter norms for student visas. These measures have led to increased scrutiny, delays in application processing, and a surge in visa rejections—particularly for students unable to convincingly demonstrate their intent to return to India post-studies.

Official data indicates that over 1 million international students enroll in American universities annually, with Indians accounting for more than 300,000. However, this figure has now fallen to its lowest level in three years, with Indian student enrollment reportedly declining by nearly 70 per cent.

As a result, a growing number of Indian aspirants are shifting their focus to Europe, applying to institutions in countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Educational consultancy firms have noted a surge in queries and applications for European universities over the past year.

The trend signals a significant shift in global education preferences among Indian students, traditionally drawn to the US for its academic reputation and employment prospects.