9 MBA study destinations for Indian students looking beyond the USA

 

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The United States has long been a top destination for Indian students, home to elite institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. In fact, Indians make up around 25% of all international students in the US, according to a recent Open Doors Report.

But growing concerns – particularly since the re-election of Donald Trump – are pushing students to reconsider. Tighter visa rules, increased scrutiny at borders, and a more hostile political climate are making the US a less attractive option.

Even top universities are feeling the pressure. As Harvard push back on federal policies surrounding international enrolment and faced threats of blanket bans and funding cuts in response, institutions across the US face uncertainty about how many overseas students they can admit or retain. For a country with over 1 million foreign students, the implications are significant.

And the impact is already visible. A NAFSA analysis suggests international enrolment could fall by 30–40% in the next academic year.

As a result, many Indian students are considering other countries with top-tier education, clearer post-study work rights, and more welcoming immigration policies. Business school applicants who commonly seek an international experience, are no exception.
For those currently considering where to enrol, this series of articles profiles nine countries that are fast becoming the top alternatives to the US for Indian MBA hopefuls.

For inspiration where to study, look no further…

1) India
If you’re concerned about a hostile environment, lack of job prospects, or feeling unwelcome abroad, staying home may be the safest choice. Increasingly better-quality MBA options from leading institutions like IIM Indore, the Indian School of Business, and SPJIMR are also encouraging students to stay local. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s 2024 Prospective Students Survey, the share of Indian students interested in domestic programmes has grown from 38% in 2019 to 53% in 2024.
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Value is also a key factor. Unnayan Upadhyay was originally planning on UK or the US-based study before, high-costs made him reconsider. Declining offers from overseas universities, Unnayan enrolled on the Five-Year Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) at IIM Indore in 2022, stating it to be the best decisions he’s made.

“Staying in India has positively influenced both my personal development and professional aspirations.” says Unnayan. “My goal has always been to build a career in India. Studying here is helping me gain insights into the Indian market, business practices, and socio-economic landscape: knowledge that is deeply relevant and valuable to my future goals.”

2) The United Kingdom
Famous for more than cricket and a cuppa (tea) the UK has influenced global literature, music, film and finance. It’s the birthplace of Shakespeare, The Beatles, and the English language itself, as well as home to major global firms like Unilever, HSBC and Rolls-Royce.

Students can choose to study in the historic and academic hubs of Oxford and Cambridge; the fast-paced capital of London; or the student-friendly cities of Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol. The UK hosted over 485,000 international students in 2023/24, with India as the leading source country, accounting for more than 142,000 students. The wider Indian diaspora in the UK is over 1.8million making it one of the most established and influential Indian communities overseas.

The country is home to almost 30 triple-accredited business schools, Oxford Saïd Business School, Imperial Business School, Cambridge Judge Business School and Durham University Business School to name a few.

Ishita Prabhu pursued studies in the UK at Alliance Manchester Business School despite having family in America,, citing the diversity and the culture of the UK as key reasons.

“I believed that studying an MBA in a multi-cultural city with a diverse range of students would really add to my palette of skills,” she shares.

Since moving to UK, Ishita has “come to appreciate the incredible energy, professional opportunities, and openness to different cultures. One of the nicest surprises has been how seamlessly I was able to adapt.” The MBA has also opened doors for her career transition.

3) Germany
Famous for bratwurst, beer festivals and the Berlin Wall – it has a rich heritage in classical music, engineering and the automotive industry, being home to giants like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Siemens.

Students can choose between the creative and historic city of Berlin; the financial hub of Frankfurt or the traditional city of Munich, as well as institutions such as Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, ESMT Berlin, Mannheim Business School and the University of Cologne.

Germany hosted over 405,000 international students in the 2024/25 winter semester, with Indians comprising over 49,000 of these.
For Roshni Patel, Germany offered a much more stable path to gaining a high-quality, education. “I considered the US, but I saw the issues they faced, such as uncertain visa policies, high tuition fees, and limited time to find a job after graduation,” she says. Enrolling on an MBA at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, helped her to “bridge technology and business to grow into more strategic roles in the European tech space.”

For Roshni, the chance to study in Germany has come with some challenges (the language barrier) but she enjoys “how much people value work-life balance, and how easy it is to travel across Europe – perfect for a travel enthusiast like me.”

Three down, six to go! To keep exploring further international study options please read the next article in this series.

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