Indian students are no longer as enthusiastic about studying in the US as they were a few years ago. A new study, that has analysed US Department of Homeland Security Data, reveals that Indian students, enrolled in graduate level programmes in computer science and engineering, declined by 21 per cent in 2017, as compared to a year before. The absolute number decline was around 18,590 students, according to a report by National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP).
Interestingly, at the undergraduate level, increase in the number of students in computer science and engineering was only 740.
The overall decline in international students coming to the US is roughly four per cent, with India being a major contributor. According to the report, if the trend continues, it could have a profound negative impact on the US students and US universities, as well as American companies and even the nation's economy.
Other countries that have seen a significant decline in the number of students going to the US are Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, Brazil and Indonesia.
"News reports and other information about the United States limiting the ability of international students to gain employment after completing their studies could be discouraging enrollment", says the NFAP report.
Academic research has found a connection between international students and the US student enrollment. According to economist Kevin Shih, at the graduate level, international students do not crowd-out, but actually increase domestic enrollment. Foreign student tuition revenue is used to subsidise the cost of enrolling additional domestic students. Lower enrollment of international students has already resulted in budget cuts that affect the US students in a number of universities.
At universities, such as Wright State in Ohio, a drop in the number of international students has led to eliminating programmes for Italian, Russian and Japanese. Professors rely on international students to conduct researches and many of the best instructors are likely leave for private sector jobs without the ability to perform high-level research.
The Trump administration has indicated that it may limit or eliminate Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT (science, technology, engineering and math OPT) for international students in the United States. This would affect whether international students decide to enroll at a US university
Optional Practical Training, or OPT, allows international students in F-1 status to continue their education or training by working in the United States after graduation. For many years, Optional Practical Training provided international students with 12 months of work authorisation and the freedom to work for a US employer.