Indians' applications for graduate studies in US rise

After a decline, applications from Indian students to universities in the US for graduate studies have stabilised, according to a new report.

India, China and South Korea were the three largest countries of origin for international graduate students in the US, said the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) in a report.

“Applications from India and South Korea appear to have stabilised after significant decline last year: There was a 2 per cent decline from India and no change from South Korea this year,” the report said.

“The continued recovery in international graduate applications has been a positive trend,” CGS President Debra W Stewart said.

“However, we must not be overconfident. The lack of growth from India and South Korea is an ongoing concern, and, as we saw in 2009, an increase in applications does not necessarily result in equivalent enrolment growth,” she said.

Overall, CGS found the number of applications from prospective international students to US graduate schools in 2010 increased for the fifth consecutive year.

The seven per cent growth is the largest since a nine per cent gain in 2007.

“The initial snapshot of graduate applications for fall 2010, released today, shows a fifth successive year of double-digit growth in applications from China, up 19 per cent, after a 14 per cent gain in 2009,” it said.

Applications increased in the three most popular fields for international students — engineering, physical and earth sciences, and business, which collectively enrol 62 per cent of all international graduate students.