India tops number of foreign students in US; new Women in STEMM Fellowship opens more avenues

New Delhi: The United States and India are expanding their longstanding relationship in the field of education with the launch of the new “Women in STEMM Fellowship” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine), a partnership between John Hopkins University Gupta-Klinsky India Institute and the US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment. The programme is aimed at supporting and empowering early-career women scientists and researchers in India to become leaders in their STEMM fields.

Speaking at the STEMM launch event, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, “Today we gather to launch the 'Women in STEM Development and Medicine Fellowship' – or the 'Women in STEMM India Fellowship' – an initiative of the US-India Alliance for Women's Economic Empowerment led by the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute at Johns Hopkins University. The event is a reminder of the global importance of education, collaboration, and gender equity in shaping the future of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM). The launch of the “Women in STEMM Fellowship” coinciding with International Education Week makes this moment particularly meaningful and more special. Today marks the celebration of the shared belief that education is not confined by borders, and that collaboration between our countries and institutions is the key to solving global challenges.”

Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J Daniels added: “At Johns Hopkins University, we believe that empowering women in STEMM is essential for advancing global innovation. The 'Women in STEMM Fellowship', launched in partnership with the US State Department, is designed to help Indian women scientists gain critical research skills, access mentors, and connect with global networks. This fellowship addresses the barriers that often limit women’s progress in these fields by providing the support, training, and resources they need to start and sustain their research careers. We are honored to support talented women as they shape a more impactful future leading the R&D ecosystem in India.”

Most of the international students in US are from India
The STEMM Fellowship launch has coincided with the release of the latest Open Doors Report which presents inspiring numbers for both the countries.

Ambassador Garcetti announced that for the first time since 2009, India sent more students to the United States than any other country. More than 3,30,000 Indians pursued higher education in the United States in 2023-2024, a 23 percent increase over the previous year.

The Open Doors report highlights significant growth across various levels:

Graduate Enrollment: India retained its position as the top sender of international graduate students for the second year, with nearly 197,000 students—a 19 percent increase from last year.

Optional Practical Training (OPT): The number of Indian students in OPT programmes surged by 41 percent to 97,556, reinforcing India’s role as a leading source of skilled professionals in the United States.

Undergraduate Enrolment: Undergraduate numbers from India rose by 13 percent, reaching over 36,000 students.

This year’s Open Doors Report also shows a 300 percent increase in American students choosing India as a study abroad destination. The number of Americans studying in India rose from 300 to 1,300 in 2022-2023.

The release of the Open Doors Report marks the beginning of International Education Week (IEW) which celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

Students can download the EducationUSA India app, available for free on iOS and Android devices, for the latest information about the college application process. It is a quick and easy first step to planning higher education in the United States. Or visit https://educationusa.in/