WASHINGTON: Applications from prospective Indian students to U.S. graduate schools surged dramatically while those from China slowed down a bit in 2013, according to a new report from the council of graduate schools (CGS).

A 32 percent increase in applications from India, which accounts for 18 percent of all international graduate students at U.S. institutions offset a one per cent decline in applications from China, from where one third of the students come.

Thus, the preliminary number of applications from prospective international students to U.S. graduate schools increased 7 percent in 2014, up from the 2 percent increase seen in 2013, according to the CGS International Graduate Admissions Survey.

This year's encouraging increase is more consistent with the growth trend in international graduate applications seen between 2006 and 2012, after a post-9/11 decrease said the survey.

China, India, South Korea, Taiwan and Canada are the top five countries of origin for international graduate students in the United States, the report said. The survey covers in detail seven countries — China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil) and three regions — the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Altogether, the seven countries and three regions highlighted in the CGS International Graduate Admissions Survey are home countries to about 86 per cent of all international graduate students in the U.S.

CGS president Debra W. Stewart noted the 7 percent gain is a positive sign for U.S. graduate institutions, which collectively draw 15 percent of their overall graduate enrolments from international students.

"Yet this year's increase is not necessarily a sign of ongoing stability in international graduate applications and enrolments," she said, "especially since a large share of the growth appears to be driven by a single country" — namely India.
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