USA remains a clear favorite among Indians with 165,918 students in the 2015-16 academic year, but EU is not far behind. The European Union presently estimates the number of Indian students in The Continent at around 45,000.

UK alone issued around 11,300 Tier-4 student visas, a 2 percent increase from the previous year, to Indian nationals in 2016, reaffirming its position as the most preferred destination for higher studies in Europe. The roughly estimated number of Indian students in the UK is 20,000. EU countries like France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Poland are also gradually becoming popular study abroad destinations for Indian students.

France, offering more than 1000 English-taught courses, has affordable higher education facilities, less stringent visa regulations that allow students to engage in part-time work up to 20 hours a week, and scholarship programs that make it popular among Indian students. In addition to that, the Indian alumni from the French institutes can return to France and get up to 5 years of residence permit or may stay back in the country for two years after completion of studies. At least 400 French companies operate in India, creating a significant job market for Indian nationals. French Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler noted the increase in the intake of Indian students saying that the target of reaching 10,000 Indian students in France by 2020 was quite achievable.

Germany had an enrollment of more than 14,000 Indian students in 2015-16, consistent to the 15-20 percent increase rate, giving rise to predictions that it might overtake the UK in the coming years. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) stated Germany's low tuition fees, English-taught courses, scholarship programs, and post-study work permit as key factors of appeal among the students.

Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden, have specialised English-taught medical and technical disciplines and are becoming increasingly desirable study destinations for Indian students. On its way to becoming the Silicon Valley of Europe, Sweden is also a popular choice for Indian students for its liberal higher education system. Countries like Poland, Lithuania, and Bulgaria have also noticed an increase in the number of admission applications from Indian students.

Thibault Devanlay, counsellor, political affairs EU delegation in India, remarked that the Erasmus scholarship programme plays a major role in the recent popularity of EU countries as preferred study abroad destinations for Indian students.