The data provided by the ministry reveals that Canada has recorded the highest number of deaths among Indian students since 2018, with 91 reported cases. Even as visa uncertainties and geopolitical noise reshape global mobility, senior academic leaders from leading US universities say the American study-abroad ecosystem remains stable, but increasingly competitive for Indian students. In exclusive conversations with ET Education, Michael Mazzeo, Dean of Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, and Robert Chell, Dean of the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego, shared their insights on visa policies, OPT pathways, programme trends and India-focused expansion plans. The discussions took place on the sidelines of global study-abroad engagements at ShiftED 2026 by GradRight in New Delhi. Together, their views point to a recalibrating landscape, where reduced visa volumes and declining application numbers may paradoxically enhance opportunities for high-quality Indian applicants willing to navigate the uncertainty.Verify visa narratives; safety concerns often exaggerated: MazzeoMazzeo cautioned that misinformation around safety and immigration rules is shaping student perceptions more than ground realities. He stressed that campuses across the US remain safe and academically vibrant, and advised Indian students to rely on first-hand accounts from alumni and current students rather than social media narratives or sensational news cycles.On post-study work, Mazzeo noted that the Optional Practical Training (OPT) framework continues unchanged, while recent shifts in the H-1B system may actually favour students who enter the US through the higher education route instead of direct overseas hiring channels. “This reduces competition from those coming straight into the labour market, making the educational pathway comparatively more attractive,” he indicated.Fewer applications could mean better admits at top schoolsMazzeo also pointed to a significant decline in applications from India to US institutions over the past year, a trend he sees as a “timely opportunity” for bold applicants. With overall demand moderating, students applying in the current cycle could gain admission to stronger or higher-ranked universities than in a more crowded year, as institutions recalibrate their intake mix. At Olin Business School, around 500 international students enrol annually, with roughly 50–100 from India, a number the school aims to significantly increase, underlining India’s importance as a priority recruitment market.While scholarships are part of the strategy, Mazzeo emphasised that US business schools primarily compete on long-term career outcomes and return on investment rather than headline tuition costs.Specialised master’s overtaking MBA in growthHighlighting programme preferences, Mazzeo said that while the MBA remains the flagship qualification, specialised master’s programmes in areas such as analytics, finance, accounting and supply chain have seen the fastest growth over the past decade. These degrees are typically shorter, more focused and often do not require prior work experience, making them particularly attractive for Indian students seeking quicker industry entry while still benefiting from STEM-designated OPT extensions where applicable.Dual degrees and hybrid India pathways gaining tractionMazzeo noted that collaboration with Indian institutions is not new, citing the long-running joint executive MBA with IIT Bombay, now in its 11th cohort. Going ahead, the school is exploring more flexible formats such as hybrid programmes, short-term exchanges and accelerated 3+1 or 4+1 pathways that combine Indian and US study models that could lower costs while preserving international exposure.Mobility slowed by visas, not by employability: ChellFrom an engineering and workforce perspective, Chell described the US higher education environment as “turbulent at the surface but stable underneath,” noting that media coverage often amplifies exceptional events rather than everyday campus realities. He said campuses continue to function normally, with students studying safely and securing jobs, though hiring has become more selective. Tech employers in innovation hubs like California, he observed, are recruiting more cautiously than during the hiring boom two years ago, but opportunities remain intact.OPT unchanged; visa access is the real bottleneckChell drew a clear distinction between visa issuance and post-study work rights. While visa approvals appear to have fallen in some cases to nearly half of previous levels OPT provisions for STEM students remain unaffected. Students enrolled in STEM-designated degrees still qualify for extended OPT, provided they complete at least one academic year in a full-time US programme. The constraint, he suggested, lies in visa mobility rather than employability or industry demand.Strong India–US talent ties to endureDespite short-term policy fluctuations, Chell underlined that long-term academic and industry linkages between India and the US remain deeply entrenched, driven by English-language proficiency, strong technical skills and the large presence of Indian-origin leaders across global technology firms. He expects student flows to adjust in the near term but not diminish structurally, given the continued reliance of US innovation ecosystems on Indian talent.
Published On Feb 25, 2026 at 01:31 PM IST
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