A graduation ceremony at the City College of New York. Indian students contribute £4 billion to the American economy

The number of Indians coming to Britain to study has halved in four years while thousands more are choosing to go to America, figures show.

Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show that 16,500 Indians enrolled on degree courses in Britain in 2013-14, compared with 31,200 in 2009-10.

The figures indicate that Indians made up 6 per cent of overseas enrolments in Britain last year, down from 14 per cent in 2010-11. The government’s decision in 2012 to abolish visas allowing non-EU students to work in Britain for two years after graduating attracted negative publicity in India.

By 2025 India will have the world’s largest population of 18 to 22-year-olds, according to a British Council report on the future of global education.

Claire McNulty,