The traditional dominance of Western universities is being challenged as countries in Central and Western Asia emerge as preferred destinations for Indian students. Nations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Iran are attracting students with a combination of quality education, cost-effectiveness, and globally recognised programs.
The UAE, for example, hosts branch campuses of prestigious institutions like NYU and Sorbonne, allowing students to earn globally recognised degrees at a fraction of Western costs.
Kazakhstan has witnessed a remarkable 212% surge in Indian student enrollment, jumping from 3,855 in 2022 to over 12,000 by early 2025. Russia attracted more than 31,000 Indian students last year, primarily in medicine, while Turkey is gaining attention for its affordable English-taught master’s programs.
The QS World University Rankings are annual global assessments of universities compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a firm specializing in higher education analysis.
UAE
Khalifa University — QS Ranking 177
United Arab Emirates University — QS Ranking 229
Saudi Arabia
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) — QS Ranking 67
King Saud University — QS Ranking 143
Qatar
Qatar University — QS Ranking 112
Hamad bin Khalifa University — QS Ranking 244
Russia
Lomonosov Moscow State University — QS Ranking 105
Bauman Moscow State Technical University — QS Ranking 320
Turkey
Middle East Technical University — QS Ranking 269
Istanbul Technical University — QS Ranking 298
Kazakhstan
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University — QS Ranking 166
L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) — QS Ranking 317