Trump effect: US universities register a sharp drop in Indian student applications

US universities have registered a hefty drop in the number of applications from Indian students amid a spate of hate crimes and fear about potential changes to visa policies by the Trump administration.

According to the preliminary results of a survey of more than 250 American colleges and universities conducted by six top American higher education groups, students from India this fall registered a 26 per cent decline in undergraduate applications and 15 per cent decline has been reported in graduate applications. The full version of the 'Open Doors 2016' report is slated to be released later this week.

These higher educational institutions reported a drop of an average of 40 per cent application from international students. The report said that India and China currently make up 47 per cent of US international student enrollment, with almost half a million Indian and Chinese students studying in the US.

China reported a drop of 25 per cent application in undergraduate studies and 32 per cent from graduate studies, said the survey report.