TOEFL eyes smaller towns as Indian students expand overseas study choices
TOEFL is expanding its testing centers into smaller Indian towns as students increasingly look beyond traditional study destinations like the US and UK. Students are now considering a broader range of countries based on affordability and post-study work opportunities.
Why it matters
This shift reflects changing global mobility patterns for Indian students and the growing importance of cost-effective international education.
TOEFL is eyeing smaller towns to open new test centres as Indian students increasingly choose a wider range of overseas study destinations beyond the traditional “Big Four” of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
“Indian student mobility is gradually evolving from a ‘Big Four’ to a broader ‘Big 14’ landscape. The U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia continue to be the most established and desirable destinations, supported by globally recognised institutions, strong alumni networks and well-developed international education ecosystems. At the same time, Indian students are increasingly adding Germany, France, Ireland, New Zealand, the UAE, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Spain, and even Bangladesh to their consideration set,” Karan Lalit, Executive Director, TOEFL, GRE, and ETS in India and South Asia, said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in