In the 2023–2024 academic year, the United States hosted a record 331,602 Indian students, marking a 23 per cent increase from the previous year. This surge positioned India as the top source of international students in the US, surpassing China for the first time since 2009. The majority of these students pursued graduate-level programs, particularly in STEM fields such as computer science and engineering.

In February, the Carnegie Classifications announced the 2025 Research Activity Designations, categorising US doctoral universities based on their research spending and doctorate production. These classifications provide a transparent framework to recognise universities’ research capacities and contributions, aiding stakeholders in understanding the research landscape of higher education institutions. In addition, they reflect a university’s research capacity, influence funding opportunities, enhance institutional prestige, and help attract top-tier faculty, students, and research partnerships.

The R1 classification denotes institutions with very high research activity, requiring an average annual research and development (R&D) expenditure of at least $50 million and the awarding of 70 or more research doctorates. Some R1 universities include Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and University of California, Berkeley.

The R2 classification signifies high research activity, with........

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