India Is Producing More Engineers Than Ever. So Why Are They Leaving for MBAs Abroad?

With 363,019 Indian students now studying in the US, a growing number of engineers are choosing global MBAs to access broader career growth, leadership roles, and international work cultures.

London, February, 2026: India has never lacked engineering talent. For generations, families have nudged their children toward engineering or medicine, and the scale of that push shows today. Every year, well over a million students graduate with engineering degrees, making India one of the world’s largest sources of technical talent.

But the challenge is no longer about producing engineers. It is about what comes next. The number of graduates now far exceeds the number of roles that offer real growth, independence, and a healthy work-life balance. For many Gen Z professionals, the problem is not a lack of ambition or ability. It is the structure of the system they are stepping into and the limited space it leaves for meaningful progress.

Overseas workplaces are often seen differently. Expectations tend to be clearer, decision-making more distributed, and performance judged on results. Time off is treated as normal rather than negotiable. Many global firms actively protect weekends or encourage regular breaks. That contrast is shaping career choices much earlier than before.

Sonal Kapoor, Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, says today’s students are growing up in a world shaped by rapid technological change. “AI is advancing every day, and engineering talent sits at the centre of that progress,” she says. “Students now understand that the right education can change not just their careers, but their entire lives.”

She added that for many young engineers, especially those growing up in tier-two and tier-three cities, studying abroad isn’t just about personal ambition or a better résumé. It’s about changing the direction of their lives. For some, it means building a business they could never imagine starting at home. For others, it’s a chance to land a global role or become the first person in their family to create long-term financial security. That awareness, she said, is pushing students to think bigger and plan earlier than any generation before them.

Sonal added that the numbers clearly show how student priorities are shifting. “According to the latest Open Doors data this makes it impossible to ignore. In the year 2024 and 2025 alone more than 363,019 Indian students are studying in the United States making India the largest source of international students there for the first time. Even with visa uncertainty in the background, Indian students have moved ahead of China, which speaks volumes about how strongly they continue to back global education. We’re seeing a similar pattern in the UK too. According to UK Home Office figures, Indian students were the most common recipients of UK sponsored study visas in the year ending September 2025, with 99,128 issued to Indian nationals  roughly one in four of all study visas granted. A large share of these students are choosing business and management degrees, which shows they’re thinking carefully about long-term career outcomes, not just qualifications.”

Professional Recruiters say this shift is showing up clearly in hiring as well. Many experienced engineers are now turning down roles that require work from the office, even when the pay looks good on paper. At the same time, overseas organisation continue to recruit Indian talent with clearer structures, well-defined expectations, and work cultures that value results over physical presence.

For many aspiring MBA students, the International degree has become a reset button. It offers a way to move into leadership, consulting, operations, or product roles while rethinking geography and work culture. This is not a loss of ambition at home. It reflects a generational change in priorities.