“We are living in fear, with sleepless nights and growing anxiety,” she said. “Our families back home are equally distressed.”
As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, over 2,500 Indian students—roughly 1,500–2,000 in Iran and 1,200–1,500 in Israel—are caught in the crossfire, experts say. With airspace over both nations closed, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has begun relocating students and activated advisories and check-ins.
“We’ve suspended all new Iran applications and are redirecting students to alternative destinations until the situation stabilises,” said Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits. “Our partners are helping students register with embassy forms, and our 24/7 emergency helpline ensures they have updated passports and documentation ready in case of evacuation.”
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Indian students typically choose these destinations for affordability and ease of admission. According to Narayanan Ramaswamy, national leader (education and skill development) at KPMG India, these students are “reasonably good in academics” but sometimes unable to secure seats in India’s top colleges. “They look to Israel, Iran, and nearby countries like Georgia and Ukraine, where admissions are easier and expenses are reasonable,” he said.
In Israel, institutions like Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Israel Institute of Technology are among the top choices.Iran, on the other hand, has emerged in recent years as a strong draw for students from Jammu & Kashmir, says Lambodar Rout, director of education consulting firm Edunom. “Many students who earlier went to Bangladesh are now choosing Iran because it’s nearly half the cost,” he notes.Aadil Shaikh, managing director of Education Zone—which has sent over 600 Indian students to Iran since 2018—says tuition and living expenses, factoring in scholarships, can cost as little as ?14-15 lakh for a five-year MBBS course, compared to ?40 lakh in Bangladesh.
Institutions like Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, ?Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, ?Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, and Kerman University of Medical Sciences are popular among Indian students.
“Iran offers a lot of scholarships. The education and infrastructure offered are also good. In the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), the rate of passing for students who’ve studied in Iran is high,” said Shaikh.
Yet, the war has brought all of this to a halt. “They’re (students) deeply worried—not just about their education, but their safety, timely evacuation, and whether their degrees will hold value amid rising instability,” said Shaikh.
Under current NMC guidelines, students cannot transfer to another university mid-course unless a special exception is granted, like in the Ukraine case.
The crisis is already reshaping student sentiment, say consultants.
According to Sanjay Laul, founder, MSM Group, new applicants who are beginning to explore international education are also concerned. “Even when a destination is not involved, the mood among families changes. Students become more cautious, and parents start asking different questions. It raises issues like insurance, emergency protocols, and academic flexibility.”
“Once concerns about a country’s stability surface, rebuilding student confidence is not easy. It can take several years before the perception improves, and students feel safe enough to consider those destinations again,” Laul added.
The current conflict, much like the war in Ukraine, could have a lasting impact on the appeal of the Caspian and Gulf regions for Indian students, education experts warn.
