15 minsDid you know that a number of famous Indian luminaries have studied abroad? Here’s a list of twenty famous Indian personalities who studied abroad. We have included personalities from different areas, including politics, business, literature and cinema. Check out which institutions they went to.
Here’s the list of the 28 Famous Indian personalities whom we have covered in this article:
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Dr B.R. Ambedkar
- Jawaharlal Nehru
- Dr Manmohan Singh
- Shashi Tharoor
- Kiran Desai
- Jhumpa Lahiri
- Amitav Ghosh
- Khushwant Singh
- Vikram Seth
- Indra Nooyi
- Anil Dhirubhai Ambani
- Ratan Tata
- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
- Sundar Pichai
- Padma Lakshmi
- Ranbir Kapoor
- Parineeti Chopra
- Dulquer Salman
- Karthik Sivakumar
- Satya Nandella
- Vasanth Narasimhan
- Shantanu Narayen
- Arvind Krishna
- Sanjay Kumar Jha
- Jay Chaudhry
- Reshma Kewalramani
- Anirudh Devgan
5 Famous Indian Political Leaders who Studied Abroad
1. Mahatma Gandhi
A legend, a man whose life was his message — the ‘Father of the Indian Nation,’ Mahatma Gandhi, was the crux of the Indian freedom struggle and shook the very bastions of the British Empire with his non-violent struggle — ‘Satyagraha’. Talking about Mahatma Gandhi’s education - He studied law at the University College London in the UK and returned to India to work as a barrister, and the rest, as they say, is history.
UCL ranks #9 as per the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Are you looking to study Law in the UK? If yes, you might be happy to know that more than 150 institutions in the UK offer law degrees and courses.
2. Dr B.R. Ambedkar
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is credited as the man who laid down the framework of the Indian Constitution. He fought for equality for all and was also a noted economist. Dr. Ambedkar secured multiple degrees in law, economics, and political science. He studied at Columbia University in the USA and the London School of Economics, earning his D.Sc. in Economics from the University of London.
If you are interested in learning Economics abroad, you have more than a thousand institutions to choose from! If you need help figuring out the right course and university, and also help you realise your study abroad dreams, do get in touch with our counsellors.
Columbia University is ranked 38 in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
The London School of Economics and Political Science is ranked 56th among the best universities in the world as per the QS World University Rankings 2026.
3. Jawaharlal Nehru
Independent India’s first Prime Minister and one of the architects of India’s independence; Jawaharlal Nehru received an Honours degree in Natural Science from Trinity College, Cambridge. At the Inner Temple, he trained to be a barrister-at-law. His foresight and planning are seen as catalysts for India’s industrial development and economic growth.
Trinity College, Cambridge is a part of the University of Cambridge in the UK.
The University of Cambridge ranks 6th in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Check out the institutions offering Natural Science degrees and courses abroad.
4. Dr Manmohan Singh
Dr Manmohan Singh was the 13th Prime Minister of India. He is another famous Indian personality who studied abroad. He is popularly known as an Economist. He completed the Economic Tripos – a three-year undergraduate honours degree programme in Economics – from the University of Cambridge. He also got a D.Phil in Economics from the University of Oxford in 1962. Nuffield College is where he studied at.
The University of Oxford is currently the 4th best university in the world as per the QS World University Rankings 2026.
You might have figured out that Economics is one of the most popular subjects chosen by Indian students looking to study abroad. MSc Economics, MSc Economics and Finance, International Economics, Banking and Finance, BSc (Hons) Economics, MSc Business Finance and Economics etc are some of the economics courses preferred by Indian students.
5. Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor is known as a politician and a former international diplomat. He is also popular among the social media masses for his English vocabulary skills. Here’s what you should know about Shashi Tharoor’s education. He has an MA in International Relations from Tufts University in the USA. He also has an MA in Law and Diplomacy and a PhD in International Relations and Affairs from the same institution. Tufts University ranks =334 in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Check out our website for the list of institutions abroad, that offer masters.
5 Famous Indian Writers who Studied Abroad
6. Kiran Desai
Kiran Desai, the Man Booker Prize-winning author from India, has two master’s degrees in Fine Arts; one from Hollins University and the other from Columbia University. She also studied Creative Writing at Bennington College before getting her MFAs. Columbia University ranks =38th in the latest QS Rankings. It is also one of the top 15 universities in the USA.
Are you also looking for ways to improve your creative writing skills? Check out the different institutions in the USA offering creative writing degrees and courses.
7. Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa is an acclaimed novelist of Indian origin born to Indian immigrants in London. She grew up in the USA and has received multiple degrees from Boston University in English and Creative Writing. Her first book of short stories; an anthology titled ‘Interpreter of Maladies’ was awarded the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Jhumpa continues to write fiction and non-fiction in English and is a regular contributor to ‘The New Yorker magazine.
Boston University offers around 500 different courses. Some of the courses popular among Indian students include Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Computer Science, Master of Science in Global Marketing Management, Master of Science in Applied Business Analytics and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. It ranks =88th in the world as per the World University Rankings released by QS.
8. Amitav Ghosh
Amitav Ghosh is a celebrated Indian writer, who has several awards to his name, including the prestigious Padma Sri. He also received the Jnanpith Award in 2018. He studied at the University of Oxford, earning a doctorate in Social Anthropology. Oxford
Does Social Anthropology seem like a subject you would like to learn? Check out the limited number of institutions that offer these courses and understand the course details.
9. Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh is a famous Indian personality who studied abroad. He is a Padma Vibhushan winning author from India. He wore multiple hats; he was also a lawyer, journalist, and politician. One of his famous works was ‘Train to Pakistan’. Khushwant Singh studied at King’s College London which is a public research university in London. He received his Law degree from the University of London in 1938.
King’s College London ranks 31st among the world’s top universities as per the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Master of Law is one of the most popular courses picked by Indian students to study at King’s College London. Other popular courses include MSc International Management, MSc Data Science and MSc International Marketing.
10. Vikram Seth
Padma Shri and Sahithya Academy Awards are just two of the several accolades that the famous writer Vikram Seth received for his contributions to Indian English literature. He is a novelist as well as a poet. Vikram Seth went to Corpus Christi College, which is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics here. He also pursued a PhD in Economics from Stanford University but ended up not completing it.
Stanford University is the world’s third-best university as per the QS University Rankings 2026.
5 Famous Indian Business Giants Who Studied Abroad
11. Indra Nooyi
Indra Nooyi was ranked among the most powerful women in the world by ‘Forbes magazine in 2014. She worked as the CEO of PepsiCo, and at one point her annual income was nearly USD 17 million. Indra was born in Madras, now renamed Chennai.
Are you interested in knowing about Indra Nooyi’s education? She holds a degree in science and a PGD (MBA) from IIM Calcutta. She studied at the prestigious Yale School of Management and earned a master’s degree in Public and Private Management. Yale School of Management is the business school of Yale University in the USA.
Yale University is ranked 21st among the world’s best universities as per the QS World University Rankings 2026. MBA, BA in Anthropology and BSc in Computer Science are some courses popular among Indian students applying to Yale.
Here are some institutions where you can study Public Management abroad.
12. Anil Dhirubhai Ambani
The second son of Indian business giant Dhirubhai Ambani, Anil heads the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group — a diversified business conglomerate with interests in telecom, entertainment, power generation, health and insurance. Anil is an alumnus of the Warwick Business School and a member of the Board of Overseers at the prestigious Wharton School of Business. About Anil Ambani’s education - He completed his Master of Business Administration at Wharton. The business school is a part of the prestigious University of Pennsylvania.
The University of Pennsylvania is ranked 15th in the world as per the QS World University Rankings 2026.
MBA is one of the most sought-after courses to study abroad. The Hotcourses India website lists over 350 universities abroad that offer MBA courses and degrees.
13. Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata has his place on the list of famous Indian personalities who studied abroad. He is one of the Indian industry’s leading stalwarts — when he promised a car for less than USD 3,000 the ‘nay-sayers’ scoffed at him. When the Tata Nano was launched, the world stood up to take notice of Indian innovation and automobile design.
Let’s understand more about Ratan Tata’s education. Ratan Tata is an alumnus of Cornell University and the Harvard Business School. Additionally, he has been awarded an honorary doctorate by nearly a dozen international institutions.
Ratan Tata studied Architecture at Cornell University and did an advanced management programme with the Harvard Business School.
Cornell University is ranked 16th in the world as per the QS Rankings 2026.
MBA, Master of Health Administration, BSc Physics etc are some of the trending courses preferred by Indian students applying to Cornell.
If you are looking for Architecture courses, here’s a list of 300+ institutions that offer architecture degrees and courses abroad. Get in touch with our counsellors to find the best course and institution for you.
14. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is the founder and chairperson of Biocon, a Biotechnology based company in India. She was listed in the top-100 most powerful women in the world by Forbes in 2019. She graduated in Zoology from Bangalore University. Her father was a brewmaster and wanted Kiran to become one too. So she studied Malting and Brewing at Ballarat College, The University of Melbourne.
The University of Melbourne is one of the top-ranking universities in Australia and is the 19th best university in the world as per the QS Rankings 2026.
Master of Management, Master of Computer Science, Master of Data Science, Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Information Systems are some of the courses popular among Indian students applying to the University of Melbourne.
15. Sundar Pichai
Sundar Pichai has become a familiar name in India. He is currently the CEO of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google. Here’s what you should know about Sundar Pichai’s education. His primary education was in India. Pichai is an IITian and has his Metallurgical Engineering degree from IIT Kharagpur. For his M.S. in Engineering and Material Science, he moved to the U.S. and studied at Stanford University. He also has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. If you were wondering what Sundar Pichai’s education qualifications are, now you have the answer!
Stanford University ranks 3th in the world as per QS Rankings 2026.
5 Indian Celebrities who Studied Abroad
16. Padma Lakshmi
Padma Lakshmi is a model, actress, television host, celebrity chef and writer. She was born in Chennai and grew up in the USA. She studied Theatre Arts and American Literature at Clark University, in Worcester, Massachusetts and is known for her television roles and for raising awareness about women’s health. She continues to appear on television and has also launched a line of jewellery.
Clark University is ranked 601 - 800 as per the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025.
Business Analytics, Finance, Project Management and Information Technology are some of the topics preferred by Indian students looking to study at Clark University.
17. Ranbir Kapoor
The heartthrob of young women across India; Ranbir is a famous Indian celebrity who studied abroad. He comes from a family associated with Hindi cinema in India and is the grandson of showman — Raj Kapoor and the son of Rishi Kapoor. Ranbir studied at New York’s School of Visual Arts and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
If acting is your passion too, explore the institutions abroad that offer acting degrees and courses.
18. Parineeti Chopra
Parineeti Chopra was good in her studies right from her school days. She studied at Manchester Business School, and received a triple honours degree in Business, Finance and Economics. She also has a B.A. Honours in Music. The Manchester Business School is a part of the University of Manchester.
The University of Manchester ranks 35th in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Our website lists over 900 institutions abroad that offer business studies. If you are looking for institutions offering Finance courses or Economics courses, you have umpteen number of options again.
19. Dulquer Salman
DQ is the heartthrob of the South Indian movie industry and is also making a mark in Bollywood. He received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie, Charlie. Dulquer has a BBA (Bachelors in Business Management) from Purdue University in the USA.
Purdue University ranks =88 in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Explore these institutions that offer Business Management courses in the USA and pick the right one for you.
20. Karthik Sivakumar
Here’s another famous Indian personality who studied abroad - Karthik Sivakumar, most popularly known as Karthi, is an actor working majorly in Tamil cinema. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 2007. His accolades also include the Special Award by Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for his role in the movie ‘Paruthiveeran’. He earned his Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Binghamton University in New York.
Industrial Engineering courses are offered by several universities abroad. Check out the list of institutions and course details before applying.
Indian CEOs with foreign education
Many Indians educated in foreign universities have been extremely successful in their careers, blazing their way to the position of CEO of well-known businesses. Take a look at some of them:
21. Satya Nadella
Satya is perhaps best known as the CEO of Microsoft as it made its transition into Cloud computing and AI. He hails from Hyderabad. He is an alumnus of both the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (#1201- 1400 QS WUR) and the University of Chicago (#13 QS WUR).
22. Vasanth Narasimhan
Having joined Novartis AG in 2005, Vasanth Narasimhan stepped into the shoes of CEO in 2018. He is an elected member of the US National Academy of Medicine, a testament to his contributions to improving human health. He is an alumnus of both the University of Chicago and Harvard Medical School.
23. Shantanu Narayen
CEO of Adobe since 2007 and Chairman of the Board since 2017, Shantanu holds five patents and has been named among the world’s leading executives by Barron’s and Fortune Businessperson of the Year. (Source: Adobe.com). This Padma Shri recipient studied at the University of California, Berkeley (#=17 QS WUR)
24. Arvind Krishna
Member of the Board of Directors of New York Federal Reserve Bank as well as the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Arvind Krishna’s 3-decade-long career at IBM has led to him helming the CEO post here. Named ‘one among 25 geniuses creating the future of business’ in 2016 by Wired (magazine), he is an alumnus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (#=70 QS WUR).
25. Sanjay Kumar Jha
Among the famous Indians who studied abroad, Sanjay Kumar Jha stands out for his leadership position in more than one well-known global brand. He made significant contributions as the COO of Qualcomm, CEO of Motorola Mobility and Global Foundries, influencing the evolution of mobile technology and semiconductor industries in undeniable ways. Jha graduated from the University of Liverpool (#=147 QS WUR) and then also completed a doctorate from the University of Strathclyde (# =251).
26. Jay Chaudhry
Many Indians educated in foreign universities have used their skills to start businesses and Jay Chaudhry is among the most successful of them. His successful ventures include Cipher Trust, AirDefense, CoreHarbour and SecureIT. He serves as the CEO and Chairman of yet another company he founded, Zscaler. Jay Chaudhry studied at the University of Cincinnati (# 721- 730 QS WUR).
27. Reshma Kewalramani
President and CEO at Vertex, the Fortune 500 biotech company, Reshma Kewalramani has guided the company through many significant milestones including the approval for the brand’s pain medicine label Journavx. She completed her medical degree from Boston University (# =88 QS WUR) and also went through Harvard Business School’s General Management Programme.
28. Anirudh Devgan
President and CEO of Cadence, Anirudh Devgan joined the company in 2012. His is a well-known and well-respected name in the electronic design automation niche. Holder of 27 US patents, Anirudh Devgan has also won prestigious awards like the Phil Kaufman award and IBM Corporate award. He is an alumnus of the Carnegie Mellon University (#52 QS WUR).
Conclusion
A higher education degree from abroad may not guarantee you fame and money, as it turned out for the people mentioned above. But it sure will be an experience of a lifetime! So get set for a fun-filled learning experience abroad!
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in September 2016. Our content writer Roshna Mohan has edited it to include up-to-date information and made it comprehensive.
Image attributions: 2. Suthir, CC BY-SA 4.0, 3. Prakash pandey07, CC BY-SA 4.0, 5.Chatham House, CC BY 2.0 , 6.Piotr Drabik from Poland, CC BY 2.0, 7. librairie mollat, CC BY 3.0, 8.Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, 10. Amrhelweh, CC BY-SA 4.0, 11.JeffBedford from Arlington, Virginia, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, 12.Bollywood Hungama, CC BY 3.0, 15.Maurizio Pesce from Milan, Italia, CC BY 2.0, 16.Madison Vain, CC BY 2.0, 17, 18, 19: Bollywood Hungama, CC BY 3.0, 20.Thangam Book, CC BY-SA 3.0
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