The latter development is bound to have widening impacts across the world as the strait is a notably narrow maritime passage through which approximately 20% of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas shipments flow. A closure of any duration will cause supply chain shortages and surging energy prices, and could even threaten global economic stability.

It has been hard not to notice the early projections of that widening economic instability over the past couple of weeks. In the , for example, “When the war in Iran started
Asia expected to see serious, gradual impacts from losing access to a huge portion of the world’s oil and gas. But the conflict’s economic and social impacts have hit the region harder and faster than officials and experts expected.”

Or from : “Losing almost 20% of global oil supply leads to shortages, rationing, with effects that go far beyond demand destruction from higher prices. Around two-thirds of global oil consumption is transport-related, and diesel is the backbone of commercial logistics, agriculture, and parts of industry, so disruption would hit the economy through multiple channels.”

It seems clear that those impacts will be felt unevenly, with some global regions, notably Asia, more impacted as those supply chains and energy supplies are more directly affected by a disruption in Gulf shipping. Other regions, such as North America, are expected to be less affected. What is clear, however, is that such a significant change in global energy supply will unleash a new type of inflationary pressure on global markets, as rising fuel costs drive up prices across the global economy.

Those price effects have been particularly visible over the past month with respect to air travel. Around the world, carriers are adding fuel surcharges or otherwise raising fares to keep pace with rising fuel costs. Some are also cutting back on routes to better ensure that flights operate closer to capacity. There are also a growing number of reports projecting a shortage in jet fuel for at least this quarter and next, which could lead to further flight reductions and will only heighten the upward pressure on airfares.

“Much of the world’s jet fuel is refined in Asia; South Korea is the world’s No. 1 exporter,” reports . “But much of the crude that Asian countries use to make jet fuel comes from the Middle East
Even if the strait does reopen for good, and soon, it will take weeks for oil and jet fuel trapped by the strait’s closure to reach customers in Europe and Asia.”

To make that a little more concrete, the benchmark European jet fuel price for the week ending 24 April was US$1,478 per tonne, which compares to the per-tonne rate of US$831 before the war began. Airline pricing policy is changing quickly as a result, with carriers often levying fixed or route-specific fuel surcharges. In some cases, airfares have roughly doubled (or more) since February.

On top of those direct impacts of rising fuel costs and/or shortages of jet fuel, tens of thousands of flights have been cancelled or rerouted around key air travel hubs in the Gulf region, further adding to the disruption and upward pressure on airfares.

How are students affected?

It is too early to say how that global pricing disruption, or the prospect of a deepening economic impact, will impact student mobility.

Based on historical patterns, we might imagine that students travelling for longer-term travel – such as a degree programme or K-12 studies of a year or more – are less likely to be deterred in their study plans this year. But those same historical patterns suggest that enrolment in shorter-term courses, such as summer language programmes, could be more heavily affected.

When asked for their perspective on an EnglishUSA online forum, member language schools reported a mixed outlook for the summer season. “No one has explicitly referenced high airfare as a reason for not enrolling in courses this summer,” said one. “One partner did mention higher flight costs than anticipated, but that did not impact plans to attend our summer sessions. We’ve also had some partners indirectly reference ‘global affairs’ as a reason for not sending students this year, without mentioning flights specifically.”

“One of our partners cited the war, rising costs, and current global uncertainty as their reason for backing out of a summer special programme,” said another. “So, yes, we are seeing a negative impact.”

English UK Chief Executive Jodie Gray adds, “We have heard anecdotal reports from members that they’re seeing some cancellations from individual students/groups, and there’s concern that the situation may worsen as we move towards the summer.

English UK is running a monthly barometer of our members to monitor the impact of the war in the Middle East on their businesses. At this time of year, it’s very much a tipping point. There is a sense of uncertainty about what will unfold over the coming months as we head into the crucial summer season. What is clear is that the UK ELT sector is very much open for business as normal.”

For additional background, please see:

• “As Iran retaliates across the Middle East, schools close, students worry, and institutions reassess transnational education“

The post How will the war in Iran impact international student mobility? appeared first on șÚÁÏčÙÍű Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Since 2019, French universities have been encouraged – but not obliged – to set non-EU tuition fees higher than for other students. The majority have continued to charge the base rate of €178 (US$195) and €254 (US$280) per year at the bachelor’s and master’s level, respectively. Their decision to opt out has been based on a belief in equal access to higher education regardless of where a student is from.

As of the announcement, universities no longer have a say in whether or not they choose to differentiate non-EU fees.

When do the fees take effect?

The fee hike does not affect current non-EU students, but it does come in the middle of the application cycle for the start of the 2026/27 academic year in September, which critics say will introduce uncertainty and confusion for both applicants and institutions alike.

Are there exceptions?

No more than 10% of students will be exempted, with most exceptions for scholarship holders and those facing personal hardship. Sixty percent of grants will be reserved for students choosing priority disciplines: health, digital – including artificial intelligence (AI) – quantum science, biotechnology, the environment, energy, space, food, information technology (IT), and communications.

The context for the hike

The mandatory tuition levels are part of a new international education strategy, “,” the ambition of which is to attract more students to sectors within which France needs more skilled workers. The country’s working‑age population is expected to contract over the coming decades, which could stem innovation and economic competitiveness if not mitigated by incoming talent.

The government says the higher fees for non-EU students will position French higher education as more prestigious. It also notes that affected students will still pay less than a third of the total cost of training them (with the rest paid by the state), and that study in France will remain less expensive for them than in most other top destinations.  

In Canada, the UK, the US, and Australia, international student tuition is least US$15,000 and more often US$20,000+ per year, with tuition rates for some specialised STEM programmes and selective institutions running considerably higher.

A strategic gamble

The new fee requirements in France may well increase competitiveness of another major European destination – Germany – especially in price-sensitive markets in Africa and South Asia.
 
Most public universities in Germany do not charge differentiated tuition fees. Rather, non-EU students are asked to pay between €100–400 (roughly US$140–$270) per semester in service fees. Germany’s private universities do charge higher fees, but account for only about 14% of system enrolment.

In 2025/26, Germany attracted 420,000 foreign students (+4% y-o-y), while in 2024/25, France hosted 443,500 international students (+3% y-o-y). Both countries have prioritised diversity in their recruitment, which has helped them to cope with slowing Chinese outbound numbers. While France dominates in Africa, Germany’s popularity is growing. Africans now compose a quarter of all international students in Germany.

What is the rationale for the fee increase?

The government does not think higher fees will depress overall international student demand. Minister Baptiste pointed out that the number of foreign master’s students in the UK has gone up by +60% in the past 10 years despite tuition fees in the tens of thousands of euros. (However, -19% fewer international master’s students enrolled in the UK between 2023 and 2025 after a rule was enacted in 2024 that prevents most students from bringing their families with them on dependant visas.) 

The other reason the government cites for imposing differentiated fees is that France’s public higher education system . Most French public universities currently work within deficit budgets, mostly because wage, energy, and other costs are outpacing government funding.

Reaction from higher education stakeholders

, the association of French rectors, considers the new fees for non-EU students to be:

• In opposition to the “humanistic values of hospitality and openness that universities extend to students from around the world”;
• Likely to produce a pronounced deterrence effect (students opting not to enrol) on students from disadvantaged countries;
• Insufficient for addressing universities’ profound financial woes (revenue from the higher fees is projected at €250 million).

The association states: “In this context, France UniversitĂ©s opposes the particularly sharp and abrupt reduction in the latitude previously available to each institution.”

Unions – which are already upset with the government’s approach to higher education – also condemn the new fees. In March, 20 unions representing professors, researchers, and students coordinated rallies across France to protest state underfunding, chanting slogans such as “Universities in ruins, science in peril.” New protests are scheduled for May 1, and the student unions will that the differentiated fees are:

• “Dangerous, discriminatory, and incoherent (FAGE)”
• “Xenophobic,” poised to “exacerbate poverty among international students,” and “not aimed at better welcoming international students, but at selecting those who can pay (UNEF).”

Association and union activism will likely focus on persuading the government to extend exemptions to more students, allow for payment plans, and protect current students from being expelled when they cannot meet a payment deadline.

University of Strasbourg expels 47 students

This year marked the first instance of a university expelling students because of their inability to pay differentiated fees. Unlike most other French universities, the University of Strasbourg exercised its option to charge non-EU students more before this became mandatory, and in April it notified 47 students that they would be “disenrolled” because of missed payments. Most of the students were in good academic standing.

As reported in , university faculty have launched a petition condemning the “financial harassment” of students “selected on academic criteria.” Some barged in on a university board meeting on 16 April, demanding a breakdown of exempted nationalities, and data on university enrolments by country of origin.”

Disproportionate impact

Whether French student and faculty resistance will end up softening the implementation and impact of differentiated fees remains to be seen. Time will also tell whether the higher cost of studying in France for non-EU students will have a notable impact on enrolments and demand.
 
Pascal Maillard, a professor at the University of Strasbourg and secretary of SNESUP-FSU, a higher education union, believes that the increased fees will have a significant and disproportionate impact on poorer students:

“Ninety percent of [non-EU students] come from some of the world’s poorest countries: For students from Senegal, Togo, Chad, Morocco or Algeria, €15,000 [of tuition plus other financial requirements in France] is an astronomical sum that represents the equivalent of €45,000 to €50,000 for us.”

Professor Maillard’s comment underscores how massive an investment study abroad is for many students from Africa and from other regions where per capita wealth is low.

For additional background, please see:

• “France reports more than 443,000 international students in higher education for 2024/25”
• “Germany’s foreign enrolments continued to grow in the 2025/26 academic year”

The post France directs universities to charge higher tuition fees to non-EU students starting September 2026 appeared first on șÚÁÏčÙÍű Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

The most recent edition of the ISB gathered responses from 93,843 international students from 135 universities during a September–December 2025 survey window.

Here are five important takeaways from this year’s top-level findings.

Students are mostly satisfied with their study abroad experience

When asked in the 2025 ISB cycle, “Overall, how satisfied are you with all aspects of your experience at this institution?”, 90% of respondents said they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied.”

A related question asked respondents how likely they are to recommend their institution to a family member or friend. Etio uses the responses to generate a Net Promoter Score (NPS). Using a response scale of 0–10, students who provide a score of 6 or below are classified as “Detractors,” whereas those who give a 7 or 8 are classified as “Passives,” and those who give a 9 or 10 are “Promoters.” The Net Promoter Score is arrived at by subtracting the percentage of Detractors from the percentage of Promoters.

The ISB shows that, globally, the Net Promoter Score has been on the rise since 2019, where the aggregated NPS value across the survey was 15, to 2025 with its NPS of 22. As with overall satisfaction ratings, there are big differences within institutions (by faculty or student nationality, for example), and by destination.

Students feel they are getting good value for their investment in study abroad

When asked, “To what extent do you feel that your current course is good value for money?”, 85% of students either agreed or strongly agreed that they were getting good value.

As we see in the chart, ratings for value for money have been climbing steadily since 2019. “That 85% as we are now is a pretty good result for the sector,” says Etio’s Head of Surveys Robin Hallows. “It suggests that [institutions] are by and large delivering on their promise.”

“I do wonder if there is a link between the improvements we have seen over time around graduate outcomes, employability, and career readiness – if there is a link to student perceptions of value for money.”

“Institutions are also managing expectations around cost,” adds Guy Perring, Etio’s Regional Director for APAC and the Middle East. “Singapore, for example, does very well in this regard. It’s not a cheap option; in fact, Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world. But they manage the expectations of the students so that students know how much the cost of living will be [in advance].”

Career impact remains the key driver

This year’s ISB results underscore that decision making for study abroad is heavily influenced by future career considerations, and by a return on investment calculation that weighs the costs of study and living abroad against anticipated future earnings.

Those priorities come through loud and clear when the ISB asked students, “How important were the following factors when deciding where to study?”

“The impact the [foreign qualification] has on their future careers is the most important decision factor,” says Mr Hallows. “And it’s always been the most important decision factor since 2019.”

“It is important for institutions to understand what drives decision making,” Nannette Ripmeester, Etio’s Regional Director for Europe, Africa, and North America. “This generation of students is completely different. [Study abroad] has to provide return on investment for them.”

Online information sources are having a greater impact on student decisions

When asked, “Which of the following helped your decision to choose this institution?”, students noted institutional websites and education agents as the most important influences on their study abroad decision, followed by friends and family.

It is interesting that the influences that have seen the greatest change over time are all digital, including the institutional website, online advertising, and social media channels.

There is a satisfaction gap in career services

The ISB asked a number of questions around career services, including “How satisfied are you with the following types of employment / careers support from this institution?”

“There is a bit of a variance [in satisfaction] within career support,” adds Mr Hallows. “Satisfaction with ‘information’ is quite a bit higher at 78% than employment – i.e., getting a job – at 59%. What I see when I see this is the potential for further improvement; for growth.”

For additional background, please see:

• “What students want: The top decision factors for study abroad“
• “How post-study work rights can make or break the return on investment for study abroad“

The post Five things we learned from this year’s International Student Barometer appeared first on șÚÁÏčÙÍű Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Prospective students are considering the high cost of studying and living abroad in those leading destinations and then they are:

• Looking at rules restricting foreign students’ entry, work rights, and ability to bring their families;
• Comparing what institutions promise about employment outcomes to what current students and alumni say about what is actually happening for them.

When considering each destination individually, they notice that:

• The non-refundable fee for a student visa in Australia keeps ramping up (it is currently AU$2,000), alongside historically high visa rejection rates.
• The UK’s Graduate Route post-study work term is being cut from 24 months to 18 months in 2027.
• Post-study work streams in the US are under review by policy makers.
• Canada’s international student cap remains in place, alongside more restrictive policies for post-graduation work eligibility, and declining visa approval rates.

At the same time, labour markets in the Big Four are being disrupted by geo-political factors and the impact of new technologies. The youth unemployment rate is currently higher in Canada than it was just after the pandemic, and it is the highest it has been in a decade in the UK – trends that contribute to a more uncertain employment outlook for domestic and foreign graduates alike.

“Post-study work is obviously a key driver for a significant part of the prospective student audience,” says Dr Mark Bennett, Vice President of Research and Insight at Keystone Education Group. “But that doesn’t mean it’s their ‘default’ option post-graduation. Rather, it’s one of many opportunities that enhances the value and attractiveness of an international degree. Trusting that the door is there in advance matters whether or not someone chooses to walk through it later.”

Measuring student sentiment

Recent survey research and social media listening studies confirm that international prospects are more skeptical about the ROI of study abroad in a Big Four destination.

Looking just at the UK, for example:

• New research found that 34% of international students are less interested in UK study as a result of the imminent shortening of the Graduate Route (and half of the sample didn’t know about the policy change, indicating that demand might fall still further).

• Student visa applications to the UK in the first three months of 2026 were down -31% compared with the same period in 2025.

• A newly released study by , an AI-powered social media listening platform purpose-built for international education, found that across various social channels there is vigorous conversation about the pros and cons of studying in the UK among current and prospective international students. Anxiety and disappointment are common themes in those online conversations across tens of thousands of student comments throughout 2025. So too is a sense of being valued primarily for paying higher tuition fees than domestic students.

Here are just a couple of quotes featured in the Voyage study:

“The government introduces policies every year, which further deters international students, such as the graduate visa restrictions, not allowing dependents, etc. The new visa restrictions pretty much killed any chance of working in the UK. If you’re looking for a degree from well-regarded institutions, that’s great. If you’re looking to get a job afterwards, just know that your options are extremely, extremely limited and recent law changes have pretty much made it impossible.”

“The immigration policies are made to be as prohibitive as possible. After milking you with insane tuition fees and living expenses while providing you with no jobs, the UK wants you to spend around 3,000 pounds on a graduate visa. This will allow you to stay for 2 years. Will you find jobs on a graduate visa? You have a better chance than the impossible student visa, but it is still hard.”

Overall, the conversations picked up by Voyage include a notable level of concern about UK government policies that limit work rights while tuition fees remain much higher for international students.

A new urgency around career services

In the face of restrictive government policies, it is crucial for institutions to demonstrate their continued value to international students.

This means proving – not just promising – that they are committed to international students’ post-study success. An excellent way of achieving this is (1) customising career services for the unique needs of international students and (2) effectively communicating the value of this function to them.

Recent research shows that this isn’t happening enough as yet. A 2024 QS and Universities UK International study, which surveyed 10,000 international graduates from nearly 40 universities, found that only 3% of employed graduates had found their job with the help of career services. About a fifth had used career services for other reasons, but not for job-finding.

The research highlights a gap between the availability of career services and the relevance of this function in the eyes of international students.

Recognising that international students have more barriers to securing a job than domestic students do can help to close this gap. For those students, career services must go beyond resume coaching, interview prep, etc. They need to cover other critical areas, including:

• Working through complicated visa and immigration processes.
• Being aware of programmes linked to skills gaps (that are thus prioritised by governments and employers).
• Knowing which programmes are eligible for post-study work streams.
• Avoiding being penalised simply because of not being aware of a deadline or requirement.
• Building professional networks both in their host destination and elsewhere, because:
  • There is not a guarantee they will be able to work in the host country after studies due to policies or other factors.
  • They may not want to stay in the host country and be perfectly content to find a good job at home or in another country.
• Identifying employers who are open to hiring/sponsoring international students.

Embedding career and immigration supports

Sanam Arora is the chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) in the UK. At the 2025 șÚÁÏčÙÍű Monitor Global Summit in London, she explained:

“Seventy percent of Indians choose a destination of study on the basis of overall employability, and they have historically seen the UK or US in particular as a launchpad for global careers. In that sense, the definition of what it means to be educated has fundamentally changed. Universities that realise they’re not just here to educate, they’re here to be that global talent launchpad, will really ace this going forward.”

Ms Arora shared her own perspective on what she would find helpful:

“Before I graduate, I want the university to help me prepare for a successful life. That is what I think of when I think of career services, because success in a career is not that different than success in life. Sometimes career services is seen as something that is off to the side or in a corner, but really it needs to be embedded end-to-end throughout the entire student life cycle.”

Embedding career services means considering the whole student journey – from pre-admission to post-graduation. It means offering help to students not only in choosing the right programme, but also in understanding immigration rules and post-study pathways. Supporting students through those immigration processes is in fact an integral part of career services today, especially in the wake of heightened government oversight and compliance requirements.

Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, has department whose name fits the bill for what is needed in our current context: the . That office combines employment research with immigration guidance, and it is open to all international students.

A wider lens for networking

Another important angle today is to recognise that fewer international students will be able to stay on to work because of new immigration policies – and some will naturally prefer to pursue careers in their home country or in a third country in any case. This puts the onus on institutions to connect students to global networking platforms and to career fairs with international employers.

Collecting data on students from the very beginning of their enrolment about their post-study plans enables the customisation of career services not just on the basis of international versus domestic, but also international “planning to stay” and international “planning to return home or work elsewhere.”

Integral to brand reputation

There is a growing urgency to backing up the promise of employability with real outcomes for students. Helping international students to achieve the ROI they expect is ever-more integral to brand integrity and equity, to student satisfaction, and to the ability to recruit successfully in overseas markets.

For additional background, please see:

• “Survey highlights a growing ‘engagement gap’ between international student expectations and institutional response”
• “Is a university degree still the same passport to success?”
• “What students want: The top decision factors for study abroad”

The post A common challenge: Strengthening student confidence in the ROI of study abroad appeared first on șÚÁÏčÙÍű Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

New Zealand’s international education strategy favours managed growth over the next few years. The plan is to grow student enrolments from 83,400 in 2024 to 105,000 in 2027 and 119,000 by 2034. Between January and August of 2025, New Zealand institutions hosted 85,535 international students (+14% over the same period in 2024). This number was already higher than the full-year total in 2024, and all sub-sectors experienced growth.

Generous work rights are part of New Zealand’s strategy to increase its attractiveness to international students.

New work visa: The Short Term Graduate Work Visa

The Short Term Graduate Work Visa is for students who are not eligible for the Post Study Work Visa. It will provide 6 months of open work rights, “allowing time to look for work and, where appropriate, transition to an Accredited Employer Work Visa.”

To be eligible, applicants must hold a qualification at NZQCF at level 5–7 (i.e., certificate/diploma to bachelor’s degree) that was studied full time for at least 24 weeks in New Zealand and that does not make them eligible for a Post Study Work Visa. That qualification cannot have been an English language, foundation, or bridging qualification.

Short Term Graduate Work Visa holders will not be able to support family for a work or dependent child student visa. However, says New Zealand Immigration:

“They can check if they are able to support them for a visitor visa instead. Dependent children can also apply for a student visa as international students, and partners can apply for work visas on their own merit.”

For more on the visa and eligibility requirements, please visit this New Zealand Immigration .

Extended eligibility: Post Study Work Visa

The Post Study Work Visa allows holders to work in New Zealand for up to three years, depending on their qualification. Currently, it is eligible to students who have graduated with an NZQCF Level 7 bachelor’s degree taken full-time at a New Zealand institution but not to those who have earned a Level 7 NZQCF graduate diploma. This will change in late 2026.

Along with , applicants with the NZQCF graduate diploma will need to have completed a bachelor’s degree in New Zealand or elsewhere to be eligible for the Post Study Work Visa.

Post Study Work Visa holders are permitted to support partners and dependent children for visitor, work, or dependent child student visas, as long as requirements are met.

Education exports are growing

The “” strategy aims to double the economic impact of the international education in New Zealand over the next decade from NZD$3.6 billion in 2024 to NZD$7.2 billion by 2034.

Stats NZ data show that education-related travel exports reached NZD$4.5 billion in 2025 (up to September).

For additional background, please see:

• “What students want: The top decision factors for study abroad“
• “New Zealand announces strong foreign enrolment growth along with a new international education strategy”Ìę
• “New Zealand’s international student numbers climbing amid strong public support“

The post New Zealand expands post-study work opportunities for international students appeared first on șÚÁÏčÙÍű Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

The new fee, announced without warning on 1 March 2026, is more than 10 times, 3 times, and twice the amount that students pay for similar visas in Canada, New Zealand, and the UK, respectively. Across three increases spanning 2024, 2025, and now 2026, the Temporary Graduate Visa application fee has more than doubled.

There are also now heftier fees for post-study work applicants’ accompanying dependants. The fee for partners or dependants aged 18 and over has risen from AU$1,115 to AU$2,300, and the fee for children under 18 years of age has increased from AU$560 to AU$1,150.

Even before the latest increase, the Temporary Graduate Visa was the expensive post-study work visa in the world.

Rising costs

The fee hike follows a pattern of rising costs for international students in Australia over the past couple of years. For example:

• The non-refundable student visa (Subclass 500) fee has risen twice in the past two years and now stands at AU$2,000 (roughly US$1,400), making it the most expensive study visa fee across all destinations.

• The for living costs rose to AU$29,710 (about US$20,000) per year in 2024.

• The private health insurance premium – which almost all international students need for a visa – is set to rise by +4.4% in April 2026.

• Many Australian universities have raised their tuition fees as the cost of international student recruitment has risen amidst far tighter governmental oversight and regulations. The average year-over-year increase was more than +6% in 2025.

Price effects

When the Australian government raised the application fee for the student visa (Subclass 500) in 2025, it said the higher cost would help to weed out non-genuine students (i.e., people who use study-related visa classes for the main purpose of working and/or immigrating to Australia).

Across higher education, vocational education (VET), and English-language training establishments (ELICOS), reaction to that move was negative despite widespread support for more integrity safeguards for students and institutions alike. Critics pointed out that as the new fee was introduced, visa refusals were skyrocketing, particularly for VET and ELICOS students. Many students – especially from Southeast Asia – have paid the non-refundable fee of AU$2,000 only to be refused for a visa. The ELICOS and VET sectors have been particularly hard hit by the higher fees, which apply regardless of the student’s intended length of study in Australia.

The new application fee for the Temporary Graduate Visa – as well as its sudden announcement and immediate implication – has shocked both educators and students. interviewed a student named Jimmy (no last name given), whose student visa is soon to expire. He said:

“It sets a dangerous precedent where the government can bypass fairness at its whim to the detriment of vulnerable groups. Treating us as an ATM at the 11th hour is 
 a massive breach of trust that severely damages Australia’s international reputation.”

The National Union of Students (NUS) international officer, Ariya Masud, added to The Guardian:

“Being blindsided by the country that over 800,000 current students have called their home for years sends a clear message to international students about their standing in Australian society. [We are] regarded as ATMs to funnel a multibillion-dollar industry instead of human beings being forced into abandoning the lives and careers they’ve built here.”

A hurdle to recruitment

Australian immigration expert Dr Abul Rizvi told Vietnamese news outlet that fees for international students in Australia have been rising much faster than inflation. He said that for many students, the ability to work after studies helps to offset the cost of completing an academic programme.

What’s more, international prospects carefully consider work rights when calculating the likely return on investment (ROI) of study abroad in various destinations, as we have reported recently. The Temporary Graduate Visa application fee hike – along with high visa refusal rates – will almost certainly change the ROI calculations of many families considering study abroad.

Speaking with , Jesse Garden-Russell, president of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA), said the fee hike was unfair to international graduates already struggling with high living and study costs. She continued:

“[It] sends a clear message that international graduates are being treated as revenue sources rather than valued contributors to Australia’s workforce and society. Graduates finish their studies hoping to gain work experience here, contribute to their fields and build networks – not to be hit with unpredictable, punitive costs.”

For additional background, please see:

• “How are Australian universities approaching international recruitment in 2026?”
• “What students want: The top decision factors for study abroad”
• “Australia: Full-year data for 2025 reveals impact of AUD$2,000 study visa application fee on ELICOS sector”

The post Australia doubles post-study work visa application fee appeared first on șÚÁÏčÙÍű Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

In 2023/24, almost 10,000 more foreign students were enrolled than in the previous year, a +6.5% increase. The proportion of international students in Spanish universities is now 11.5%, rising to 27% and 29% in master’s and doctoral programmes, respectively.

In total, there were 149,280 international enrolments in Spanish universities in 2023/24, 59% in degree programmes and 41% participating in exchanges (with those students coming mostly from Europe).

A public-private tension

There are almost 100 universities in Spain. The 2026 QS World University Rankings place Universitat AutĂČnoma de Barcelona and Complutense University of Madrid in the top 200. In total, are ranked in the top 500 institutions globally.

Just over half of Spanish universities are public, but significant expansion is happening in the private sector. In the span of a decade, public enrolments have risen by only +2%, in contrast to a +117% increase in private universities. This is a subject of for many Spaniards worried that higher education provision in their country is increasingly a business rather than a public good.

Public universities are and over capacity. In 2024/25, there were nearly twice as many applications for programmes as places available in public universities, which helps to explain why .

Spain’s private universities now host half of all master’s students, are often more expensive, and tend to offer more niche specialisations than public institutions.

While 71% of master’s degrees were delivered by public universities and 29% by private universities in 2024/25, this represents a -6.5% decrease for public universities and a +66% increase for private institutions .

Number of degree-seeking international students rising fast

Spain has for years been the preference for students participating in , but the number of degree-seeking international students choosing Spain is growing fast. In 2023/24, there were +8.7% more foreign students in degree programmes than the previous year. Growth of international degree students is especially pronounced at private universities.

In the 10 years leading up to 2023/24, the number of international undergraduate students in Spanish universities has doubled, and the number of master’s students has tripled. Most foreign undergraduate students come from Europe, while most graduate students travel from Latin America and the Caribbean.

The supply of master’s programmes is growing, and 40% of these are now offered in English, a major draw for students from priority markets such as India and China.

Countries of origin

Italy and Colombia are the top source markets, with each sending over 23,000 students annually. France is close behind, contributing close to 20,000 students. After that, China and the US round out the top five. Spain’s international student population is also very diversified, with thousands of students coming from other Latin American countries such as Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile; from Europe (e.g., Germany, Romania, UK); and Morocco.

Major growth markets are Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, and the United States. Notably, Spain-US exchange links have become much more common.

Building the EduBridge to Spain

A clear signal of the Spanish government’s ambition to attract more global talent is the “” initiative.

Launched in September 2025, with another intake in January 2026, it allows students at all academic levels a fast and smooth transfer from studies in the US to studies in Spain. EduBridge to Spain is especially aimed at students impacted by US visa issues.

Jobbatical.com summarises the benefits of the programme:

• Faster validation of existing qualifications
• Simplified academic record transfers
• Accelerated visa processing at Spanish consulates in the US
• Expedited Foreigner Identity Cards (TIE) upon arrival
• Part-time work rights for eligible students (up to 30 hours per week)

Like all international students in Spain, EduBridge students also receive a residence permit that covers the entire length of an academic programme and can obtain a work permit after graduation more easily than in the past (thanks to reforms launched in 2025).

EduBridge stands to help Spain gain market share in Latin America, where it competes for students with the US.

A rising research power

The Spanish government is investing heavily in scientific research and international research collaborations, and it is working to retain top researchers from other countries. A recent example of this is the 2025 call for .

Almost €40 million has been allocated to hiring leading researchers from other countries in their niche areas of specialisation, and more than half of those researchers are from the US.

Again, there is an aspect of seizing the geopolitical moment. Announcing the ATRAE funding, the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, said: “This program allows us to have excellent scientists who will contribute to continuing to build a better country for science 
 Spain is a refuge of democratic values in the face of science cuts by other countries.”

An official release explaining notes:

“For the first time in its three editions, the ATRAE Program has attracted more foreign than national talent, with foreigners now representing 83% of the beneficiaries. It is worth remembering that this latest call included a new feature: additional funding for the incorporation of researchers working in the United States, with an additional 200,000 euros for each project.”

There is an important built-in strategy of retention in the ATREA programme:

“R&D centres and universities commit to offering job security when the three- or four-year period funded by the ATRAE Program ends. The selected researchers will be able to train predoctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, which will lead to an increase in the critical mass at the various centers where they join. They will, therefore, be drivers of talent and attract national and international funding.”

The UK government considers that Spain has “real strengths in energy, biomedical sciences and biotechnology, agriculture and food, materials, ICT, energy and the environment 
. Spain is generating advanced applied solutions for the aerospace, renewables, water treatment, rail, biotechnology, industrial machinery, and civil engineering sectors.

Affordability is a draw

A 2025 update from summarises annual study costs for EU international students:

• Bachelor’s degree at a public university: €2,100 to €4,629
• Master’s degree at a public university : €604 to €2,565
• Bachelor’s degree at a private university: €2,400 to €30,000
• Master’s degree at a private university: €1,388 to €105,000

Non-EU/EEA students usually pay higher tuition fees, though not always. MastersPortal.com advises non-EU students to check with individual universities, and it provides for this purpose.

Study in Spain also says that: “In 2025, a single person living in Spain spends around €712 per month on living expenses (about US$850).” This estimate includes food, accommodation, and transportation.

For additional background, please see:

• “Spain moving to expand partnerships and student recruitment in Africa“
• “Canada and the US are losing international student enrolments to Europe and Asia”
• “Search and enrolment data foreshadows international enrolment trends for 2026”

The post Inside Spain’s growing appeal for international students appeared first on șÚÁÏčÙÍű Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Prof Kapur says, “UK universities still provide the best education in the world, thanks in part to the premium tuition fees they earn from international students.” He suggests that without that revenue, the quality of UK institutions and the national competitiveness of the UK in the global economy would be significantly imperilled.

Today, we look at Prof Kapur’s assertion and explore what it means not just for the UK, but for other major study destinations with high numbers of top-ranked universities.

The importance of international student tuition

In an era where public universities in advanced societies such as Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US receive less government funding than in the past, elite institutions’ ability to deliver quality programmes, hire top professors, and maintain support staff is under pressure. Alternative revenue sources are essential. For many universities, international student tuition fees keep the most popular programmes running and well resourced. Mr Kapur, speaking of the situation in the UK, says:

“The role of international students in our universities is a national conversation we need to have. International students are not some sort of oddity or indulgence of our universities. They are now a fundamental feature of our system. Not only does it benefit the international students, it greatly benefits our domestic students, in addition to UK as a nation. Therefore, if we’re going to change it, we should do it knowingly after considering all the implications for our domestic students, for our universities, for our productivity as a nation.”

The correlation between innovation and international students

Highly ranked universities contribute a massive proportion of the scientific talent in the nation in which they are located. A great deal of these universities’ funding for elite faculty, cutting-edge programmes, and student services comes from the higher tuition fees that their international students pay.

Consider these statistics for the link between prestigious institutions and the proportion of international students they enrol:

• At Oxford University, come from countries outside the UK.
• At University of Melbourne, are from outside of Australia.
• At the University of Toronto and at McGill University, is composed of international students.
• At Harvard University, international students make up 27% of the total student population.

Now consider what new government policies and policy directions might mean for these institutions’ ability to remain as highly ranked as they are now – especially in a context where the share of Asian universities in top rankings is rapidly growing. For example:

• In the US, President Trump wants the proportion of international students at Harvard to nearly halve through a cap of 15%.
• In Canada, where caps have been applied primarily (and now exclusively) at the undergraduate level, the University of Toronto welcomed in 2024/25. experienced a 22% drop in new international applications in 2024/25, which will without doubt reduce the number of international enrolments in 2025/26. These are only two examples of losses across the entire Canadian university sector.

The example of McGill

McGill is by no means the only prestigious university to be facing problems as a result of government policies exerting downward pressure on international student enrolments. However, we can use it as a case study of what happens when a top-ranked university loses a significant proportion of its operating revenue due to declining international student numbers.

At McGill, the projected deficit for Fiscal Year 2025 is . This loss is due to several factors, including a range of provincial government policies that have cost McGill both and international students. : “Without corrective action, annual deficits will grow to $44 million in 2026, $61 million in 2027 and nearly $75 million in 2028.”

Were that to happen, says Mr Manfredi, it could trigger the government to remove the funding source called “subvention conditionnelle.” For McGill, this represents a portion of its annual grant representing close to $40 million. Mr Manfredi also says deepening deficits could trigger “further restrictions and an erosion of McGill’s autonomy.”

What “corrective actions” are planned or already being implemented at McGill? Staff cuts are the first unfortunate correction given that 80% of McGill’s expenses are salary-based. Mr Manfredi says: “With fewer staff, we cannot maintain the same operations.”

Doing the math

In 2023, Canadian higher education specialist Alex Usher about the differential between the revenue contribution of domestic students and international students at McGill, as summarised in the chart he created:

In October 2025, McGill welcomed , a loss of 8%. If we look at the chart above, that loss of international students equates roughly to a loss of CDN$21.1 million for McGill in international student tuition over two years. This loss will deepen given the in international student applicants in 2024/25.

This math illustrates just how affected McGill’s finances will be by a serious decline in international students. Forced to operate with less budget, McGill will be hard-pressed to maintain a range of programmes for domestic and international students alike. As Mr Manfredi notes: “In the long term, McGill has opportunities to generate revenue by offering new programs or delivering existing ones in different formats, such as online, and expanding global initiatives. However, these revenue streams will take time to have a meaningful impact.”

Extrapolating the logic

McGill University is ranked #41 in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings for 2026 and 27th according to QS. It is in the top 2% of all universities in the world. University of Toronto is as well (21st in THE’s ranking and 29th according to QS). Oxford is #1 according to THE and 4th in the QS rankings. Harvard is #5 according to both sources. University of Melbourne is in the top 20 in the QS ranking and top 50 according to THE.

Every year, these university powerhouses produce some of the most successful graduates in the countries in which they are located, including in the fields of AI, medicine, and engineering. Overseas, they are among the most sought-after universities by students across the world. Their brands – and those of other top-ranked universities in the countries in which they are located – help to anchor the popularity of their country as a study abroad destination and the reputation of the entire national higher education system that surrounds them.

In the US and Canada, the impact of government policies and rhetoric on international student demand and enrolments is not just jeopardising the operations of prestigious universities (and all universities, for that matter). By depressing international student numbers and associated revenue – without increasing public funding that could mitigate these losses – they threaten to damage the entire post-secondary landscape, thus reducing their countries’ potential for innovation.

As King’s College London’s Professor Shitij Kapur says: “If we’re going to change [the role of international students in UK higher education], we should do it knowingly after considering all the implications for our domestic students, for our universities, for our productivity as a nation.”

For additional background, please see:

• “șÚÁÏčÙÍű Podcast: Engine of growth: The true value and impact of the international education sector“
• “US: Study estimates that changes to international student policies could reduce GDP by up to US$481 billion per year“
• “UK confirms levy on international student fees as new analysis argues that government is ‘drastically underestimating’ the impact of the move“
• “Canada: A case study of immigration policy impacts on postsecondary institutions and the wider economy“

The post The link between international student tuition and global competitiveness appeared first on șÚÁÏčÙÍű Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.