The from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) indicates that Japan has already met its first goal and is well on its way to reaching the 400,000-student target as well.

JASSO reports that there were 336,708 international students in Japan as of 1 May 2024, representing a 21% increase year-over-year and moving Japan comfortably its that pre-COVID benchmark.

Nearly all students (96%) were self-funded, with the balance a mix of scholarships from either the Japanese government or foreign governments. More than two-thirds (68%) were enrolled in higher education, with the remaining 32% studying in Japanese language schools.

Of the students in higher education institutions in 2024 (229,467), 25% were pursuing graduate studies, 40% were in undergraduate or junior college programmes, 33% were enrolled in professional training colleges, and the remaining 2% were following university preparatory courses.

Where do students come from?

More than nine in ten (92.5%) of international students in Japan come from elsewhere in Asia. As the table below reflects, China is the number one sending market by a considerable margin, followed by Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, and South Korea. Those five markets accounted for nearly 80% of Japan’s foreign enrolment in 2024, whereas the top ten sending markets provided 90% of the enrolment base last year.

Nepal was an important driver of overall growth, with the number of Nepalese students in the country growing by more than 70% year-over-year. (Government officials in Nepal have previously confirmed that Japan was the most popular destination for Nepalese students last year.)

The Kanto and Kinki prefectures – which are, respectively, home to the major centres of Tokyo and Osaka – hosted just over three out of every four international students Japan last year.

The vast majority of students (70%) were studying humanities or the social sciences, with another 14% enrolled in science or engineering programmes.

For additional background, please see:

• “Japan market report: A dual focus on attracting international students and sending more Japanese students abroad“
• “Tracking the internationalisation goals for 10 leading destinations“
• “Japan aims to rebuild foreign enrolment by 2027“

The post Foreign enrolment in Japan reached record levels in 2024 appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

The following market analysis is based on an annual survey administered by FDSV in spring 2025. The survey attracted 15 responses from members, representing roughly 28% of the total German market.

The survey findings indicate year-over-year growth of 15% in 2024, with the average language learning trip lasting 10 days at an average cost of €1,376. Germany’s outbound market is split evenly between adult and junior learners. “Overall, the need for language education remains unbroken,” says FDSV. “After the limitations of recent years, many people long to learn not only one language, but to experience it directly on the spot in their natural environment. This development underlines the importance of language travel as a valuable educational and cultural experience.”

Where do they go?

Most adult learners went abroad to study English (42%), with Spanish, which accounted for just over 27% of adult language travel, in second place. In comparison, virtually all junior outbound from Germany (92%) was focused on English study in 2024.

The UK remains the leading destination for German language learners, and was the destination of choice for 16.5% of adult learners and 73% of juniors. Other top destinations for German students include Ireland and Malta.

“A clearly recognisable trend shows that demand is increasingly focusing on European destinations,” adds FDSV. “In addition to shorter travel routes, which are often perceived as more comfortable, the topic of sustainability is also increasingly playing a role. More and more participants are placing emphasis on environmentally conscious travel, making nearby destinations more attractive. This deliberate shift towards more sustainable travel decisions could have an impact on the entire industry in the long run.”

FDSV’s outlook for 2025 highlights that security and economic concerns will continue to have a big impact on German language travel in the year ahead, particularly the war in Ukraine, global economic uncertainty, and the political climate in the United States. “The issue of security plays a central role, especially among young language travellers. Parents carefully consider whether the current security situation allows [the safe] journey of their child,” adds the association.

For additional background, please see:

• “German outbound language travel market recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2022“

The post Germany: Outbound language travel grew again in 2024 appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

As we see in the chart below, enrolment in Spanish language schools grew by just under 40% between 2022 and 2024 to reach a record high of 153,285 students last year.

Even more strikingly, student-week volumes grew by more than 60% over that same period to reach nearly 710,000 weeks in total – a mark that is 36% above the pre-pandemic high point.

“All the effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic can be considered overcome,” notes the FEDELE report. “And record numbers are also achieved with an average of 1,394 students per [FEDELE member school].”

Who are you?

That 2024 enrolment base is divided roughly equally between individual students (48%) and those travelling as part of school groups (52%) – a proportion that aligns closely with pre-pandemic patterns. Most students are between 12 and 18 years old (31%), followed by the 19-to-25-year-old cohort (25%), and then the broader 26-to-45-year-old group (24%).

The largest proportion of students were enrolled in language courses combined with cultural activities in 2024 (36%), with the next most-popular option being programmers for juniors or summer camps (20%).

The major sending markets for Spain’s language sector in 2024 were:

• Germany
• Italy
• France
• United States
• United Kingdom
• Poland
• Netherlands
• Russia
• Austria
• Morocco

Overall for 2024, three in four students arrived from Europe, with another 10% coming from North America and 9% from Asia.

An expanding economic footprint but challenges remain

FEDELE estimates the direct economic impact of member schools at €520,120,185 for 2024, or an average of €4 million per school.

Even with that impressive growth and impact in 2024, the FEDELE report sounds a cautionary note as well, adding that: “Although the growth is notable and indicates that the sector is in good health, we believe that some issues, such as visa-related problems, have been a stumbling block for student entry. Furthermore, we are observing the return of digital nomads to their countries of origin and the stagnation of some European Union economies. The price of accommodation also appears to have had a negative influence on the number of students enrolled at our centres.”

For additional background, please see:

• “Foreign enrolment in Spanish higher education reached a record high in 2022/23“
• “New policies, Erasmus+, and booming tourism boost Spain’s international education sector“
• “Spain’s language teaching sector bounces back“

The post Enrolment surges in Spain’s language teaching sector appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Spain is one of Europe’s premier study destinations. This is true for language learners but also for exchange students – especially those from the United States – and the country is a top destination for Erasmus+ exchanges as well. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were more than 600,000 foreign students in Spain, with an economic impact measured in the billions of euros.

This surging demand derives in part from the global popularity of the Spanish language. There are nearly 500 million native Spanish speakers worldwide, meaning that Spanish is the second most commonly spoken mother tongue in the world (with only Mandarin able to claim more native speakers). Spanish is also one of the most popular choices for foreign language study (after only English and French) with more than 20 million students enrolled in Spanish language studies worldwide.

Many of those students are motivated to study Spanish for the career opportunities it represents. After all, Spanish-speaking countries account for nearly 7% of global GDP. Spain is the fourth-largest economy in Europe as well as the 14th largest in the world.

But while those economic opportunities are compelling, many students are drawn to Spanish study, and to Spain in particular, by the chance to experience .

Spain is a diverse, safe, and welcoming country. Each region has something special to offer to visitors and students, from the mountains of the north to the Mediterranean coast and the spectacular beaches in the south. The country is reliably found among the world’s most-popular travel destinations due to its beautiful landscapes and pleasant climate, but also to the richness of Spanish culture, including its food, music, festivals, and an undeniable zest for life.

Services for students and agents

Every part of Spain is also home to a variety of accredited language schools. Some are found on university campuses, while others are offered by centres accredited by the or by , a national federation that brings together six associations of Spanish language schools.

Each of these bodies plays a key role in promoting the Spanish language and delivering high-quality language and culture programmes. The Instituto Cervantes operates both within Spain and abroad, and is also responsible for awarding the globally recognised DELE (Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language). FEDELE is an official partner of the Instituto Cervantes. It works to promote Spain as a study destination, certify Spanish language schools, and provide professional development for Spanish language teachers.

FEDELE also offers an online directory of , as well as where students can pursue their language studies online. The FEDELE virtual campus also provides a range of for students and student counsellors on study in Spain, including special sessions on study visas and insurance options for students.

Of particular interest to education agents is FEDELE’s , which offers a range of cross-promotional opportunities, marketing resources, and professional development for agencies and student counsellors actively advising students on study in Spain.

“FEDELE wants to promote quality standards for international exchanges carried out through agencies,” explains the federation. “The system offers advice and support as well as an information and consultation service to agencies on aspects of language immersion for students when they come to study in Spain.”

A major milestone in 2023

Next year will bring a vivid illustration of the considerable impact that Spain has on global culture as the country commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of the legendary artist Pablo Picasso.

“Picasso is one of the most important figures of modern art. His expressive, free and multiform style continues to influence contemporary art and debate today,” notes a statement from the Spanish government. “The Picasso Celebration 1973-2023 aims to highlight the career of an essentially European artist who has projected throughout the world universal symbols such as , today a collective emblem of the defence of human rights.”

Celebration Picasso 1973-2023 will feature a huge programme of fifty exhibitions and events across Europe and North America, including major exhibits in Madrid and Barcelona and also in Picasso’s birthplace of Málaga on the famous Costa del Sol.

This is but one example of the deep traditions and values inherent in Spanish culture, and of the rich, immersive experience that awaits students pursuing their language studies in Spain in 2023.

For more on FEDELE’s services and supports for education agents, please see .

For more on studying Spanish in Spain, please see �ճܰ�����貹ñ��’s .

The post Studying in Spain means learning a language and a country at the same time appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

As a result, the pricing model for the industry is under considerable strain and the inevitable result is that agents and language schools will need to increase client fees in order to remain in business.

ALTO recently (three-quarters of which were schools) to guide a planned “long term pricing project looking at ways to provide more flexibility within the international education industry and the way we interact with our partners.”

Vast majority expect they will need to increase their prices

Only a quarter of agent respondents thought they would not need to increase prices to cope with the new added challenge of inflation. Schools were less optimistic that they could hold prices to their current levels. Of agents and schools who thought they would need to increase prices, most thought they would have to raise them by about 10%.

More than half of agents did not think their clients would be prepared to pay higher prices in 2022. Of those who did think clients would be okay with a price hike, most thought they would only accept a 5% increase. School respondents were more confident that their clients would accept an increase, but again, there was a sense that clients would be prepared to pay less than what might be needed to keep the business solvent.

“The global inflation rate is pushing towards almost very close to double digits with a current average of 9% worldwide and this is even higher in countries like Turkey where the inflation rate has recently soared up to a staggering 73.5%,” says Selim Dervish, the director of Academia United and an ALTO board member. “It is now becoming very clear that the market participants whether being on the sender or receiver end agree on the global inflationary pressures becoming a major issue both for their businesses but also for the sustainability of our industry as a whole.”

In terms of price discounting – a widely used tool in the industry – more than half of schools and agents said they anticipated a change in the rate of discounting they would be employing in 2023. Agents were more likely to say they would increase their discounting, while schools were more likely to predict that they would reduce their discounting.

The vast majority of schools and agents thought that homestay and residential fees would go up in 2023 by about 10%.

“Inflationary pressure has become a huge issue for education providers, and consequently for agents too,” says David Brown, president of Oxford International and also a member of the ALTO board. “For an industry that has struggled to accept significant price changes for the past two decades, we are now seeing schools needing to increase both course and accommodation costs by 10% and more just to retain margins. If inflation remains a problem for a longer period of time then we may need to find ways to adjust pricing on a more regular basis, particularly with accommodation providers struggling with spiralling energy costs.”

“ALTO hopes that the results of this survey will lead to ongoing discussions between all industry parties, to ensure that we all remain sustainable as organisations by having better control of our pricing strategies.”

The wider context

Many agents and schools’ operations fall into the category of “small businesses,” and their anticipation of passing on costs to clients are in keeping with trends in this category. A recent (NFIB) survey of more than 500 small business owners in the US that explored how these businesses are coping with inflation in 2022 found that more than two-thirds would increase prices in the next few months. Most anticipated a 4%–9% increase, while 40% thought they would have to raise prices by at least 10%. The NFIB noted that small businesses have “few other means at their disposal other than passing input costs on to consumers.”

High inflation could simply be the last straw for business owners – especially in the international education and travel industries that have been so impacted by the pandemic. They have been praised for being “nimble” and “resilient” and for “pivoting” but at a certain point there is only so much room to pivot. We can only hope that the pent-up demand for travel and study abroad is strong enough to withstand this latest challenge.

Experts interviewed for a recent article in consider that Chinese students are less affected by inflation compared with already price-sensitive Indian students. In general, the consensus was that emerging markets for international educators are going to be hit the hardest by inflation and the rising fuel, food and energy costs caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Janet Ilieva, founder of Education Insight and an expert on global student mobility flows, said that “while it is very positive to see a surge in international student demand, it is mainly concentrated in price-sensitive countries.”

For additional background, please see:

• “UK ELT sector endured another tough year in 2021 but vows ‘fightback’ to recovery”
• “Agent survey highlights important demand factors for study abroad into 2022”

The post Global survey shows that many language schools and agents will need to raise prices due to inflation appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

About the survey

The survey was conducted by , a platform designed to support international students in Germany, while is an organisation that helps international students to network and adjust to German culture.

Students from roughly 93 countries participated in the survey; most of them were studying for master’s degrees (67%). The survey was a follow-up to one conducted in 2020 and was larger than its predecessor, with 31% more student respondents. Responses were collected from August to October 2021 and reported in “”

Why do students choose Germany?

Surveyed students chose Germany primarily because of the country’s no-tuition-fees policy for all students in higher education (45%); employment opportunities were the next-most influential factor (18%), especially for Mexican and Brazilian respondents.

Most students who intend to stay will look for jobs

Of the more than half of students with intentions to stay in Germany, most planned to look for job opportunities (38%) or to pursue further education in the country (15%). The preferred duration of time to remain in Germany was “more than 6 years” (27%), followed by 4–6 years (19%) and 2–4 years (18%), suggesting that permanent residency is on the mind of many international students in Germany.

Language and social challenges are an issue

More than a quarter of surveyed students said that language difficulties had been challenging for them, and nearly as many said they had experienced challenges in meeting new friends and in finding accommodation. Feeling socially isolated may be especially pronounced among Indonesian, South Korean, Taiwanese, Pakistani, and Chinese students: more than 50% in those segments said they had felt, at least at one point, the desire to go back to their home country. Among Chinese students, this proportion rose to 70%.

Many students were concerned enough about not being able to communicate well enough that they saw it as an obstacle to remaining in the country after graduating. Nearly half (47%) said that language barriers could pose a problem, suggesting that their concerns about language proficiency may be going unaddressed throughout their study journey.

More competition in 2021 than in 2020

The survey also found that Germany was facing more competition for international students in 2021 than in 2020, especially from the US and Canada. Results showed that the Netherlands, France, and Spain are increasingly competitive outside of traditional leading destinations.

Improving language and social supports should be a priority

The survey report notes that, “Enabling internationals with a German degree to stay in the country is highly relevant for Germany’s economy, as it mitigates the current skilled workers’ shortage.” To that point, Tim Meyer, the co-founder of Expatrio, said:

“We are glad that Germany is increasingly popular among international students worldwide and that Expatrio is a part of an ecosystem supporting them. A diverse and inclusive society increases the population’s quality of life. Policymakers should minimise bureaucratic hurdles and language barriers while fostering digitisation within the authorities.”

Germany has fared relatively well in weathering the pandemic in terms of international student enrolments. The total number of international students in German universities grew slightly in 2020/21 and German higher education institutions are reporting both a rise in total international student numbers and an increase in new international enrolments for the winter semester of 2021/22.

For additional background, please see:

• “Germany: International enrolments for winter 2022 much better than expected”
• “Foreign enrolment in German higher education edged upward in 2020/21”
• “Agent survey highlights important demand factors for study abroad into 2022”
   
   

The post Improving language supports could increase stay rate of international students in Germany appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

“Digital Language Learning is accelerating rapidly, increasing access, reducing cost, and leveraging technology to drive higher levels of language proficiency at scale,” says HolonIQ. “Beyond tens of millions of new ‘mobile first’ language learners, digital is serving a much needed on-ramp and enabler for both online and offline tutoring.”

argues that the total language learning market is “materially under-estimated” due to the fragmented nature of offline provision in combination with strong recent-year growth in digital delivery. Using a combination of demand side and supply side inputs, the HolonIQ model projects a global language training market of US$115 billion by 2025, up from an estimated US$61 billion as of 2019. “We estimate the language learning market will almost double in size by 2025,” notes the analysis. “Mobile-first and online tutoring will accelerate and triple in size over the next five years.”

To underscore that point, the following charts illustrate that projected growth will be heavily influenced by the expansion of digital delivery, which is expected to account for more than 40% of industry revenues by 2025.

HolonIQ projects that students pursuing English language studies will in turn be the primary drivers of growth in both offline/blended and digital delivery, as reflected in the additional charts below.

“We have fundamentally upgraded our outlook,” says HolonIQ. “This may seem counter-intuitive given the widespread damage to offline and in-person providers COVID has driven, however we are optimistic on the mid to long-term economic recovery and remain convinced of the long-term demand for ‘blended’ in-person, campus-based and generally ‘face to face’ and ‘peer-to-peer’ English language learning. As hard as it is to imagine right now, under a positive recovery scenario, we see demand for offline language learning exceeding 2019 levels by 2024 and regaining ground rapidly, albeit having undergone a digital transformation to protect against another disruption.”

There are some intriguing aspects of this analysis, including that the broader market is notoriously difficult to measure (especially with respect to new and emerging digital offerings), and the persistent and growing role of digital delivery going forward.

Based on our historical understanding of the composition of the global language travel market, it is possible that the HolonIQ projections overstate the proportion of English language learning within the total market. But the trends we often observe in this respect reflect only those students that travel for language study, and we can acknowledge that that represents only a fraction (i.e., less than 1%) of all language learners worldwide.

HolonIQ estimates the total population of language learners worldwide at roughly 1.8 billion, of which slightly more than 1.4 billion seek to learn English for work, study, or pleasure.

For additional background, please see:

• “The world’s changing language landscape“
• “Study reveals shifting motivations for language travel and changes in how students book courses“
• “New report maps student expectations for language study“
• “2.28 million abroad for language study in 2014“

The post New analysis projects strong growth in global language learning with digital a key driver appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

FEDELE estimates that enrolment in the country’s language schools fell by just over 82% in 2020 compared to the year before. The association notes that the sector “attracts hundreds of thousands of students every year…with 138,000 students in 2019 [in just FEDELE member schools]. The losses in the sector are estimated at €216,230,000 (US$253,000,000) in 2020 alone and, despite this, they are not part of the direct aid from the central government.”

At issue is the sector’s exclusion from a large-scale government relief package for Spain’s tourism industry. On 24 February 2021, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez introduced an designed to help the country’s tourism operators recover from the COVID crisis. Tourism, notes the country’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism, is “a strategic sector for Spain, providing 12.3% of GDP and 12.7% of employment.”

However, Spanish language schools, FEDELE reports, have been excluded from the relief package, “despite being part of TURESPAÑA’s activities, belonging to the Tourism Board and having the explicit support of Fernando Valdés, Secretary State of Tourism.” (TURESPAÑA, formally the Spanish Tourism Institute, is the lead national body for destination marketing in Spain.) FEDELE adds that its own COVID impact reports “show the fragility of a sector that depends entirely on the entry of international students” with an estimated 85% of the enrolment base of member schools composed of foreign students travelling from outside of Spain.

An annual report from industry consultancy Spain Education Programs (SEP) provides a more complete overview of the scale of the language travel sector in Spain. The was published in December 2020 in collaboration with EDUESPAÑA and other peak bodies, and with data and funding from the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX, an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism).

The following table outlines estimated student numbers and student weeks for 2019 across all categories of language schools in Spain (including FEDELE member-schools). As the authors note, “There is not an official registry listing how many language schools operate in Spain and how many students attend these, a fact that complicates data gathering. To determine the number of institutions and their enrolment, we collect and triangulate data from three sources: EDUESPAÑA, FEDELE, and Instituto Cervantes (IC).” As such, the paper’s analysis relies heavily on extrapolating average enrolment values for different categories of language training centres to estimate a total pre-pandemic enrolment of nearly 490,000 language students and roughly 1.7 million student weeks across the sector.

In a related projection, the authors estimate total 2019 student spending at just under €317,000,000 (US$372,000,000). This figure reflects tuition spending on language courses only so the total economic impact of the sector, after factoring in accommodation and other spending, rises to nearly €669,000,000 (US$786,000,000). SEP observes as well that the language travel sector accounts for nearly half (47%) of all foreign enrolments in Spain.

To say the least, that scale of economic activity throws the projected losses from 2020 into sharp relief. “The sector asks [the government] to reconsider which companies are eligible to receive direct aid,” says FEDELE, “taking into account the logic of a sector that relies on the teaching of Spanish to foreigners who, at the moment, are not visiting our country.”

For additional background, please see:

• “Spanish universities detail pandemic impacts and strategies for 2020/21”
• “Economic impact of foreign students in Spain estimated at €2.2 billion”
• “Spain: Survey shows four-year growth trend for language enrolment”
• “The market for language studies in Spain”

The post Spanish language travel sector calls for government support appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.