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 Universités 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 ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Keystone Education Group’s 2025 data reveals a dynamic year for international student mobility, with some sharp declines across traditional powerhouses alongside rapid growth in emerging destinations.

The data, drawn from millions of annual student search indicators and enrolment data, shows that international student mobility is increasingly being shaped by a combination of supply-side policies and demand-side preferences among students.

Fredrik Högemark, CEO of Keystone Education Group, said: “This year has been one of the most volatile we’ve tracked in our data. Students are weighing affordability and safety more than ever, and as return on investment becomes a necessity, this is leveling the playing field beyond the ‘Big Four’.”

“Policy changes announced mid-cycle in 2025 forced students to rapidly adjust their plans, while we have also observed numerous anti-globalisation measures that have inadvertently affected international education.”

Since fall 2023, international interest in the US across Keystone’s platforms dropped by -47%.
However, the growth of post-study work opportunities and OPT continues to influence enrolments in the US, particularly with the two largest source markets – India and China.

And, when we look at the second half of 2025 in isolation, interest in the US is showing signs of stability again and it remains the most searched destination across Keystone sites.

The decline in US interest, while extreme, is not the steepest globally. Canada and Australia also experienced similar drops in interest over the same period.

For Australia, this trend also might be starting to turn for 2026, with early indications in Keystone’s Q3 2025 data showing a more positive outlook – with search interest up +8% compared to Q2 in 2025.

The UK was Keystone’s second leading study destination in 2025, recognised globally for its academic reputation. Beyond its reputation, Keystone’s 2025 State of Student Recruitment Report found the UK also ranks highest for reputation and safety of the Big Four.

Fredrik added:

“We have seen very strong trends for UK study across Keystone’s platforms this year and data from September 2025 also showed study visa applications are up 7% over 2024, so the environment had been looking stable for 2026. However, the news in October of a shorter post-study-work entitlement in the UK will likely have an impact on interest there. The question is how much impact?”

Europe as a collective also continued to amass student interest, particularly at the end of 2025, with five of the top 10 searched destinations in November in Europe.

Spain, Italy, Germany, and France all recorded more student search interest than Canada and Australia, with Spain’s search volume rivalling the UK’s popularity.

Nordic destinations have also experienced an upward trend, with a +33% rise in interest as of April 2025. Meanwhile, the UAE continues to build its profile as a global education hub, with Keystone data showing a near +90% increase in search interest for UAE study opportunities in June 2025.

It has also been a breakthrough year for the Asian Tigers – Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea.

Malaysia led the surge with a +64% increase in student searches from March to May on Keystone sites, followed by Singapore with +51%. Japan’s popularity also grew in this period, while South Korea entered the top 10 study destinations for the first time.

Fredrik added: “It is no surprise South Korea and Japan are growing in popularity. Japan has a very pro-international policy – it is launching more and more English-taught programmes and the good collaboration between higher education and the government is evident. South Korea is in a similar situation. Both have been fully embracing and supporting international education.”

West Africa was an unlikely player in 2025 but saw a surge in searches from international students, with a +25% increase in interest in the region on Keystone’s sites between May and July this year.

For additional background, please see:

• “Global trends in international enrolments and policies as we head into 2026”
• “Canada and the US are losing international student enrolments to Europe and Asia”
• “The changing face of international student mobility”

The post Search and enrolment data foreshadows international enrolment trends for 2026 appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

“Student mobility to France has found its cruising speed, in an uncertain international context,” says Campus France Director-General Donatienne Hissard. “There have never been so many mobile students in the world, but their destination choices are diversifying: we have gone from a handful of competitors to a broader range, with a decline underway in the United States, the leading host country. The challenge for Europe and France is to position themselves as an alternative in this unprecedented landscape.”

Growing numbers of students from Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe are helping to power that steady growth in recent years, but, relative to many top destinations, France’s enrolment base is nicely diversified.

The MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and Sub-Saharan regions contributed more than half of all international students in France this year, with another 26% coming from elsewhere in Europe. Asia, meaning especially China, accounted for 13% of all foreign enrolments.

The top ten sending countries accounted for just over half of all foreign enrolment in 2024/25, but no one market represents more than 10% of France’s international student body. As reflected in the following table, the top senders are Morocco, Algeria, China, Italy, Senegal, Tunisia, Spain, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Lebanon.

Campus France adds, “Morocco remains in the lead despite a decline in the number of Moroccan students (-3%). In second place, the number of Algerian students remains stable year-on-year (+1%), and has increased by 18% over five years. After a post-pandemic rebound of 6% in 2023, China, the third largest country of origin, is again experiencing a -3% decline in its numbers, while Italy and Spain are experiencing notable increases, exceeding 35% over five years.”

The agency notes as well, that, in spite of softening numbers from China, enrolment from Asia is ticking up as well: “Driven by the strong momentum of India, [which is] now the 11th country of origin in 2025 (compared to 13th in 2024) with 9,100 students, an increase of 17% in one year, reflecting the ambitious objectives of the Franco-Indian roadmap for student mobility.”

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of all foreign students in the country and enrolled in universities. While year-over-year growth by institution type was fairly evenly distributed in 2024/25, there is a notable five-year growth spike in French business schools (52% growth overall).

For additional background, please see:

• “France enrolled over 430,000 international students in higher education in 2023/24“
• “���Ϲ��� Podcast: Redrawing the map of global student flows from the ‘Big Four’ to the ‘Big Fourteen’“

The post France reports more than 443,000 international students in higher education for 2024/25 appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Last year, there was a shortage of 3 million beds for students across Europe and the situation is expected to worsen in the next five years, when there will be a need for an additional 200,000 more beds, according to . This is in part because Europe’s student population is expected to grow by 10% by 2030/31, reaching 23.5 million, with half being international students.

Top student cities in Europe are the worst off in terms of supply, with 40 cities accounting for 40% of the 3-million bed shortage.

Only 40% of PBSA beds across Europe are privately funded. The rest are publicly owned or subsidised and not always accommodating of all types of students/budgets. The situation, says JLL, equates to a “€450bn investment opportunity.”

As it stands, most PBSA investment in Europe is in the UK, and JJL observes that “key markets in continental Europe would need to grow, on average, 13 times to match the UK 2018-2022 [investment] average.” For example:

“The largest student markets like Germany and France could see their investment grow from an average of €0.5bn to €7bn necessary to meet unmet demand. In more nascent markets like Italy, at the current pace of investment it would take over 100 years to deploy the necessary investment.”

To narrow the gap between supply and demand, Dominika Mocova, a senior analyst at JLL EMEA Living and Research Strategy, says: “Greater market transparency and understanding from planning authorities is necessary to unlock the full potential.”

Her colleague Julia Martin, JLL’s head of EMEA Student Housing, points out that PBSA is part of ensuring a good student experience: “The affordability and provision of a well-rounded student experience continues to set PBSA apart from traditional rental accommodation.”

Ms Martin continues:

“With developers now having a better grasp of the cultural nuances and design requirements through the different European countries, they are set to introduce the next generation of fit-for-purpose schemes, aimed at addressing the growing demographic student population as well as rising international student demand for quality accommodation across Europe. The continent is now home to the highest number of globally ranked universities, with 203 universities in the top 500 according to the 2024 QS World University Ranking. Given the current shortage of student accommodation in key cities and the vast untapped potential in countries such as Italy and Germany, addressing the standing imbalance between supply and demand will unlock a huge €450 billion growth opportunity in the market, with PBSA playing a crucial role.”

Ireland: Construction causing delays

In 2024, Ireland’s education department examined the student housing situation in a paper called Funding the Future: An Annual Options Paper on the Cost of Higher Education 2024. It found that:
 
“On average there are three applications for every one student bed on campus. This does not take into account the Technological University sector. Those students who are unsuccessful in obtaining a place are forced into the private market.”
 
As reported in :

“Construction cost increases, fuelled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Brexit and Covid, are having a significant impact on the supply and affordability of new rental accommodation for higher-level students … The impact on supply has been significant, with more than 10,900 units with planning permission within the university public and private student accommodation sector not having been activated.”

France: Danger of dropouts and student hardships

In Paris, a January 2024 study by SeLoger.com found that the number of available rentals for students in Paris dropped by 50% compared with 2023 and 73% over three years. Jacques Baudrier, deputy mayor for housing, told : “The private sector has nothing left to rent, agencies are closing, and the crisis is exponential.”

Barbara Gomes, delegate for Tenant Protection in Paris, explained:

“If you can’t find housing, you give up your studies or move farther away, and the longer commutes add to fatigue. More than half of the students work part-time, and the risk of academic failure increases with such challenges.”

Spain: Tourism overload

In Spain, where soaring tourist numbers are squeezing residents out of the housing market, the government is taking action to provide more student accommodation for students enrolling in certain types of tertiary institution. A protocol was signed at the end of 2024 by the ministries of housing, economy, and universities that mandates that new private universities offer housing for their students.

In addition, reports The Guardian, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government has instituted a tax of up to 100% on properties bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK. President Sánchez defended the new policy by noting:

“In 2023 alone non-EU residents bought about 27,000 houses and flats in Spain. And they didn’t do it to live in them, they didn’t do it for their families to have a place to live. They did it to speculate.”

A persistent and challenging issue in higher education

International students have enough to think about without worrying about whether they will find affordable housing on or at least near to campus. Housing stress is closely associated with poor mental health, and it means that affected students’ attention is often – and of necessity – elsewhere than in their studies. In extreme cases, housing issues can cause students to drop out.

Stephen Madsen, writing for , a US-based economics and policy thinktank, notes: “As the market continues to struggle with meeting the demand for affordable housing options, increasing on- or near-campus student housing can be an attractive amenity and marketable edge for universities looking to maintain or increase enrollment.”

But he also points out the sometimes-impossible solutions higher education institutions are up against:

“Ultimately, financing and development costs remain the largest hurdle in addressing this issue for many institutions. Public funding for universities has fallen in many states over the past several decades—limiting many institutions’ ability to take on additional debt for capital improvements. During the same period, the cost of residential construction has risen significantly. The combined effect leads to a challenging development environment for higher education institutions, absent outside equity or public subsidy.”

Mr Madsen provides several examples of US colleges working hard and thinking creatively to try to come up with solutions:

• “Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT is providing a stipend, or financial incentive of $10,000, to take a half-year leave of absence to upper classmen to accommodate housing for incoming students. 
• In Knoxville, TN, the University of Tennessee has rented out local Knoxville hotels to accommodate incoming students. 
• Virginia State University, in Petersburg, VA built on-campus modular developments to house incoming students.”

Mr Madsen concludes: “For [institutions] looking to ensure an affordable and inclusive education, the housing issue must continue to be addressed.”
 
For additional background, please see:

• “Student housing crunch worsens across Europe, Australia, Canada”
• “The three persistent themes in student accommodation: affordability, availability, and accountability”
• “What if there is no room? The link between student housing and enrolment capacity”
   

The post European destinations attracting more international students amid continuing housing challenges appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Ask 10 people working in our industry what “internationalisation” means, and you’ll get 10 answers. For some, it simply means attracting a certain volume of foreign students to a campus. For others, the goal is broader: programmes, campus, and partnerships are designed to have a global flavour.

At the government level, the concept of internationalisation changes over time and according to considerations that include foreign enrolment growth rates, labour market gaps, demographics, geo-politics, domestic politics, and the need to participate in global science or research projects.

The official international education strategies highlighted below emphasise the great extent to which foreign students figure into larger narratives around globalisation, security, and soft power. As those narratives evolve, so too do the strategies.

Australia

Strategy for International Education 2021–2030

Priorities

• Pursue sustainable growth1
• Diversify student nationalities
• Meet national skills needs
• Enhance student experience
• Improve global competitiveness

International enrolment goal

Australia is implementing an effective cap on the number of new students beginning in 2025.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

786,900 (+27% y-o-y)

Canada

International Education Strategy 2019–2024 (now expired; an updated strategy is pending)

Priorities

• Encourage Canadian students to go abroad, especially to Asia
• Diversify (source countries and students’ fields, levels of study, and locations of study within Canada)
• Increase support for Canadian educators
• Increase scrutiny and regulation of agents
• Invest more in digital marketing

International enrolment goal

No stated goal currently. Rather, the national government introduced a cap on new study permits for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Target markets

Brazil, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam.

International student population (2023)

1,041,000 (+29% y-o-y)

France

Bienvenue en France

Priorities

• Diversify beyond Africa
• Triple scholarships
• Simplify visa processes
• Make it easier for students to find housing
• Increase French campuses/partnerships abroad

International enrolment goal

500,000 international students by 2027.

Target markets

Expand recruiting outside Africa.

International student population (2023)

430,500 (+5% y-o-y)

Germany

Strategy 2025

Priorities

• Make Germany a top five study abroad destination
• Increase academic success of international students
• Increase share of international academics at German universities to 15%
• Encourage German students to study abroad
• Invest in more collaboration with foreign institutions

International enrolment goal

350,000 international students by 2020 – met in 2021.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

367,600 (+5% y-o-y)

Ireland

Global Citizens 2030

Priorities

• Attract the highest quality students and researchers
• Adopt a “moderate” growth strategy of about 10%
• Position Ireland as a thought leader in talent, innovation, and science policy in “small advanced economies”
• Enhance student experience
• Measure impact of international students beyond enrolments and economic value

International enrolment goal

15% of overall student population by 2025 – nearly met (international students now compose 14% of overall student population).

Target markets

Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Africa, South America

International student population (2023)

35,100 (+11% y-o-y)

Japan

Council for the Creation of Future Education Goals

Priorities

• Improve learning environments to attract promising foreign students
• Send 500,000 Japanese students abroad by 2033
• Develop a multinational labour market
• Make it easier for foreign graduates of top 100 universities to immigrate
• Streamline visa processes

International enrolment goal

400,000 by 2033.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

279,300 (+21% y-o-y)

Malaysia

Education Blueprint 2015–2025

Priorities

• Claim position as an international education hub with a difference: values-driven and globally relevant education
• Provide rich cultural experiences, balance of quality and affordability, and good quality of life
• Reach new markets through innovative programmes and partnerships
• Improve and streamline visa and immigration processes
• Communicate niche strengths in academic and research expertise (e.g., Islamic banking and finance, and tropical-related science and technology)

International enrolment goal

250,000 by 2025.

Target markets

Iran, East Africa, China, India, Indonesia.

International student population (2023)

Over 170,000 (+30% over 2021)

South Korea

Study Korea 300K Project

Priorities

• Expand scholarships for STEM students
• Stimulate economy through foreign talent
• Enhance global competitiveness of domestic universities and high-tech companies
• Become a top 10 “study abroad powerhouse”
• Increase Korea’s share of the global study abroad market from 2% to 3%

International enrolment goal

300,000 by 2027.

Target markets

China, Vietnam, Poland, UAE, India, Pakistan.

International student population (2023)

207,100 (+24% y-o-y)

New Zealand

International Education Strategy 2022–2030

Priorities

• Diversify sending markets and products, services, and modes of delivery
• Spread out international enrolments across regions
• Prioritise student well-being and excellence of education
• Commit to a sustainable sector that brings economic, social, and cultural benefits to the whole country
• Retain talented international graduates

International enrolment goal

None specified.

Target markets

China, India, and intent to diversify further.

International student population (2023)

69,100 (+67% y-o-y)

United Kingdom

International Education Strategy to 2030 (2023 Progress Update)

Priorities

• Increase education exports to £35 billion per year by 2030
• Host 600,000 international students per year
• Expand transnational education
• Collect accurate and coherent data for the sector
• Improve visa processes for students, including increased personalisation

International enrolment goal

600,000 by 2030 – met in 2020.

Target markets

China, Hong Kong, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

International student population (2023)

758,855 (+12% y-o-y)

The post Tracking the internationalisation goals for 10 leading destinations appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

International student mobility has historically been concentrated among the “Big Four” destinations of Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US. Over the past few years, however, there has been a shift towards a wider field of study destinations. That change is being driven both by changing student preferences and by the strategic goals, demographics, and labour market needs of emerging destinations.

New research from INTO University Partnerships shows that prospective students are applying to more programmes than ever before – typically four or five – and to more institutions in more destinations than in previous years. This trend is projected to continue in the long term, and it means that institutions investing in enquiry responsiveness and admissions processing will see more applications converting into enrolments.

Students’ openness to alternatives reflects their changing priorities, including :

• Affordability;
• Fast visa processing;
• Geographic and cultural proximity;
• The expansion of English-taught degree programmes in non-English-speaking countries;
• Opportunities to work during and after studies in the host country.

At the same time, destinations such as Japan and South Korea are working more actively to recruit foreign students in part because of declining domestic populations of college-aged students and the related need to attract talent in key areas of local labour market demand.

“As international students seek to understand what return they can expect on their investments, we see that decisions across every major source market are increasingly based on cost,” says Peter Thompson, vice president of data analytics at INTO University Partnerships. For Jessica Turner, chief executive officer of QS, this creates a competitive point of differentiation for emerging study destinations: “In contrast to students seeking education in the Big Four, students setting their sights elsewhere tend to prioritise affordability over reputation and teaching credentials.”

Economic opportunities are a common draw

Dr Florian Hummel, vice-rector for international affairs at the International University of Applied Sciences (IU) in Germany, says, “The economy is one of the main reasons international students come to Germany. Our strong career prospects and clear post-study work rights are some of the reasons that a growing number of students from the Indian subcontinent are choosing to study at IU.”

A mix of factors drives choice

Cost of living influences many students, but more expensive destinations can still attract significant market segments by virtue of other attributes. Living costs in Japan are relatively high, for example, but Japan welcomed an additional 50,000 international students in 2023 compared to the year before.

More students are also taking sustainability, national sentiment toward international students, and mental health into account when making their decisions. These trends could already be contributing to increases in student mobility to destinations such as Germany, France, and Finland.

Pros and cons

Greater access to a more diverse range of study abroad opportunities is good news for students. But Mr Thompson cautions that higher volumes of applications can also pose a risk to the sector’s reputation globally. For one, administrative functions will be under more pressure. And students may also delay decisions as they hedge their bets across destinations. This means that, more than ever before, speedy and effective response to enquiries and applications will be absolutely key.

The race for foreign talent

Countries outside of the Big Four are seizing the opportunities of a changing international education landscape, with destinations across Asia and Europe growing in popularity. Ms Turner notes, for example, that the number of international students in China doubled over 10 years from 2013 and remains healthy despite declines in the pandemic. Further, with a healthy contingent of those students coming from other Asian countries, China continues to establish itself as an important player in intra-regional recruitment.

Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and Taiwan are on upward trajectories as well, with Japan aiming to host 400,000 international students within the next decade. South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho declared last year that, “Now is the time to attract foreign talent strategically.”

In Germany, the government is the primary funder of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD). Recognising the long-term benefits of global collaboration and welcoming the brightest minds, the DAAD is the world’s largest funding organisation for international exchange of students and researchers. In China, the government issues tens of thousands of scholarships for international students each year and is investing in infrastructure through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative.

More English-language programmes outside the Big Four

Edwin van Rest, chief executive officer of Studyportals, says, “The European Union’s decade of growth in this area is winding down. Now we are entering a decade of Asian expansion. South Asia has expanded its ETPs more than twofold since 2019. China, the Middle East and North Africa, and the rest of Asia have doubled their offerings. The Big Four are losing market share, dropping to 78% this year from 82% in 2021.”

That said, the English language is and will remain influential in Europe. Leaders such as Dr Hummel are investing in ETPs as part of their growth strategies. One of Germany’s largest universities, the IU, has approximately 200 programmes. Nearly half of those programmes are now offered in English or German.

Indeed, educators across Europe are buoyant. France and Germany each enrolled more than 400,000 students last year and international strategies in Spain are generating results. The prospects of European institutions beyond the UK are healthy overall: these destinations have become more attractive to international students from all major source countries in the last year. As we see in the table below, education agents report that interest in these European destinations has surged more than 90% among students from South Asia, and the Middle East and Africa.

Agents in China, Hong Kong, and Macau also report that interest in non-UK European institutions has increased nearly a quarter. However, these agents have seen even greater growth in the appeal of institutions in Southeast Asia and the rest of Asia.

Policy drives students to alternatives

Mr van Rest says that many students from sending countries that are the most affected by new policy settings in Big Four destinations are now looking elsewhere: “What they find are more attractive conditions in terms of work rights, affordability, and proximity.” This may partly account for the dramatic surge in interest in New Zealand and Ireland this year: student applications to these countries via QS increased 7.2-fold and 1.7-fold respectively, compared to last year.

Flexible delivery modes disperse demand

The appetite for new modes of higher education delivery models is reflected in expanded transnational education (TNE) activity, including regional hubs, remote delivery, and branch campuses. The UK dominates TNE, accounting for 75% of the market with around 580,000 students enrolled. Australia and the US are also key players, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. As a host country and as an education exporter, China is rapidly expanding its TNE offering and is becoming an increasingly influential player in the field.

Student mobility beyond the Big Four is being defined by strategies to deliver practical outcomes and relevant experiences. As the executive director and chief executive officer of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Dr Fanta Aw, says, “There is plenty of room in a growing space. We should be thinking about the 20 major countries instead of the Big Four, because students should have choices to get the best education that is right for them.”

For additional background, please see:

• “The view from here: How the ‘Big Four’ study destinations are adapting in a year of change”
• “European study destinations now offering thousands of English-taught degree programmes”
• “Recent policy changes slowing student interest in the UK, Canada, and Australia”

The post Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

By contrast, Canada’s foreign enrolment expanded by 29% in 2023 (and 30% in 2022), and the UK and US posted growth of 12% each in 2022/23. Germany – which is experiencing more interest than ever among international students – saw its foreign enrolment grow by 5% in 2023.

Donatienne Hissard, Director-General of Campus France, said:

“France, like any other major host country, continues its growth of mobilities and the competition to attract talent is fiercer than ever.”

About 1 in 6 students in French higher education are now from other countries. France’s uptick was driven in part by renewed demand from the Asia-Pacific region. This region had been stagnant last year. Importantly, French institutions saw 6% more students from China and 12% more from India.

The top 10 markets are very stable compared with last year, but two trends are significant: Morocco declined for the second year in a row (-4%) and Algeria grew by 7%. The following shows enrolments and year-over-year growth. Many of the Top 10 countries have grown by over 40% over five years: Italy, Spain, Cameroon, and Lebanon. Lebanon, especially, has become a more important market, sending 90% more students in 2023/24 compared with five years ago, despite a small decrease in 2023/24.

1. Morocco: 43,350 (-4%)
2. Algeria: 34,270 (+7%)
3. China: 27,125 (+6%)
4. Italy: 21,040 (+5%)
5. Senegal: 16,955 (+11%)
6. Tunisia: 15,255 (+7%)
7. Spain: 12,090 (+4%)
8. Cote d’Ivoire: 11,770 (+10%)
9. Lebanon: 11,235 (-3%)
10. Cameroon: 10,880 (+11%)

Business schools are increasingly popular

Among different types of higher education in France, universities claim about two-thirds of foreign students, but growth is very modest (2% year-over-year). Business schools and schools of engineering, by contrast, attracted 11% and 9% more international students last year. Over five years, business schools have increased their share of the total from 10% to 15%.

Moving up

Campus France points to the Shanghai university rankings to illustrate the quality of the French higher education system:

“The latest Shanghai ranking released on 15 August revealed once again the excellence of French higher education institutions. For the fifth year in a row, France is third worldwide in number of institutions in the Top 50. This outstanding performance also shows with the presence of 25 French institutions in the World Top 1,000 and 18 in the Top 500. Among institutions, the University of Paris Saclay, stands out, with a 12th position worldwide, a 3 ranks increase compared with 2023. It is the best position ever reached by a French institution since the creation of the ranking. In addition, the University of Paris Saclay reached the leading position in continental Europe, confirming its position of national leader.”

Focus on India

Indian students are increasingly looking beyond Canada and the UK for study abroad. A recent QS report explored Indian students’ motivations and preferences when they consider France – which more and more are doing (+12% more in France last year). The survey for the report drew 8,511 responses from Indian students.

The QS research showed that business schools are particularly attractive to Indian students, with 31% of Indian students considering France wanting to study Business and Management, 11% higher than the global average. Almost half of prospective Indian students are exploring postgraduate programmes in France, compared with 21% interested in undergraduate courses.

Rankings and reputation matter a great deal to Indian students: 51% said a French institution’s high ranking was important, compared to the global average of 33%, and 52% said the university must have a good reputation, compared to the global average of 45%.

QS also notes:

“Of [all surveyed international students] looking to study in France, 39% said high graduate starting salaries are indicative of a HEI’s teaching quality. For Indian students, this percentage rises to 50%. Independent ratings and university-organised work placements are all more important to Indian students than the global average. Indian students are also more likely to be worried about getting a job when thinking about studying abroad.”

For additional background, please see:

• “European study destinations are now offering thousands of English-taught degree programmes”
• “How diverse is the international student population in leading study abroad destinations?”

The post France enrolled over 430,000 international students in higher education in 2023/24 appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

What has happened in the years since? How do other destinations compare? We look at recent foreign enrolment figures to find out.

Australia: Top 5 markets in 2023

1. China: 166,420
2. India: 126,490
3. Nepal: 62,380
4. Colombia: 39,725
5. Philippines: 35,590

Of the 786,890 international students enrolled across education sectors in Australia in 2023, just over half (55%) were from Top 5 sending countries. This is a marked decrease from Australia’s 70% reliance in 2019. Australian institutions are clearly focusing on expanding recruitment campaigns across a longer list of source markets.

Canada: Top 5 Markets in 2023

1. India: 427,085
2. China: 101,150
3. Philippines: 48,870
4. Nigeria: 45,965
5. France: 26,980

The total international student population in Canada across sectors in 2023 was 1,040,985. The share of Top 5 sending countries was 62% – down from 67% in 2019. This reflects a strong and much-needed effort among Canadian institutions to diversify, especially beyond India and China.

UK: Top 5 markets in 2022/23

1. India: 173,190
2. China: 154,260
3. Nigeria: 72,355
4. Pakistan: 34,690
5. US: 22,540

Students from the UK’s Top 5 sending markets accounted for 60% of the 758,855 international students enrolled in UK universities in 2022/23 – up significantly from 45% in 2019. Some of this increased concentration is attributable to a surge in students from India and Nigeria applying to and enrolling in UK universities.

US: Top 5 markets in 2023

1. China: 289,525
2. India: 268,925
3. South Korea: 43,845
4. Canada: 27,875
5. Vietnam: 21,900

There were 1,057,190 international students in US colleges and universities in 2022/23. Students from the Top 5 sending markets accounted for 62% of the total international student population – essentially stable since 2019 (63%).

Other destinations are less dependent on the Top 5

As you can see in the table below, less than half of foreign students in higher education in Ireland, France, and Germany are from those destinations’ Top 5 markets. In France and Germany, the Top 5 markets represent only 34% and 35%, respectively, of all international students.

About 7 in 10 students in the “Big Four” are from Top 10 markets

Drilling further into the data, we see more consistency across Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US regarding the proportion of students from Top 10 markets. In this exercise, the UK emerges as the least reliant on Top 10 countries (68%) based on 2022/23 data, but only by a small margin. In Canada, 72% of international students were from the Top 10 sending countries in 2023, while in the US and , the proportions were 70% and 71% in 2023, respectively.

And what of China and India?

Chinese and Indian students are integral to the viability of international education sectors across leading destinations. In 2023, more than half of international students in Canada and the US were from India or China, and Canada is particularly reliant on Indian students (41%).

• Australia: China (21%) + India (16%) = 37%
• Canada: India (41%) + China (10%) = 51%
• UK: India (23%) + China (20%) = 43%
• US: China (27%) + India (25%) = 52%

Diversification under pressure

The most recent international education strategies published by the and governments identify diversification of student source markets as a top goal. As the data profiled in this article show, Australian and Canadian institutions made significant progress from 2019 to 2023 towards that goal, supported by welcoming immigration policies.

Time will tell whether educators in those countries, as well as the UK, can continue to distribute their foreign enrolment across an expanded list of countries given new rules affecting their recruitment activities.

Earlier this year, it became clear that some Australian institutions were adjusting their recruitment targets because:

1. Certain student source countries are associated with a high rate of visa refusal.
2. Institutions face penalties if they extend too many offers of admission to students who are then deemed to be unsuitable by immigration officials.

Several Australian institutions rescinded offers of admission to students they believed would be refused a visa, while others limited the list of countries from which students could apply.

In 2024, some of the emerging markets that contributed the most to diversity in Australia and Canada (e.g., Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan) are the ones most challenged by new rules in 2024. For example, the following screen shot from the shows that countries experiencing the lowest visa approval rates up till April 2024 include Pakistan, India, and Nepal – all Top 10 markets for Australian educators.

In Canada, the average study permit approval rate for international students fell from 55% in 2022 to 50% between January and April 2024. It dropped to 32% for Ghanaian students (12 percentage points lower than in 2023) and to 16% for Nigerian students (16 percentage points lower). Still, reports that IRCC data for the first half of 2024 indicate that:

“Students from Ghana will be the largest contingent after India: 3,329 study permits have already been issued. Students from Nigeria will likely be the second largest contingent after India as 3,028 permits have already been issued. Chinese students will likely make up the third largest contingent after India while the students from the Philippines are likely to be the fourth largest contingent.”

If this prediction holds true, this could lead to a significant reshaping of Canada’s international student population. In 2023, for example, Ghana was Canada’s 20th top student source country.

For additional background, please see:

• Join the (23 September 2024, London). A landmark one-day summit bringing together the industry’s senior leaders, policy makers, and experts, all focused on shaping the future of the international education sector.
• “Recent policy changes slowing student interest in the UK, Canada, and Australia”
• “What is the cost of policy intended to reduce international student flows?”

The post How diverse is the international student population in leading study abroad destinations? appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.