International students now have more study abroad destinations to choose from than ever before. While the ‘Big Four’ remain popular with many students,¹ each of these Anglophone destinations has experienced softened student demand due to affordability concerns, visa challenges, and shifting student preferences. But because global student mobility remains high, this has created a major opportunity for alternative study abroad destinations to capture student interest.

One destination that has seen a steady rise in international student popularity over the past decade is Germany. And, earlier this year, 91���� announced the addition of Germany as our newest destination option for students, unlocking student pathways across continental Europe.

With Germany projected to reach a new all-time high for international student populations in 2024/25,² it’s an opportune time to take a closer look at Germany’s higher education landscape. Today, we’ll look back at the past decade of German international education, break down Germany’s top student populations, and highlight what international students are studying in Germany, and more.

A Decade of Sustained Growth for German International Education

Germany has experienced steady and sustained growth as a study abroad destination over the past decade. In fact, other than the years impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany has hosted around 15,000 more international students every year since 2015/16. During this time, Germany has become the third most popular destination for international students in Europe and the sixth most popular destination globally⁵:

2024/25 is on track to be another banner year for international education in Germany. According to ,⁶ Germany’s international student population will exceed 400,000 for the first time, representing nearly 7% growth from 2023/24 and the largest year-over-year gain since 2021/22.

A primary cause of this consistent growth is affordability. Living in Germany is typically , and most German public universities offer tuition-free programmes for international students. With the cost of living continuing to rise around the world, and affordability central to many future students’ plans, German institutions have a distinct recruitment advantage.

This stable and consistent expansion suggests continued gains in the coming years. If current growth rates persist, Germany could surpass France as the second-most popular European destination for international students before 2030.

91���� is proud to partner with over 15 top academic institutions in Germany, including Schiller International University and the University of Europe for Applied Sciences.

Top Student Populations for German Higher Education

Achieving persistent international student population growth is often contingent on several major factors. Government policies, media sentiment, affordability, and visa processes can all shift student preferences. But, another key factor can be a leading indicator for long-term growth: diversity of student populations.

In 2023/24, no one student population accounted for more than 13% of all international students in Germany. In fact, the top ten international student populations combined only represented around half of all international students in that year:

As with many major study abroad destinations, students from India and China comprised the largest student cohorts in Germany in 2023/24. However, German institutions also welcomed growing numbers of students from across Europe, Western Asia, and Southern Asia. In fact, most of Germany’s top international student populations saw consistent growth over the past five years.

Taking a closer look at the top two student populations, there is a stark contrast in Indian and Chinese student flows in the last five years. While there were more than twice as many Chinese students compared to Indian students in Germany in 2018/19, current trends show this pattern may reverse in the next three years:

Indian students surpassed Chinese students as the top international student group in Germany in 2022/23. Since 2018/19, the number of Indian students enrolled at German institutions has increased by almost 140%. By contrast, the number of Chinese students actually declined by 3% over the same period. This is a pattern we’ve seen across major destinations in recent years, as Indian students have become the .

It’s worth noting that this trend has reversed in some destination countries over the past year. In Canada, the implementation of international student caps in 2024 led to a more than 50% drop in study permit approvals for Indian students. And, in the UK, policy discussions under the previous Sunak government also led to weakened Indian student demand last year. These shifts, and similar challenges for Indian students across the Big Four, create an opportunity for German institutions to attract Indian students considering a wider range of study abroad destinations.

Emerging Student Populations That are Diversifying German Campuses

Beyond these two major student cohorts, German institutions have seen growth across a wide variety of established and emerging student populations. Many of Germany’s fastest-growing student populations come from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), comprising seven of the top 15 student populations in 2023/24. Among these MENA student groups, Egypt has seen the strongest growth rate since 2018/19, rising by nearly 150% over the last five years. Student volumes from ��ü���쾱��� also more than doubled over that same five year period, making Turkish students the third-largest student population in Germany last year.

Iranian and Pakistani student populations have also grown in Germany in recent years, with each expanding by around 75% since 2018/19. If these growth rates continue through 2030, Iranian students will surpass Austrians as the fourth largest international student population in Germany, and Pakistan could climb into the top seven student populations. Other growing student groups, including those from Syria and Ukraine, have been buoyed by Germany’s robust , which have helped students continue their study abroad plans in spite of ongoing wars and geopolitical tensions.

Rising Demand for Master’s Degrees in Germany

In addition to changes in Germany’s top student populations over the past few years, Germany has also experienced a notable shift in student preferences when it comes to study levels.

In 2018/19, there were as many international students in Germany pursuing bachelor’s degrees as there were Master’s students. Since then, both student cohorts have grown, but the number of new international students for each level of study are on diverging paths:

From 2018/19 to 2022/23,⁷ the total number of international bachelor’s students in Germany rose by nearly 17%, compared to almost 40% growth for Master’s level studies. Yet, in terms of first-year international student figures, new bachelor’s students actually declined by over 10% during this period. By contrast, new Master’s student populations rose by 30%.

Doctoral level programs also experienced growing demand from 2018/19 to 2022/23. Although total doctoral student populations are much smaller overall, they still grew by approximately 11% over this time. Combined, graduate level studies accounted for close to 52% of all international students in Germany in 2022/23. Given overall growth trends across international education in Germany in 2023/24 and 2024/25, we expect that this rising demand for graduate level studies will remain steady for years to come.

Our recent 91���� Student Pulse Surveys have shown rising demand for graduate studies across all destinations, with Master’s degrees being the top choice among all survey respondents since Spring 2024.

Top Fields of Study for International Students in Germany

As our recent Student Pulse Survey showed, international students are increasingly aligning their study and career interests with global labour market needs. It’s no surprise then that the growing demand for graduate studies in Germany is underpinned by a strong interest in STEM fields and social sciences, including legal and economic studies:

In 2022/23,⁸ over 40% of international students in Germany were enrolled in engineering programmes. Collectively, STEM programmes accounted for nearly 60% of all international enrollments, creating a strong ecosystem for research and innovation across German campuses. This STEM focus aligns well with many of the top in-demand professions in Germany. The German government has cited that , and international students are well-suited to fill these skilled worker labour gaps.

Programmes in law, economics, and social sciences also attract many international students to Germany. This field, which includes business programs, accounted for a significant cohort of Germany’s international student population in 2022/23 (around 23%). Germany’s robust economy, which , as well as its central position within the European Union means there is always a need for educated workers in a variety of sectors, including roles for business graduates.

International graduates in Germany can apply for an , allowing them to work in any field for up to 18 months after graduation. And, once they secure a job, they can apply for an which may last up to four years.

Germany’s International Education Sector Poised for Long-Term Growth

Germany’s international education sector is in a strong position to maintain its existing growth trajectory through to 2030. The affordability of both studying and living in Germany continues to serve as a significant draw for international students, particularly in light of rising living costs in other major destination countries. Germany’s increasingly diverse campuses contribute to a more globally connected student experience, an aspect that can be especially appealing to students exploring options beyond the Big Four.

As the demand for graduate studies continues to surge—especially in high-demand fields like engineering, IT, and healthcare—Germany stands to benefit from an influx of academic talent. And, this high level of graduate students will likely help fuel economic growth across Germany and the European Union. Recent studies have shown not only that , but also that many international students remain in Germany long-term, providing .

Aligning programme offerings, as well as career support, to drive post-graduation success will be critical in an increasingly competitive international education ecosystem. German institutions looking to promote their programmes to international students should highlight the labour market’s need for skilled graduates, ensuring prospective students are aware of post-study work opportunities and processes.

For Germany’s international education sector, the next five years will likely come with new records of international student enrolment and increased global student interest. Taking advantage of this opportunity will require cross-collaboration on promoting Germany as a top destination, and highlighting the unique benefits of a high-quality education in the EU. For personalized insights and strategies to maximize your institution’s potential, reach out to your Partner Relations Manager or contact 91����’s Partner Relations team at schoolpartnerships@applyboard.com.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. ‘Big Four’ refers to the top four English-language study abroad destinations of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

2. All data in this article is courtesy of and , unless otherwise noted. Data is based on international student enrollment at German institutions during the winter semester of each year, spanning October to March. For example, the 2023/24 winter semester began October 1, 2023 and ended March 31, 2024.

3. More recent field of study data not currently available.

4. For the purposes of this article, “year” refers to the same period as outlined in footnote 2 above.

5. According to .

6. is an association of German institutions of higher education and their student bodies, and the world’s largest funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers.

7. 2023/24 data by study level for international students in Germany not currently available.

8. 2023/24 data by field of study for international students in Germany not currently available.

The post The Rising Demand for International Education in Germany appeared first on 91����.

Last month, we shared our survey results on what future international students are looking for in 2025. Amid sector shifts, students are increasingly concerned about affordability and post-study career alignment. Now, we’re turning our spotlight on international student recruitment professionals, gathering their insights as experts on broader trends among prospective international students.

This March, nearly 450 international student recruitment professionals from 45 countries responded to the Spring 2025 91���� Recruitment Partner (RP) Pulse Survey.¹ They shared their thoughts on the appeal of top study destinations, how policy and government changes were shifting student interest, and how student inflows have changed in their offices over the most recent quarter.

Below, we’ll dive into how the latest RP Pulse Survey responses compared to Pulse Surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024. From bolstered confidence in the United Kingdom as a study destination to counsellors’ interest in seeing advanced technology built into recruitment tools, the survey results showed recruiters’ dedication to helping students unlock their potential in a quickly changing world.

Interest in Studying Abroad Continues to Rebound

Despite many of the policy and economic challenges facing international education, overall student demand remains high. Even in our Fall 2024 RP Pulse Survey report, more RP respondents reported that the number of future students they were working with had grown, compared to our Spring 2024 results.

Now, in our Spring 2025 RP Pulse Survey results, this proportion of students continued to climb:

This spring, nearly 20% of RPs noted a “significant increase” in the number of clients they were working with who wanted to become international students. Year-over-year, this is up by four percentage points.

Meanwhile, the proportion of recruitment counsellors who saw a “moderate increase” in interest in studying abroad grew by 13 percentage points year-over-year, from 18% in Spring 2024 to 31% in Spring 2025. This continued improvement in interest levels speaks to international students’ resilience: While global market and policy changes may be affecting where they choose to study abroad, and for how long, students are determined to pursue their education goals.

The UK Tops Future Students’ Lists for Attractiveness and Safety

If more students are planning to study abroad, where are they planning to study? According to our Spring 2025 RP Pulse Survey, two thirds of counsellors noted their students were largely interested in established destinations like Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the UK, and the United States.

When we asked how these popular destinations compared to each other, the United Kingdom took the top spot. Just over 50% of respondents noted their students saw the UK as a “very attractive” destination, which was only true for 29% of respondents in our previous survey:

Beyond the UK, the United States kept its lead over Canada as the second most attractive destination. However, the proportion of students who found both countries “very attractive” dropped compared to our Fall 2024 survey findings: by six percentage points for the US, and by seven percentage points for Canada.

After a year of policy changes and back-and-forth around caps on international students, Australia’s overall attractiveness to students dipped in Fall 2024 to 57%.³ This spring, however, that proportion jumped up 10 percentage points. Now, 67% of respondents report that their students see Australia as an attractive option.

Future Students See the UK as the Most Welcoming Destination

Looking closer at why students are drawn to these destinations, we asked counsellors how students felt about specific destination factors. When it came to the most welcoming destination, Canada had topped the list in the previous three RP Pulse Surveys, but it dropped to fourth place in the Spring 2025 results:

In Spring 2025, 88% of survey respondents agreed the UK was an open, safe, and welcoming destination for international students.⁴ Our survey also showed that counsellors’ outlook on Australia has warmed significantly, only a year after this rating dropped below 60% amid updates to the minimum English language proficiency levels for students, increased proof of finances, and process updates like the Genuine Student Requirement. In fact, Australia was seen as the second most welcoming destination with 81% approval.

Meanwhile, as recruitment professionals become more familiar with quickly growing alternative destinations, respondents’ outlook on Germany and Ireland has improved. Germany was viewed as the third most welcoming destination, ranking within 0.1% of Australia. By comparison, Ireland and Canada virtually tied for fourth, with Canada narrowly ahead of Ireland.

Spring 2025 marked a slight reversal of the US’ slow upward trend: 74% of respondents viewed it as an open, safe and welcoming study destination, compared to 78% in Fall 2024.

Government Policies Drive Shifting Student Interest Toward Stable Destinations

In 2024, international education and immigration policy changes reshaped the study abroad landscape. This was particularly notable in countries like Canada, which introduced a cap on international students while also changing eligibility guidelines for its popular post-graduation work permit program. Now, a quarter into 2025, we’re better able to see how last year’s changes are influencing students and RPs.

When asked how student interest was affected by recent government or policy changes, the degree to which these changes mattered varied by destination:

The impact of policy and government changes on student perception was the most positive for the UK with 46% of respondents noting increased student interest. This approval was likely buoyed by the Starmer government’s election in July 2024, which has repeatedly signalled its support for international students. While the UK’s revised dependents policy did contribute to a 12% drop in study visa applications in 2024, early 2025 institution data suggests that student numbers may begin to rebound this year.

Meanwhile, student outlooks related to government and policy changes in Australia and the US were divided fairly equally between increased interest, neutrality, and decreased interest for both countries.⁵

At the other end of the scale, 60% of respondents reported that government or policy changes had negatively affected students’ interest in Canada. However, it is worth noting that respondents also had the most polarized opinions about Canada: only 9% noted no change in student opinion, compared to the other three countries, where the proportion of neutral answers ranged from 27% to 29%.

We asked future international students the same question in our latest Student Pulse Survey. The students were more optimistic: interest levels related to policy change were at least twice as positive as they were negative for all four countries.

Increased Interest in Diverse Study Destinations Beyond ‘Big Four’

While student interest in the Big Four destinations remains high,⁶ 33% of respondents in our Spring 2025 RP Pulse Survey shared that their students were also considering destinations beyond the Big Four, Germany, and Ireland. Let’s look at where else future international students plan to go:⁷

Nine out of the top ten destinations respondents shared were in Europe. In fact, “Europe” as a region was the fifth-most popular response to this open-ended question.

France topped the list, keeping its crown from our Fall 2024 RP Pulse Survey. 24% of respondents’ students were drawn in by France’s history of academic excellence, accessible tuition, and Paris’ status as a top student city.⁸ Finland came in second (23%): this safe and beautiful Nordic country offers over 600 degree programmes in English, and streamlined pathways to permanent residency for grads, attracting students from around the world.⁹ New Zealand was the third most popular choice with 16% of responses. New Zealand’s relaxed lifestyle and history of high-performing graduates are strong draws for future students.¹⁰

That said, several Asian destinations were also top-of-mind: Singapore was the most popular Asian destination cited, followed closely by the United Arab Emirates (and Dubai, which received 4% of the total responses by itself). Several respondents also noted they’re supporting students interested in studying in Malaysia, South Korea, and China.

Enthusiasm For Integrating AI Into Recruitment Processes

In 91����’s 2025 Trends Report, our team looked into how technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning was reshaping in-class learning and institutional efficiency.

As we look to the future of the sector, we checked in to see how RPs felt about AI-driven tools. The majority of their responses were very positive:

85% of respondents found it important to their business that the tools they and others use to support international students integrated tech like AI and machine learning.¹¹ When effectively deployed, these technologies can improve processing times, boost accuracy levels, and make the application a less stressful experience for students and RPs.

Tools—like the 91���� platform—that check study abroad applications for accuracy and completion have a measurable impact on acceptance rates.

Ensuring that program applications are as strong as possible is vital, especially as many of the documents students prepare for their study applications are also used when applying for a student visa. 64% of survey respondents noted that visa approval rates are a very important factor when students are considering where to study:

While the overall cost of studying remained the most important factor for students—aligning with the findings of our Spring 2025 Student Pulse Survey—some of the other top factors have shifted. Opportunities for permanent residency and work-while-studying dropped from third and fourth place to fourth and fifth place. Meanwhile, visa approval rates rose to third.

As more students align their studies to programs that prepare them to work in high-demand fields, understanding their post-study work options—whether Optional Practical Training in the US or the Temporary Graduate visa in Australia—is a key step in deciding their destination.

91���� Can Help Turn Insights into Strategy

Thanks to the feedback from international recruitment professionals worldwide, the 91���� RP Pulse Survey is a helpful check-in on our sector. It offers unique insights into what prospective students are considering, and what student counsellors are hearing day-to-day. To the RPs who participated in this edition of our survey, thank you! By sharing your thoughts, you help us see how we can address future challenges—and create opportunities—for students and industry partners.

If your institution is looking to level up your international recruitment strategies, 91���� can help. Our platform helps teams at academic institutions to engage with future students around the world. Through using our market insights, real-time data, and a global network of recruitment partners (many of whom you’ve heard from, above), we can support your recruitment strategies so they adapt effectively to shifting student needs.

Start a conversation today: reach out to our Partner Relations team.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. The Spring 2025 Recruitment Partner Pulse Survey was open from March 11 to March 22, 2025. It received 436 responses from international recruitment professionals in 45 countries.

2. Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the UK, and the US.

3. This includes respondents who indicated Australia was either “very attractive” or “attractive” to their students.

4. This includes respondents who “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that the UK was an open, safe, and welcoming destination.

5. This edition of the RP Pulse Survey ran in mid-March 2025, concurrent with the , but preceding the in late March and April.

6. The “Big Four” refers to popular Anglophone study destinations Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US.

7. This was an open-ended question, allowing respondents to write in as many countries as they wished.

8. QS, “.” June 17, 2024.

9. Study in Finland, “” Accessed Apr. 8, 2025.

10. Education New Zealand, “.” 2025, accessed Apr. 7, 2025.

11. This includes respondents who chose the “very important” and “somewhat important” options.

The post Survey Finds Study Abroad Interest Rebounding, UK Top Choice for Students appeared first on 91����.

After years of strong international enrolment growth, 2024 marked a transformation across major English-speaking study destinations. Canada, Australia, the UK, and the US all experienced declines in international student visa issuances, with rhetoric around immigration, fluctuating global economies, and growing destination alternatives impacting student behaviour. Among these destinations, the US proved the most resilient, posting a comparatively modest 10% drop.¹ Still, suggest the sector may face continued headwinds in 2025.

For institutions and local policymakers looking to plan ahead, the enrolment data offers important insights. Released this past winter, the latest dataset captures international student trends in the 2023/24 academic year.² While it precedes the most recent F-1 visa data, its multi-year scope provides critical context at the state level, showing how international enrolment has evolved over time.

So today, we’re taking a closer look at six key states: New York, California, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, and Missouri. How has international enrolment changed in each since 2018/19, both in terms of total student volume and the proportion of international students within overall enrolment? And which student populations are driving growth in each state? Learn how these state-level trends can inform smarter recruitment planning for 2025 and beyond.

Missouri’s Standout Growth Driven by Indian Enrolment

Starting our analysis in the American Midwest, we’ll first take a closer look at the Show-Me State: Missouri. Of all US states, Missouri had the highest international student enrolment growth in 2023/24, up 35% over the previous year:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in Missouri has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

As a result of this strong year-over-year growth, international students made up a higher share of Missouri’s student population. The state hosted more than 33,000 international students in 2023/24, who collectively accounted for 10% of all higher education enrolments in Missouri. That’s a four percentage point increase compared to 2018/19, reflecting a steady rise in international interest since the pandemic.

Indian students were the primary drivers of this shift. Their numbers surged to nearly 19,000 in Missouri in 2023/24, representing a 92% increase over the previous year and more than triple the total from 2018/19. Over this time period, Indian students also grew to represent 58% of all international enrolments in the state, up from 27%. This rapid shift in student composition underscores how global trends can quickly reshape the international enrolment landscape at the state level.

International students contributed about $1.1 billion to Missouri’s economy in 2023/24, a 69% increase from 2018/19.

International Students Represent Nearly One in Five Learners in Massachusetts

Missouri isn’t the only state to experience international student population growth last year. Looking east to New England, international students made up 18% of all higher education enrolments in Massachusetts in 2023/24. That’s the largest proportional share among all US states, and represents an increase of four percentage points compared to 2018/19:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in Massachusetts has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

In total, Massachusetts hosted more than 82,000 international students in 2023/24. This marked a 3% increase over the previous year and a 16% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2018/19, underscoring the state’s long-term appeal to students from around the world.

As with Missouri, Indian students were the largest international student group in Massachusetts. Their numbers doubled over the past five academic years, reaching approximately 25,000 in 2023/24. Over the same period, Chinese student enrolment declined by 16% from its peak in 2019/20. While this mirrors a national trend, the decline in Massachusetts has been more moderate than in most other states, helping the state maintain a more diverse and robust international student population.

International students contributed about $3.9 billion to Massachusetts’s economy in 2023/24, a 22% increase from 2018/19.

New York Sees Continued Growth in Chinese Enrolment

Neighbouring state New York remains one of the most internationally engaged states in the country. New York was the second most popular state destination for international students in 2023/24:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in New York has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

In 2023/24, New York hosted more than 136,000 international students, a 7% increase over the previous year. Additionally, international students accounted for 12% of all higher education enrolments in the state, the second-highest proportion of any US state after Massachusetts. That share is also two percentage points higher than in 2018/19.

Chinese students continue to make up a significant portion of New York’s international student base. In 2023/24, 50,000 Chinese students studied in the state, representing nearly 37% of all international enrolments—more than in any other top 20 US state. The total number of Chinese students in the state grew 3% compared to 2022/23, marking the second consecutive year of growth for this cohort. At a time when many states are seeing continued declines in Chinese enrolment, New York’s upward trend stands out as an encouraging exception.

The state’s metropolitan area of New York hosted 111K international students in 2023/24. This is far and away the most popular metropolitan area for international students, with no other metro areas surpassing a total of 70,000.

Florida Builds Strong Connections with Latin America

Heading next to the southern US, Florida continues to be a key player in US international education. With a particularly strong connection to Latin America, Florida has experienced an encouraging—albeit slower—recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in Florida has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

In 2023/24, the state hosted just over 45,000 international students. While this represented a 5% increase over the previous year, total enrolment remained slightly below pre-pandemic levels, down 3% compared to 2018/19.

Where Florida stands out is in its recruitment from Latin America (LATAM). Students from Venezuela, Brazil, and Colombia made up 13% of the state’s international student population in 2023/24, totalling more than 5,800 students. That level of representation is among the highest in the country and reflects that state’s high potential for sustainable growth in the coming years, as demand for study abroad remains high among LATAM studentsning.

Latin America is an increasingly important region for international recruitment, with many destination markets stepping up efforts to engage this market.⁴ With its geographic proximity, cultural ties, and existing student networks, Florida is well placed to build on this momentum and strengthen its role as a hub for LATAM students.

International students contributed about $1.5 billion to Florida’s economy in 2023/24.

Texas Posts Double-Digit Growth with Surging Indian Enrolment

Where Florida has seen promising but limited post-pandemic recovery, Texas saw one of the strongest year-over-year increases in international enrolment among major US states in 2023/24:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in Texas has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

The Lone Star state hosted nearly 90,000 international students in 2023/24, up 11% from the previous year. Despite this growth, international students made up only 6% of all higher education enrolments in Texas.

Much of this growth was driven by students from India. Texas hosted approximately 39,000 Indian students in 2023/24, a 26% increase over the previous year and nearly double the total from 2018/19. Over this time period, Indian students grew to represent 44% of all international enrolments in the state, up from 24% five years earlier. These shifts suggest that, while Texas is gaining ground as a top destination, it has an opportunity to build on this growth by staying responsive to global student trends.

International students contributed about $2.5 billion to Texas’s economy in 2023/24, an increase of 11% over 2018/19.

California Remains the Top Destination by Volume

Finally, we come to California, the most popular state destination for international students. In fact, California hosted over 10% of all international students in the US in 2023/24:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in California has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

In 2023/24, California hosted more than 140,000 international students, a 2% increase over the previous year. Additionally, international students made up 6% of all higher education enrolments in California during that time, matching the share seen in Texas. While that share is lower than in states like Massachusetts or New York, that’s partly because California’s overall student population is significantly larger.⁵

The Golden State also remained a top destination for Chinese students. More than 51,000 Chinese students pursued their education in California in 2023/24, the largest total of any US state. This figure was down just 1% from the previous year, indicating a high level of stability at a time when many other states are seeing sharper declines in this critical student population.

International students contributed about $6.4 billion to California’s economy in 2023/24.

Staying Ahead as Global Student Mobility Changes

While US international enrolment has shown signs of recovery, the broader American higher education landscape is facing a structural shift. Namely, all six states highlighted in this article are experiencing declines in domestic student enrolment due to an aging population. Missouri saw the steepest domestic enrolment drop at 17% between 2018/19 and 2023/24, while Texas experienced the smallest decline at 5%. Notably, these declines are expected to accelerate over the latter half of this decade, with .

In this context, welcoming and supporting international students will become increasingly vital. These students contribute significantly to local economies, enhance campus diversity, and help strengthen the research output and global profile of institutions. States that prioritize international education will be better equipped to adapt to changing demographics and compete in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy.

To do so effectively, states and institutions need to ground their strategies in up-to-date insights about the global education market. For example, both Missouri and Texas have seen rapid growth in Indian student enrolment in recent years. But in 2024, demand from India declined across all major English-speaking destinations, in part due to increased domestic education investment in India. Understanding such shifts early is critical for building sustainable recruitment strategies.

Working with a global, technology-driven partner like 91���� helps ensure institutions and states can stay ahead of these trends. 91���� provides access to real-time data, AI-powered recruitment tools, and a global network of vetted recruitment partners to help institutions reach the right students, in the right markets, at the right time. We also offer strategic insights and market intelligence to help you respond quickly to shifting demand and policy changes.

For personalized insights and strategies to maximize your institution’s potential, reach out to your Partner Relations Manager or contact 91����’s Partner Relations team at schoolpartnerships@applyboard.com.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. For comparison, Australia’s 2023/24 fiscal year saw the number of granted student visas drop by 26%. Similarly, every Canadian province issued at least 8% fewer student visas in 2024 than the previous year, with some of the larger provinces declining by nearly 50%.

2. Academic years span from July of one year to June of the next year (for example, July 2023 to June 2024 was the 2023/24 academic year).

3. All data courtesy of .

4. Australia, for example, launched a dedicated online platform to support Latin American recruitment shortly after the pandemic.

5. California hosted a total of 2.5 million students in 2023/24, compared to 1.6 million in Texas and 1.1 million in New York.

The post The Evolution of International Student Enrolment in Major US States appeared first on 91����.

The international education sector has faced near-constant change over the past year. Yet despite these shifts, the demand for studying abroad remains high as millions of students choose to pursue an international education every year.

To better understand what future international students are looking for, we launched the first 91���� Student Pulse Survey in 2022. Since then, we’ve heard from over 3,500 students! For the Spring 2025 edition of the Student Pulse Survey, nearly 850 students shared their thoughts on international education.¹ Their answers helped to reveal which factors are most likely to shape their study journey, what motivates them, how affordability may be shifting their plans, and a few dreams for their future.

Let’s take a closer look at which study destinations are gaining ground, how policy updates are affecting students’ plans, as well as a few study level trends.

Affordability is Central to Many Future Students’ Plans

International students have many factors to keep in mind as they consider their study journey, including course and visa applications, housing, and travel. As the cost of living continues to rise around the world, we wanted to specifically gauge how this change was affecting their plans and influencing their decisions. Throughout our Spring 2025 Student Pulse Survey, students’ attention to affordability was clear:

Despite rising costs, most students don’t want to wait: only 9% plan to defer their studies due to financial concerns. Instead, 16% are considering different programs than they’d initially planned to pursue, while 11% are looking at shorter programs.

This cost-conscious shift means that institutions which offer accelerated programs or three-year bachelor’s degrees may see more students applying to their programs in the coming months. Additionally, institutions that create and highlight alternate paths for international students may capture an audience who are still interested in studying abroad and building their career, but who are more economical than previous cohorts.

Cost concerns also impact which destination countries students are willing to consider. Students remain curious about more affordable—if less popular—locations, a shift in student behaviour which institutions in top study destinations must wrangle with in 2025 and beyond. In fact, just over one quarter of surveyed students were looking into different destinations than they’d initially planned on for affordability reasons.

This increased frugality also spilled into responses to other questions. For example, when we asked where students were considering beyond the Big Four,² Germany, and Ireland, one student noted simply: “Spain, Lithuania, and other European countries with lower tuition.” And, when asked which factors were most important to students when choosing a study program, affordable tuition fees was the most popular choice, selected by 77% of respondents.³ The next most popular choice, a high graduate employment rate, was at 57%. Rounding out the top five choices were a program that leads into the student’s chosen career (49%), high-quality teaching (47%), and the program’s reputation (45%).

Changing destination interest levels noted in this survey were echoed in recent search trends. Search engine data from 2024 showed that the number of “study in” queries for Australia, Canada, the US, and the UK have dropped from the highs seen in 2022 and 2023.

African Countries Rising as Study Destinations

This rising focus on affordability was also reflected in the wide array of study destinations prospective students told us they were considering. In our Spring 2025 Student Pulse Survey, 35% of respondents were considering study destinations beyond Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Among these alternative destinations, 7 of the top 10 write-in answers were European countries. Nigeria, New Zealand, and Japan rounded out the top 10:

As the third-most popular answer, Nigeria led a group of African countries which future students are considering as study destinations. And, while Nigerian students were the largest cohort of participants in this survey, Nigeria’s increased investment in post-secondary education through initiatives like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund⁴ may also lead students from neighbouring countries to consider studying abroad—but a little closer to home.

In general, compared to our past Student Pulse Surveys, respondents were more openly considering both studying abroad and domestically. When compared to previous surveys, more respondents were also thinking about studying in China, Pakistan, or Ghana.

Interest in Postgraduate Studies Increases Among Future International Students

While study destination interests have shifted, interest in different levels of study were fairly constant compared to our Fall 2024 survey. However, some differences emerge when compared to our Spring 2024 Pulse Survey results:

Graduate studies have seen the most positive shifts over the past year. Interest in doctoral degrees like PhDs rose by four percentage points year-over-year, and as in our Fall 2024 survey, over half of the students surveyed in Spring 2025 were considering master’s degrees.⁵

However, interest in undergraduate and postgraduate certificates and diplomas was down versus our Spring 2024 survey findings. It’s a small change, but it may reflect how post-study work opportunities, support for students’ dependents, and other quality-of-life or career factors are increasingly oriented toward degree-based study—particularly advanced degrees—in top study destinations.

Canada Leads Among Popular Study Destinations

When we asked where future students would like to study, a higher proportion were focused on established destinations than in the past two Student Pulse Surveys. In fact, 65% of respondents were only interested in studying in one or more of the following destinations: Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the UK, and the US. This is up one percentage point from our Fall 2024 survey results, and is eight percentage points higher than it was in Spring 2024.

We also looked at how students saw each of these popular destinations in comparison to one another:

As in our Fall 2024 survey, more students were “extremely interested” in studying in the US than in any of the other featured destinations in Spring 2025. However, because more students were “very interested” and “moderately interested” in studying in Canada, Canada remained the top choice by weighted average. Across the pond, strong interest (“extremely” and “very” interested) for studying in the UK and Germany remained relatively unchanged, but strong interest in studying in Ireland was up by three percentage points.

In 2024, the international student population in the US was the largest it’s ever been. Take a closer look at which student populations contributed to this boom, and how F-1 student visa issuances evolved over 2024.

Interest in Top Anglophone Destinations Resilient through Policy, Government Changes

In arguably good news for the sector, surveyed students’ desire to study abroad remained strong despite ongoing policy changes and recent elections over the past year in top Anglophone study destinations. In fact, student sentiment was at least twice as positive as it was negative around how recent policy or government changes affected their desire to study in these destinations:

Policy and government changes had the most effect—positive or negative—on students’ desire to study in Canada or the United States. Only 29% of students noted “no change” to their desire to study in either destination due to these shifts. Conversely, nearly 50% of respondents noted no change in their desire to study in Australia due to recent policy and government changes.

As Canadians and Australians will head to the polls in 2025, our team will return to this question in our Fall 2025 survey to gauge how those elections may shift student sentiment.

Innovation and Care Are Central to Future Students’ Careers

Finally, we asked students about the last step in their student journey: their post-graduation career. What do their dream careers look like? The answer is multifaceted:

In our Spring 2025 Student Pulse Survey, “engineer” appeared more than any other word. Most students knew their engineering specialization, as well: only 18% had a general response of “engineer.” Software engineering was the most popular choice, followed by civil engineering.

The second-most popular response was “nurse,” highlighting (along with “health care”) a strong interest in health sciences, in alignment with current labour market trends. After “nurse”, there was a tie between “lecturer,” “researcher,” and “human resources,” illustrating students’ desire to continuously learn and share their knowledge, whether as an instructor, academic, or private sector employee.

Students’ interest in tech careers also remained very strong: IT, cybersecurity, and data analysis were among the top 20 careers, with data science, computer science, and artificial intelligence following close behind.

International students aren’t afraid to take a chance on themselves, so it’s not surprising to see careers like “entrepreneur” and “business owner” also appear in the top 10 results. “Consultant” rose up the ranks in this edition of the survey, as well. Many students view : a way to get experience with different businesses and in different fields, before leveraging their experience into a more specific career.

How Institutions Can Leverage These Survey Results

International student preferences are constantly evolving, based on global trends in affordability, accessibility, and career opportunities. Regularly assessing and adapting to current student preferences is an important part of building your institution’s international student population.

Based on our survey results, here are some suggestions which can help your institution thrive:

• Don’t underestimate the power of customization when attracting diverse student audiences. Where possible, offering multiple program schedules (like regular and accelerated) may boost your institution’s appeal to students with different timelines and budgets.
• Only 3% of international students we surveyed didn’t intend to work while studying abroad. So, including clear work-while-studying guidelines as part of the welcome or orientation materials for international students can set new students up for success. This is also a good opportunity to emphasize the importance of following the conditions of their student visa.
• In an era of fluctuating currency valuations, variable visa approval rates, and shifting geopolitical relations, diversification of student source markets is imperative to a thriving international student population on campus. This is doubly true as emerging destination markets continue to broaden their appeal to future students.

A hearty thank you to the hundreds of students who participated. Your observations give us valuable insights into what your study journey looks like—including what your plans are and how they’re changing—allowing tech companies like 91���� and individual academic institutions to determine how we can help unlock your potential and set you up for future success.

We hope that these insights are helpful to you and your team. Our next Pulse Survey report will look at the sector from the perspectives of our network of international recruitment professionals. Stay tuned for that report in April.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. The 91���� Spring 2025 Student Pulse Survey ran between February 25, 2025, and March 12, 2025. We received 840 responses from individuals in 84 student markets.

2. “Big Four” refers to the most popular destinations for post-secondary study in English: Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

3. Students could choose up to five different factors in their answer to this question.

4. Olosula Blessing, MSME Africa, “.” March 15, 2025.

5. In this question, students could express interest in more than one level of study, which is why the total percentages do not add up to 100.

The post International Student Survey Findings Show Engineering Programs in Demand, Affordability Top Concern appeared first on 91����.

The UK’s international education sector experienced significant shifts in 2024, following a series of policy changes that reshaped student mobility. The Sunak government’s restrictions on student dependants had an immediate influence on student flows, particularly on applicants from key source markets where bringing family is a major priority. and uncertainty surrounding the Graduate Route—which has since been resolved—also created barriers that dampened student demand.

Of course, the UK was not alone in experiencing softened student interest. International education sectors in Canada, the US, and Australia all faced declines in 2024. Encouragingly for the UK, early signs point to positive momentum in 2025, with than in the same time last year.

That’s why today, we’re taking a close look at the latest UK Home Office data release, covering all of 2024. We’ll break down the latest study visa trends, highlight which student populations were most affected, and examine which markets remained resilient. Read on to see what these trends mean for UK institutions heading into 2025.

Main Applicant Demand Declined by 12% in 2024

While the UK has long been a top destination for international students worldwide, demand for UK study visas peaked in 2022, when nearly half a million applications from main applicants were processed. Global disruption in international student flows following the COVID-19 pandemic was a factor that contributed to this high-water mark. Main applicant submissions then dipped slightly in 2023—coinciding with post pandemic stabilization and a host of , including the announced dependants restrictions—before dropping significantly in 2024:

The UK processed over 423,000 sponsored study visas for main applicant international students in 2024. This represents a 12% decline from the previous year and a 15% drop from the 2022 high-point. While this drop was more mild than student visa decreases seen in other destinations in 2024, it still accounts for over 50,000 fewer processed applications in a single year.

Withdrawn applications also tell a story of softened student demand, likely related to policy changes. Nearly 6,600 main applicants withdrew their study visa application in 2024, a 127% increase compared to the previous year. Notably, this was following a huge spike in withdrawals in Q4 2023, when 2,000 students withdrew their application in that quarter alone—a 366% increase from Q4 2022. In short, after a wave of unwelcoming messaging from the Sunak administration in mid-to-late 2023, fewer international students applied for UK study visas, and withdrawals hit record highs.

Nearly 63,000 UK study visa main applications were processed in Q4 2024. This represents a growth of 9% over Q4 2023, possibly signalling renewed student confidence.

Largest Demand Drops Come From International Student Populations With High Dependant-to-Main-Applicant Ratios

Shortly after the restrictions on dependants were announced in 2023, we flagged that the policy risked softening demand from student populations with a high dependant-to-main-applicant ratio, including Nigeria and India. The table below shows the student populations that had the highest dependant to main applicant ratio in 2023, and how the number of main applicants changed in 2024:⁴

Seven of the 10 student populations with the highest dependant-to-main-applicant ratios saw significant declines in main applicants in 2024 compared to 2023. Interestingly, main applicant volumes from Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh remained resilient despite these student populations traditionally being more likely to bring their families with them. In fact, study visa applications from Nepalese applicants grew a striking 61% in 2024.

Nepal has one of the highest outbound student mobility ratios in the world. Read more about how Nepalese students will help alter the international student landscape in the coming decade.

Does this mean concerns about the new policy were overstated since not all high-ratio student populations saw declines? Not quite. The seven countries that experienced declining interest—Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and India—accounted for seven of the eight largest main applicant declines last year, with Russia (-21%) slightly surpassing Saudi Arabia.

While the impact of the dependants policy wasn’t uniform, it played a major role in shaping student mobility trends in 2024. For UK institutions looking to rebuild confidence in the key markets affected by this new policy, clear communication around post-study work opportunities, financial support, and campus resources will be essential. Proactively addressing concerns can help restore trust and re-engage prospective applicants moving forward.

Where Did Student Demand for a UK Study Visa Remain Resilient in 2024?

As noted above, seven of the eight largest study visa application declines came from student populations that traditionally had high dependant ratios. But beyond these declines, which student populations showed increased demand in 2024? The table below highlights the top 10 student populations that saw growth in 2024:⁵

Nepal and Pakistan stand out not just for defying the broader trend of declines among high-ratio dependant student populations, but also for the scale of their growth. Nepal ranked first overall, with the highest year-over-year increase in main applicants (+61%), while Pakistan (+11%) secured the fourth spot. Their resilience suggests that factors beyond dependant policies—such as economic conditions, domestic education capacity, and long-term aspirations for post-study work—continue to shape student decision-making.

Beyond these two countries, growth in 2024 was spread across a range of regions. Kenya and Myanmar (Burma) saw some of the largest increases, pointing to emerging demand from parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Elsewhere, European countries like Germany, Switzerland, and Italy posted moderate gains. And, the presence of Mexico and Kazakhstan in the top 10 further underscores the increasingly global nature of student mobility to the UK.

Just outside this top 10, main applications from Kuwait and Turkey also notably grew in 2024.⁶ These two markets may be worth closer attention as UK institutions adapt to shifting student mobility trends.

Top 10 Student Populations Issued a UK Study Visa in 2024

The policy-driven softening of demand led to significant shifts in the UK’s international student body in 2024. At the top, Chinese students reclaimed their position as the largest recipients of UK study visas this year:

With 103,000 study visas issued, Chinese students reclaimed the top spot as the largest new student population by main applicants in 2024. This cohort overtook Indian students for the first time since 2021, making the impact of the dependant restrictions clear. China, with a historically low dependant-to-main-applicant ratio (less than 1 in 100), saw just a 6% decline in issuances—demonstrating steady demand despite a challenging global landscape. Indian students, by contrast, faced a 26% drop, underscoring the outsized impact of the policy on high dependants-ratio markets.⁷

Other previously growing student populations also demonstrate the impact of this shift. In 2022, study visa issuances for Nigerian main applicants were rising quickly and seemed on track to surpass 100,000, alongside India and China. That trajectory has since reversed. In 2024, issuances for Nigerian main applicants fell to 18,900, representing a 68% drop from the 2022 peak. This lost demand from Nigerian students outweighs the promising growth UK institutions have seen in Pakistani and Nepalese students over this period, driving overall volumes down.

Although Bangladeshi applications remained strong in 2024, visa issuances did not reflect the same growth. The 6,500 visas issued to main Bangladeshi applicants represent a 30% decline from 2023, driven by a striking 18% refusal rate. This was the highest refusal rate among the top 10 student populations, with only Pakistan (12%) also exceeding 10%.

In total, the UK issued 397,000 study visas to main applicants in 2024, a 14% decline over the previous year.

Looking Ahead

The UK’s international education sector faced considerable challenges in 2024, with policy changes reshaping student mobility patterns. The sharp declines in student demand from key markets highlight the impact of these shifts, particularly for countries where bringing family is a major factor in study decisions. However, the resilience of many student populations— especially Nepalese and Pakistani students—demonstrates that demand for UK education remains strong in key regions across the globe.

91���� is actively contributing actionable data, insight, and recommendations as the new UK Labour Government refreshes its International Education Strategy. At this stage—and despite calls from some in the sector—we don’t anticipate imminent steps to reverse the dependent policy, nor do we think it’s likely that the Government will opt to take international students out of the net migration figures. That said, we’ve already seen a much more and we expect this to be sustained and reflected in the launch of the new strategy.

Beyond the government’s broader strategy plans, for UK institutions looking to rebuild confidence in affected markets, targeted recruitment efforts will be critical. Clear communication around post-study work opportunities, financial support, and student resources can help re-engage prospective applicants. Meanwhile, growing demand from markets like Kenya, Myanmar, Kuwait, and Mexico presents an opportunity for institutions to diversify their recruitment strategies.

Understanding these shifts and responding with agility will be key to sustaining enrolment growth in 2025 and beyond. With 91����’s advanced data insights and recruitment solutions, institutions can identify emerging opportunities and connect with high-intent students in a rapidly evolving landscape. Reach out to learn how we can support your international recruitment efforts and help you navigate the road ahead.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. All data courtesy of the , unless otherwise stated.

2. The dependant to main applicant ratio refers to the number of dependants divided by the number of main applicants for a given student population in the given year. A higher ratio indicates that a significant portion of students from that country tend to bring family members when studying in the UK.

3. Consider all student populations with a minimum of 1,000 applications in 2024.

4. Minimum of 1,000 sponsored study visa applications.

5. Minimum of 1,000 applications from main applicants.

6. The 5,700 main applicants from Kuwait was a year-over-year growth of 4%, while the 5,200 applicants from Turkey represent a 3% growth rate.

7. Note, however, that Indian student inflows dropped across all “big four” English study destinations—Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US—in 2024. Our 2025 Trends Report explored how India is investing heavily into its higher education sector in order to attract more students to study domestically.

The post After a Dip in 2024, are UK International Student Visas Poised to Return to their Previous Peak? appeared first on 91����.

2024 was a year of change across the Canadian international education sector. Study permit¹ approvals were on track to drop by 45% compared to 2023, based on our projections. A major factor in this change was a series of policy updates, including caps on some study permits, and shifting sentiment towards Canada as a destination.

As a result of these policy and sector shifts, the number of new Canadian study permits issued² in 2024 declined for the first time since 2020—and the latter was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.³ A central contributing factor to 2024’s drop was that fewer study permits were issued to college-bound students, although this cohort still received the largest proportion of study permits.

These major student shifts affected Canada’s top provincial and city study destinations, as well as the distribution of students across different levels of study significantly. Read on to learn more about the latest study permit issuance data across Canada’s largest metropolitan areas and what that might mean for 2025.

Study Permit Issuances Slowed Across Canada in 2024

By volume, Ontario remained the top provincial destination for new international students, followed by British Columbia (BC) and Quebec. However, over a year of rebalancing, 2024 saw the number of study permits issued to every province, and the territory of Yukon, decrease compared to 2023:

Use the series field above the line chart to select which province or territory you’d like to see.

Every province saw at least 8% fewer study permits issued in 2024 than in the previous year. This change was steered, in part, by policy. In late 2023 and early 2024, the Government of Canada placed a cap on some study permits.⁴ Prior to their final adjustments, these caps were , encouraging closer alignment between student enrolment rates and regional demographics.⁵ This resulted in some provinces like Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and Saskatchewan receiving room to grow under their cap’s targets. However, this growth didn’t occur.

Out of these four provinces, Quebec welcomed the most students in 2024 with over 50,000 permits issued to new students at Quebec institutions. This represented a drop of 8% from 2023, the smallest year-over-year change among all 10 provinces.

By comparison, 17% fewer permits were issued to students going to Alberta, dropping from 30,500 in 2023 to just under 25,400 in 2024. Even so, issuances for Alberta-bound students remained higher than they were in 2022, signaling potential room for growth. Fellow prairie province Saskatchewan saw issuances drop by 35% year-over-year to just over 6,000 permits.

Meanwhile, on Canada’s east coast, study permit issuances to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2024 also dropped, with totals 22% lower than in 2023.

Study Permit Issuances Shift Among Provinces Most Limited by the Caps

As the caps were announced, four of the other six provinces’ study permit approval allocations were capped at 10% less than their 2023 levels.⁶ However, Ontario and BC, the provinces historically welcoming the highest number of international students, were subject to a greater rate of change.

With a study permit approval cap for 2024 set at 41% below its 2023 issuance total, institutions in Ontario weathered a challenging year. Ultimately, study permit issuances to Ontario-bound students dropped to 137,000 in 2024—roughly half of the 2023 total. It’s a shift with far-reaching consequences, as institutions announced restructuring efforts and put study programs on pause. This level of change wasn’t unique to Ontario: 48% fewer study permits were issued to students headed to Nova Scotia in 2024 versus 2023, returning the province to 2019 levels.

Meanwhile, BC-bound students were issued 65,000 study permits in 2024, a year-over-year reduction of nearly 33%. While BC remained the second-largest destination within Canada for new international students, total issuance levels were similar to 2021.

In 2024, Canadian study permit approval rates dropped from a national average of around 60% to about 50%.

Proportion of Study Permits Issued to College Students Shrink in 2024, K-12 Permits Rise

Many of these provincial impacts were influenced by student volumes shifts by study level. When we look at how issuances of new Canadian study permits by study level have shifted over the last eight years, some notable patterns emerge. First, while the proportion of permits issued to college-level students grew consistently since 2017, this trend reversed sharply in 2024. Second, while the proportion of new permits issued to primary or secondary school (K-12) students hovered between 13% and 19% in recent years, it climbed to over 20% in 2024:

To look closer at a specific study level, click on it in the chart’s legend to filter the results.

In the late 2010s, college students were issued between 33% and 39% of all new study permits. Through the early 2020s, inbound international college students received a progressively larger portion, which peaked in 2023 with nearly 48% of all new study permits issued (247,000). In 2024, however, college students received just over 125,400 permits, 39% of the new study permits issued. As Ontario hosts the majority of international college students—68% of new college-level study permits issued between 2017 and 2024 were for students at Ontario institutions—this downturn disproportionately affected Ontario.

Fewer study permits overall were issued to university-level students in 2024 as well. Generally, however, their share of the permits stayed fairly steady. The proportion of permits issued to undergraduate students held at 13% for a third year running. Meanwhile, postgraduate studies accounted for 13% of all new study permits issued, rising from 11% in 2023. A higher proportion of postgraduate study permits is good news for cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto, home to institutions which attract many new master’s and PhD students.

In 2024, the proportion of Canadian study permits issued to K-12 students was the highest it’s been in the last eight years. Last year, just over one in five study new permits issued went to a student headed to a Canadian primary or secondary school. While the overall number of issuances dropped—from 80,000 in 2023 to 67,800 in 2024—the proportion of issuances grew by five percentage points year-over-year. While Ontario and BC attract the most K-12 students, the number of study permits issued to students in Quebec institutions actually grew between 2023 and 2024, suggesting steady interest in French-language education.

Montreal Returns as Top Undergrad Student City in Canada in 2024

Quebec also saw steady interest as a destination for new international undergraduates. Last year, Montreal edged ahead of Toronto, issuing more new study permits at the university undergraduate degree level for the first time since 2020:

In 2024, the ten census metropolitan areas (CMAs)⁷ whose universities attracted the most new bachelor’s students spanned six different provinces, as it has since 2021. Ontario and BC topped the list with three destinations each.

Year-over-year, the number of permits issued to bachelor’s degree students headed to Montreal dropped by less than 100, while the difference was greater for students headed to other major Canadian cities. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of permits issued to Toronto-bound bachelor’s degree students dropped by over 2,300. Meanwhile, nearly 1,800 fewer permits were issued to students headed to Vancouver and around 1,500 less to new students in Winnipeg.

Vancouver Remains Number One for New Postgraduate Degree International Students in 2024

Although Montreal was the top spot for new international undergrads, postgrad students were more likely to aim for BC. Last year, the most new study permits for master’s and doctoral degree students were issued to students going to Vancouver:

Nearly 7,400 new postgraduate international students started programs in Vancouver in 2024. However, that total is down by 41% compared to 2023. Similar—though not always as steep—shifts occurred across the most popular⁸ CMAs for permit issuances at this level of study. Out of the top 20 CMAs, fewer new study permits were issued to students heading to 18 destinations. Two Ontario cities were the only exceptions: 40 more postgrad students were issued permits to London universities, and just under 600 more postgrad students were issued permits to study in Toronto universities in 2024 versus 2023.

Is this change in study permit volumes a demand challenge? While the answer is nuanced, in 2024, we reported on how lower student interest at the postgraduate level was reflected in fewer study permit applications received by IRCC over the first half of 2024 versus 2023.

Toronto Stays the Top City for New International College Students in 2024

At the college level, Toronto kept a comfortable lead as the destination of choice for new international students:

Along with Toronto, five of the most popular destinations for college-level international students were in Ontario last year (Kitchener, Brampton, Mississauga, and London). Alberta and BC tied for the next most popular provinces, with both Calgary and Edmonton represented in the top 10 CMAs for Alberta, and Vancouver and Surrey for BC.

Even with student populations shifting the most dramatically at the college level, Ontario remained a powerhouse for college education: 58% of college-level study permits were issued to students headed to Ontario colleges last year. That said, changes to overall volume were notable. In 2023, 60,400 new study permits were issued to students headed to college in Toronto. In 2024, that number dropped to 21,100, representing a drop of 65%.

Colleges across Canada were affected by the new student cap, although how much permit issuances changed varied fairly widely. For example, future college students in Vancouver were issued 13% fewer study permits in 2024 compared to 2023. Permits issued to Calgary-bound college students, meanwhile, dropped by 21%.

Key Takeaways

International students planning to study in Canada in 2025—and the institutions that host and support them—must navigate a changed landscape. Canada’s study permit caps will continue this year, with a lowered target of 437,000 study permits issued. However, about 12% of the 2025 caps’ capacity is now reserved for postgraduate degree studies. While this is relatively in line with these students’ recent proportion of study permit issuances, the caps now also .

These changes are compounded by further limitations affecting college students’ options, like new field of study and language proficiency criteria for post-graduation work permit eligibility. That said, the government did expand the PGWP-eligible program list in response to constituent concerns, adding in-demand programs in child care and education. They also recently amended PGWP limitations such that college degree graduates are no longer subject to field of study requirements. Despite these revisions, collective policy changes will likely create a more competitive environment for students applying to popular institutions, especially in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia.

For institutions, driving continued student success may necessitate continued advocacy for key programs, and working with other institutions and associations. On the student front, institutions should ensure their teams understand updated PGWP guidelines so they can effectively highlight programs which fit new criteria.

In a time of heightened uncertainty, working collaboratively across sectors to shape program design, share career pathways, offer mentorship, and build the next generation of skilled workers is vital. This united approach can help people across the sector illustrate the many reasons why Canada remains an accessible, welcoming, and top-tier study destination.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. The terms student visa and study permit are generally used interchangeably for Canadian international students. Rather than student visas, Canada provides accepted international students with study permits, which allow those students to enrol in classes at Canadian institutions. When a student is accepted for a study permit, they are also usually provided with a visitor visa, which allows that student to enter Canada for their studies.

2. The term “issued,” when talking about study permits, refers to when an eligible student is given their study permit after arriving at a Canadian port of entry. Here and throughout this piece, we’re also referring to new study permits issued, not including study permit extensions.

3. All data is sourced from unless noted otherwise.

4. The study permit caps limited how many study permit applications would be accepted for review under the new guidelines, and how many would be approved. Both of these steps happen before study permit issuance (which occurs onshore in Canada), and are calculated differently than issuance.

5. It’s worth noting that this methodology does not inherently consider factors like institutional capacity or local labour market needs.

6. Under the revised study permit cap guidelines, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, all of which would have had study permit approvals reduced between 16% to 28%, were capped at a 10% decrease.

7. Statistics Canada, “.” Accessed Mar. 2025.

8. The IRCC data in this chart spans from 2017 through 2024. “Most popular” here refers to the 20 CMAs which attracted the highest number of new study permit holders at the postgraduate degree levels within that timeframe.

The post These Canadian Provinces and Cities Welcomed the Most New International Students in 2024 appeared first on 91����.

The global landscape for international education is shifting, and student perceptions are evolving alongside it. As prospective students explore their study abroad options, they’re encountering a growing wave of online discussions—some informative, others cautionary. Concerns about affordability, visa policies, and job prospects are surfacing more frequently in media and online coverage, influencing where and whether students choose to study abroad.

At the same time, online search trends reflect changing interest in major study destinations. Keyword search volume about studying in Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia are down from post-pandemic high-water marks, hinting at broader shifts in demand.

By examining global sentiment and search data, we can gain a clearer picture of how student interest developed in 2024, and how it may shape student mobility trends in 2025. Below, we break down the latest trends to see which destination markets are experiencing the most significant changes—and what they could mean for international education.

All references to sentiment data throughout this article refer to the proportional amount of media coverage. For example, “20% negative coverage” would mean that 20% of all relevant media coverage was negative. Any discussion related to volume of coverage will be noted as such.

Global Sentiment About Studying in Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia

Media coverage of international education grew in 2024, with the volume of stories increasing by 8% for the UK and more than 20% for Canada, the US, and Australia compared to 2023:

While sentiment remained relatively stable for the UK, the US saw a notable shift, with positive coverage rising to 34%—a six-percentage-point increase from the previous year. Australia also experienced a rise in positive stories, reaching 34%, up three percentage points from 2023. For Canada, both positive and negative stories edged up by one percentage point, reaching 21% and 19%, respectively.

On social media, however, sentiment about the big four English-speaking destinations was much more negative compared to traditional news:

On global social media, one in four posts about each of the major English-speaking destinations carried a negative sentiment. The US saw the highest share of negative sentiment at 36%, though it also recorded the second-highest positive sentiment among the big four at 19%, just behind the UK’s 20%. Canada and Australia had closely aligned sentiment rates, with their positive, negative, and neutral shares all falling within a narrow two-percentage-point range of each other.

It’s not surprising that sentiment on social media skewed more negative than in traditional media, where coverage tends to be more structured. However, these trends highlight the need for institutions to take a proactive approach to their online presence. Engaging authentically on social platforms can help shape the conversation, counter misinformation, and reinforce a strong, positive brand that resonates with prospective students.

Learn more about how leveraging technology solutions will be essential for institutions seeking to match students with programs that best meet their goals and timelines.

Global Keyword Search Trends in 2024

Does polarizing content about studying abroad lead to lower student interest? While it’s important not to mistake correlation with causation, search engine data shows that interest in each of the big four study destinations have dropped from their post-pandemic high-water marks:⁴

The chart above shows the average monthly keyword search for “study in [destination country]” over a 12-month period, year ending January.⁵ The 13,600 monthly keyword searches for “study in Canada” in the year ending Jan 2025 represent a 34% decline year-over-year, and a drop of 52% from its post-pandemic high-water mark.

Searches for the UK were down 32% from their all-time high in 2023. Searches from individuals in India and Nigeria accounted for 75% of this drop, two student populations we flagged as being most likely to be impacted by the previous Sunak government’s implementation of restrictions on student dependants.

Both the US and Australia saw slight year-over-year upticks, though both remained down from their highest points by 27% and 9%, respectively.

Declining search interest about the big four destinations suggests that policy shifts and broader narratives are influencing where students consider studying. For institutions, this underscores the importance of not only attracting student interest, but also converting it into enrolments. By offering clear, compelling messaging on affordability, career outcomes, and support systems that directly address student concerns, institutions can mitigate weakened demand and engage students on positive, impactful topics.

Leveraging 91����’s data on student field of study interests can help institutions align their programs with emerging career trends and better attract prospective students.

Sentiment Data About Studying in Canada from Major Student Populations

To better guide online strategies for institutions in each major English-speaking destination, let’s take a closer look at shifting student sentiment among key student populations. With online news sentiment shifting, we specifically explored whether certain international student populations are encountering more polarized coverage than others.

The chart below breaks down how sentiment toward Canada has evolved across key student source countries, offering insight into how prospective students may see this destination:

Canada received significant positive sentiment in English-language online news in China (47%), the Philippines (33%), and Malaysia (31%). Positive news sentiment actually increased year-over-year in six of these nine major student populations, a surprising trend given the numerous policy changes Canada enacted over the year. By contrast, the three countries that saw positive sentiment decline were the UAE (by ten percentage points), Nigeria (seven percentage points), and Pakistan (three percentage points).

News sources from Ghana were arguably the most polarized in 2024. 31% of Ghanaian coverage about international students in Canada had negative sentiment. Meanwhile, 24% of coverage was positive. This resulted in Ghana having the lowest neutrality rate among these nine major student populations.

These trends suggest that while Canada’s policy changes have not universally dampened sentiment, they have created uneven perceptions across student markets. Institutions should be mindful of these shifts, reinforcing Canada’s strengths—such as its robust Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, quality of education, and diverse student experience—in markets where positivity is growing while addressing concerns in regions where sentiment is cooling.

Sentiment Data About Studying in the US from Major Student Populations

While sentiment toward Canada has shifted in key source markets, the US has seen its own share of evolving perceptions. Here’s how online news sentiment toward studying in the US unfolded across major student-sending countries in 2024:

Positive sentiment about the US grew year-over-year by at least five percentage points in seven of these nine major student populations. Only Pakistan (down three percentage points) and UAE (down one percentage point) did not follow this trend.

In fact, eight of these countries saw positive news coverage surpass 30% in 2024. Ghana saw the most positive coverage at 45%, closely followed by both the Philippines and China at 39%, with India not far behind at 37%. It’s also exciting to see that five of these major student-sending countries—China, Ghana, Malaysia, Nigeria, and the Philippines—had negative sentiment below 10% in 2024.

These trends suggest a strengthening perception of the US as a study destination in several key markets. With rising positive sentiment and minimal negative coverage in many student-sending countries, institutions can leverage this momentum by showcasing student success stories, emphasizing post-graduation opportunities, and fostering stronger engagement with prospective applicants.

The US issued 130% more F-1 visas to Nepalese students in 2024 than in 2023. Learn more about US F-1 visa issuance data for 2024.

Sentiment Data About Studying in the UK from Major Student Populations

While UK policies largely stabilized in 2024, news sentiment continued to shift. The chart below shows how online news sentiment toward studying in the UK evolved across key source countries:

China and the UAE had the highest share of positive sentiment toward the UK, at 44% and 45%, respectively. In fact, positive sentiment about studying in the UK in Chinese news jumped nearly 16 percentage points year-over-year. India, Malaysia, and the Philippines also saw over a third of coverage framing the UK favourably.

Positive sentiment in Nigeria dropped to 8% in 2024, half of what it was a year earlier. As noted above, Nigerian students were arguably the most impacted by the previous Sunak government’s decision to restrict dependants, so this decline in positive sentiment is not entirely unsurprising.

Interestingly, Pakistan and Vietnam experienced a more mixed sentiment landscape, with positive and negative coverage both sitting in the 20–25% range.

These shifts in sentiment highlight how policy decisions can leave a lasting imprint on student perceptions, even after their immediate implementation. In regions with growing interest, reinforcing institutional strengths, such as research excellence, industry partnerships, and alumni networks, can help sustain momentum. And in markets where sentiment has softened, proactively addressing concerns—whether about visa policies, affordability, or job prospects—through transparent communication and support initiatives can help rebuild confidence in the UK as a study destination.

Sentiment Data About Studying in Australia from Major Student Populations

As a destination that has debated and implemented significant policy reforms, Australia’s international education sector has seen shifting narratives in global media. Here’s how sentiment about studying in Australia trended in major source markets in 2024:

China and India recorded the highest share of positive sentiment toward Australia, at 43% and 40%, respectively. Positive coverage in Malaysia and the Philippines also remained strong, with both countries seeing roughly a third of their coverage frame Australia in a favourable light.

The UAE had the highest share of negative sentiment at 34%, making it the only market in this group where negative coverage surpassed 20%. Meanwhile, Nigeria had the lowest positive sentiment at just 14%, though most coverage remained neutral (76%), indicating limited polarization in media discussions about Australia in this market. By comparison, Pakistan and Vietnam saw a more balanced sentiment mix, with both countries recording positive sentiment near 25–30% and negative sentiment between 16–22%.

With sentiment varying across markets, institutions must address key factors influencing how students perceive Australia as a study destination. In regions where sentiment has cooled, clarifying changes to visa processing times, post-study work rights, and student visa conditions—particularly under Ministerial Direction 111—can help rebuild confidence. Meanwhile, in markets with steady or growing interest, highlighting Australia’s strong job market in sectors like healthcare and engineering, as well as pathways to regional study incentives, can reinforce its attractiveness.

Looking Ahead

As sentiment around international education continues to evolve, institutions must remain attuned to how students in different markets perceive their study options. While some destinations are experiencing rising positive sentiment, others face growing skepticism—reinforcing the need for institutions to communicate their value in ways that resonate with diverse student audiences, particularly in the social media sphere.

To remain competitive, institutions should focus on the factors that matter most to prospective students: clear career pathways, financial accessibility, and a strong support network for international learners. Proactive engagement—whether through digital outreach, transparent messaging on post-graduation opportunities, or strategic partnerships—can help ensure that institutions are reaching and converting students effectively.

91����’s sector-leading technology and global reach make it easier than ever for institutions to connect with prospective students, refine their recruitment strategies, and strengthen their brand presence online. With millions of students engaging with 91����’s content and platform, institutions can leverage these insights to navigate shifting sentiment and drive student interest in an increasingly competitive landscape.

For direct commentary on how sector changes in our destination markets may affect both students and institutions, we invite you to follow .

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. All sentiment data courtesy of , and limited to online, English-only media. We’ve removed media coverage from Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia from the global analysis. News stories filtered by having to include “[country]” and at least one of “international student,” “international students,” “student visa,” or “studying in [country].”

2. Social media data limited to X (formerly Twitter).

3. All keyword search data courtesy of . This data measures the average number of monthly searches over a 12-month period ending June of the given year. For example, “2024” would mean the period of July 2023 to June 2024. Search results limited to English results on Google only.

4. For the US, we’re specifically using the “study in USA” keyphrase, as it had the most volume out of “study in US,” “study in the US,” “study in the USA,” “study in the United States,” and “study in the United States.” For the UK, “study in UK” had more volume than “study in the UK.”

5. Year ending January means the 12-month period covers February of the previous year to January of the giver year. For example, this means 2025 is for February 2024 to January 2025.

The post Major English Destinations Faced Increasingly Polarized Media, Search Trends in 2024 appeared first on 91����.

Last year, proposed and enacted government policy changes caused significant shifts in the international education sector in Australia. These trends were largely driven by uncertainty around the government’s intended ‘soft cap’ on international student volumes, .

This legislation—the ESOS Amendment Bill—was ultimately scrapped due to a lack of support in Australia’s parliament, but its proposed tertiary student commencement limitations¹ were later (MD111) in December. Despite how recently these limits were formally enacted, the debates throughout 2024 created confusion for students and contributed to weakened demand for studying in Australia.

To evaluate the impact of these policy debates and changes on student demand, we’re diving into Australian student visa trends over the first six months of 2024/25.² We’ll be taking a closer look at which student populations experienced the biggest shifts, how the proposal of the ESOS bill impacted different levels of study, and what we expect to see for Australia’s international education sector by the end of 2024/25.

Student Visas Granted in 2024/25 On Track to Return to 2018/19 Levels

In each of the two fiscal years before the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia granted more than 200,000 student visas to new international students. And, in the first full post-pandemic year (2022/23), Australia reached a new high-water mark of over 325,000 new student visas granted. This was partly due to the “double cohort effect”, where students who had delayed studying abroad moved forward with their plans once widespread travel resumed.

As student volumes normalized in 2023/24, Australia’s new international student population still showed modest gains over pre-pandemic levels. But as we look to the 2024/25 fiscal year, our projections show that the number of new student visas granted may fall by 10% year-over-year:

Through the first six months of 2024/25, around 110,000 new student visas were granted to international students planning to study in Australia. This was a decrease of 10% from the same months in 2023/24. We expect this trend to continue across the full year, and granted visa volumes are historically split fairly evenly across both halves of a given year in Australia. This means that a full-year 10% decline would result in approximately 220,000 new student visas granted in 2024/25, returning Australia’s new international student populations to 2018/19 volumes.

While the previously proposed NPL was mapped against the 2025 calendar year—as opposed to the 2024/25 fiscal year—it is notable that the NPL included a new visa issuance cap of 270,000 in 2025 for higher ed and VET. If new visa issuances in 2025 match 2024, new international student volumes across all study levels would fall below this cap by nearly 20%. And this scenario can’t be shelved just yet: the overall cap, as well as indicative caps for each Australian institution, have been.

Predicting Student Demand for Studying in Australia in 2024/25

The decline in student visas granted isn’t due to policy changes alone. Student demand is also impacted by policy discussions and implementation. Ever since the ESOS Bill was proposed and began creating uncertainty around Australia’s international student policies, the number of new student visas lodged has dropped substantially:

About 111,000 student visa applications were lodged in the first six months of 2024/25, representing a 37% decline over the same period of the previous year. If this softened demand persists across the full fiscal year, Australia may see fewer new visa applications lodged than in any non-pandemic year since 2016/17.

However, we don ‘t expect this decline to persist long-term. It’s far more likely that 2024/25 will be a ‘reset’ year that returns Australia to their modest pre-pandemic growth trend. Even if 2024/25 concludes with lower new student volumes than 2018/19 for Australian institutions, overall demand for studying abroad remains strong and Australia is an attractive destination for many students.

Higher Ed Visa Grants Hold Steady Amid Allocation Shifts

Australia’s 2024/25 student visa trends show that the NPL-turned-MD111 continues to shape outcomes across study levels, given that NPL visa allocations now underpin MD111’s student visa processing policies. These , shielding many universities from significant cap impacts, while non-tertiary providers were excluded from the NPL entirely.

By projecting granted student visa volumes across 2024/25, based on data from the first six months of the fiscal year, we can see how visa trends align with these policy aims:

Australia’s higher ed, non-award, and schools sectors are all projected to experience marginal growth in new international student populations in 2024/25, compared to the previous year. Similarly, postgraduate visa grants are trending towards relative stability compared to the past two years. This reinforces that Australia’s international sector is well-poised for modest future growth, and the potential that 2024/25 will be a new baseline for future years.

If all these study levels are relatively stable, or even growing, what’s driving the overall drop in new student visas? VET and ELICOS programs. These two study levels have experienced significant year-over-year declines since the 2022/23 high-water mark:

While VET programs accounted for over 13% of all visas granted in the first half of 2022/23, they represented just 4% of granted visas over the same period in 2024/25. This is largely due to two main factors. First, significant limitations were placed on VET providers under the new indicative allocations, meaning that many VET programs have limited seats available for international students. Second, visa grant rates for VET studies have remained around 50% over the past three years, at least 30 percentage points below the all applicant average.⁴

For Australia’s ELICOS sector, lower approval rates have also been a factor. Grant rates for ELICOS visas were around 75% in the first half of last year, down from 90% in full-year 2022/23. More importantly, growth in this sector was previously driven by high demand from students across Latin America, especially Colombia and Brazil. As this demand has softened substantially over the past two years, the study level has faced challenging persistent declines.

With VET and ELICOS demand softening, providers should focus on differentiation and adaptability. Strengthening pathways to higher education, expanding industry partnerships, and enhancing student support can boost appeal. Diversifying recruitment and highlighting strong program outcomes—like job prospects or university articulation—will also be key. Staying agile amid policy shifts and advocating for sector needs can help navigate this challenging period.

International Students from Across Asia Driving Sector Stability

For institutions across Australia, understanding student mobility flows from different student populations is foundational for future recruitment efforts. Over the past decade, the two largest student populations in Australia have been students from China and from India. Historically, Chinese students have been the largest cohort within Australia’s international student population. But pre- and post-pandemic, Indian students were poised to become the top new student population, based on student visas granted per year.

Now, as incoming student flows shift based on government policies and geopolitical factors, Australia’s new Chinese and Indian student populations are on different trajectories:

Based on lodged student visa data from the last year and a half, it’s almost certain that Chinese students will remain the top new student population in Australia in the coming years. In fact, for 2024/25, we predict that the number of student visa applications from Chinese students will remain near-stable year-over-year. This stability helps support Australia’s higher ed sector in particular, given that over 90% of Chinese student visa applications were for higher ed programs.

By contrast, demand from Indian students fell by nearly 20% from 2022/23 to 2023/24. And, based on Jul–Dec 2024/25 data, we anticipate this demand to further weaken by up to 30% again this year. This decline will account for a significant portion of the overall drop in visas granted for higher ed studies. As with Chinese students, Indian students are largely drawn to Australia’s higher ed sector, with 93% of Indian student visa applications directed toward higher ed in the last six months of 2024.

It is worth noting, however, that Australia is not alone in experiencing declining Indian student volumes. Canada, the US, and the UK have all seen new Indian student numbers drop over the past year, and India’s government has introduced several initiatives to encourage students to pursue higher education locally. This highlights the growing importance of having a diverse student recruitment strategy, especially as prospective students consider more destinations than ever before.

Growth Opportunities for Australian International Education

While India and China will remain key sources of new international students in the coming years, Australian institutions should also look to adjust their efforts based on other emerging—and declining—new student populations.

Growth in visas granted to students from Asia, North America, and Europe helped give the sector stability in 2024/25 and, moving forward, represent key areas of potential recruitment diversification strategies:

Through the first six months of 2024/25, East Asian student populations accounted for three of the top five fastest-growing new student cohorts, based on new student visas granted. New student populations from Taiwan, South Korea, and China all grew by at least 20% in early 2024/25, compared to the same period last year. Across the rest of Asia, student demand from Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka also saw significant growth.

Interestingly, many of these growing student populations represent established or growing international student destinations. Canada and the USA are fellow members of the ‘Big Four’,⁵ while China and have dedicated significant resources in recent years to strengthen their international education sectors. Likewise, Germany has seen rising demand among international students, with German institutions . Collectively, this may create challenges developing these student flows in the long-term, although students from China and South Korea remain high-potential opportunities over the next five years.

When it comes to student populations with weakening demand, there is a clear connection to the challenges facing Australia’s VET and ELICOS sectors. Many of Australia’s fastest-declining student populations were drawn primarily to either VET or ELICOS programs in previous years. While students from Vietnam, Bhutan, and Pakistan are largely driven towards higher ed studies, Vietnamese and Pakistani students have experienced falling visa grant rates.⁶ The grant rate for Vietnamese students fell to just 76% in 2023/24, their lowest approval rate in decades. In the face of these challenges, VET and ELICOS providers will need to diversify their recruitment efforts and promote strong program outcomes to prospective students.

Looking Ahead to 2025

With the implementation of Ministerial Directive 111, clarity is beginning to settle across Australia’s international education sector. Institutions have been provided with their indicative allotments for 2025, and while adjustments continue to be made to these figures, the mechanics of Australia’s international student cap are largely set. While these limits present challenges in attracting top global talent, they also offer opportunities to enhance sector sustainability long-term.

Australia remains a popular destination for international students, strengthened by robust post-graduation work opportunities. As Australia hones its approach to international education, strong cross-collaboration on skills development, program design, and employment pathways can help draw top talent while equipping students for success in their careers. By remaining adaptable and focused on student success, institutions can maximize their potential in 2025 and beyond.

For personalized insights and strategies to maximize your institution’s potential, reach out to your Partner Relations Manager or contact 91����’s Partner Relations team at schoolpartnerships@applyboard.com. 91����’s expertise in recruitment partner training, document verification, and student guidance equips institutions with the tools they need to enhance application quality, attract global talent, and maintain diverse student populations.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. Known, under the original bill, as the National Planning Level or NPL.

2. All data courtesy of the . All data reported according to Australian governmental financial years, which span from July of one year to June of the next year (for example, July 2023 to June 2024 was the 2023/24 year), unless otherwise noted. The data used for this article includes subclass 500 and subclass 570 to 576 visas lodged or granted to primary applicants located outside Australia only. The first six months of 2024/25 span from July 2024 to December 2024.

3. Student visas for primary applicants located outside of Australia only.

4. For offshore, primary applications only. The VET visa grant rate was 51.5% in 2022/23, 46.6% in 2023/24, and 52.3% in Jul–Dec 2024/25. By contrast, the all applicant grant rates were 80.3%, 78.9%, and 88.0%, respectively.

5. A term used to denote the four largest English-speaking international student destination countries, namely Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

6. While visa approval rates for Bhutanese students remained on par with previous years in 2023/24 and early 2024/25, have attributed decreased demand towards Australia to policy change skepticism.

The post Student Demand for Studying in Australia Shifting Under New Policies appeared first on 91����.

Over the past few years, millions of different students have used the 91���� platform to search for international study programs.¹ For many of these students, searching for programs in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States on our platform is one of the first steps in their study abroad journey. This proprietary search data gives us a leading indicator of changing student preferences, empowering us to help students achieve their education and career goals.

Today, we’re examining how international students’ program searches for Canada, the US, and the UK shifted in 2024. Last year was a tumultuous time for unprecedented policy changes, and shifting policies can have a major impact on student program preferences. 91���� how these student preferences adapted in 2024 and how institutions could adjust for 2025.

What Canadian Fields of Study did International Students Search for in 2024?

In 2024, shifting student interests reshaped program demand in Canada. While policy changes influenced overall student mobility, key international student populations showed strong engagement with programs that align with Canada’s long-term workforce needs. This contributed to notable growth in search volumes for health fields, as well as continued interest in engineering and technology and sciences fields.

Here’s how student searches evolved across different fields this year:

The proportion of searches for Canadian health programs jumped over four percentage points in 2024, compared to the previous year. More students entering health fields would be a tremendous boon to the country’s national wellbeing, as .

This rising interest in health programs was reflected across many of Canada’s largest international student populations in 2024. For Indian students, 17% searched for programs in this field, up from 13% the year before. The share of Ghanaian and Nigerian students exploring health programs also rose, reaching 21% and 20%, respectively—both increasing by five percentage points. Meanwhile, strong demand continued among Filipino students (22%), while interest among Brazilian (14%) and Sri Lankan (10%) students nearly doubled year-over-year.

How Student Interest Shifted Across Canadian Fields of Study

The growing interest in health fields, along with a two percentage point rise in searches for law and other social-focused programs, led to a smaller share of searches for business, engineering and technology, and sciences compared to 2023. However, as demand for STEM talent continues to drive workforce needs, many student populations have increased their interest in engineering and technology and the sciences—highlighting ongoing opportunities for institutions to attract top talent in these fields:

More than 20% of Bangladeshi, Brazilian, Chinese, Mexican, and Nepalese students searching for Canadian programs did so for the engineering and technology field. The field was even more popular among Colombian and Sri Lankan students, accounting for nearly one in four searches.

Canadian science programs also attracted growing interest from several key student populations in 2024. Brazilian and Filipino students doubled their share of searches compared to 2023, reaching 14% and 10%, respectively. Over 20% of Bangladeshi students explored this field, making them one of the cohorts most engaged with Canadian sciences. Interest also grew among Chinese, Colombian, Mexican, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan students, with searches for Canadian science programs rising by at least three percentage points in each group.

These trends signal an opportunity for Canadian institutions to attract more international students in high-demand fields. Highlighting career pathways, research opportunities, and work-integrated learning in health, engineering and technology, and the sciences can help institutions align with student interests and workforce needs.

What US Fields of Study did International Students Search for in 2024?

Unique search volume for the United States on the 91���� platform doubled in 2024, compared to 2023. These gains were unsurprising, as the US saw the largest increase in positive global news sentiment about the four major Anglophone destinations during this period. Yet, even with this surge in interest, the distribution of searches across fields of study remained largely stable compared to previous years:

The biggest shift was in engineering and technology, where the share of searches fell by nearly three percentage points. Those searches generally went to health fields, which were up by over two percentage points, and social-related fields, up nearly one percentage point.

Sciences accounted for nearly 21% of all US-centric searches in 2024, higher than any of our other destinations. This reflects the US’s long-established reputation as a hub for STEM-related studies.

In 2023/24, over 70% of students from India, Iran, Bangladesh, and Nepal enrolled in the US pursued STEM opportunities.

Field of Study Search Trends Among US-Bound Students

Search interest from students in Bangladesh, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka doubled in 2024 compared to the previous year. On top of that, Pakistani searches for US programs tripled while Nepalese searches quadrupled. The graphic below breaks down what fields of study some of the US’ largest student populations were searching for in 2024:

Health fields saw the highest interest from students from Nigeria (20%), Ghana (20%), and India (13%). In fact, this field’s share of searches from Nigerian and Ghanaian students rose seven and five percentage points compared to the previous year. Additionally, the share of searches for health fields increased for eight of the nine student populations in 2024, compared to the previous year.

The sciences were a key focus across all nine student populations, accounting for at least 15% of searches in each group. Students from Nepal (22%), Pakistan (22%), and India (21%) led the way with the highest share of science searches. Other notable trends include shifts in Brazilian student interests, where the proportion of science searches doubled from 2023, and Iranian program preferences, where one in four searches were also for the sciences field.

Despite its slight overall decline in student interest, engineering and technology remained a top choice for many international students. Sri Lankan (29%), Pakistani (24%), and Bangladeshi (23%) students showed the highest levels of interest in this field, though at least 17% of the remaining six key populations also searched for engineering and technology programs.

As international student interest in STEM fields remains strong and demand for health programs grows, US institutions have an opportunity to reinforce their strengths in these areas. Strengthening industry partnerships, expanding hands-on learning experiences, and supporting post-graduation employment pathways can help attract and retain top international talent.

In the US, STEM occupations have a median annual wage more than double that of non-STEM roles, making this field a highly attractive pathway for international students.

What UK Fields of Study did International Students Search for in 2024?

After tightening rules on international student dependants in 2023, the UK saw a significant pullback from international students in 2024—applications declined by 14% year-over-year, while dependant applications dropped by 84%.³ The good news for the sector is that early signs point to positive momentum in 2025, with higher acceptance letter issuances and international student deposits for the January intake compared to 2024.

Our search trends reinforce these early signs: interest in UK courses jumped 25% in 2024 vs. 2023. With search behaviour often signaling future application trends, this surge suggests the UK’s positive momentum in early 2025 could continue throughout the year. Beyond this overall growth, shifting field-of-study preferences highlight how international applicants are adapting to the UK’s changing landscape:

As with searches for courses in Canada and the US, health fields saw the largest increase among UK searches, climbing nearly four percentage points to 12.8% of all searches. This growing interest aligns with the UK’s expanding healthcare sector, which is projected to add 349,000 jobs by 2035, growing 7% from 2025. Likewise, the information technology sector is expected to grow 8% over the next decade, which aligns with shifting student preferences—91���� platform data shows engineering and technology accounted for 17% of searches in 2024, up two percentage points year-over-year.

Interest in the sciences also expanded, rising from 13% in 2023 to 16% in 2024. Alongside the gains in health and engineering and technology, this shift underscores how international student priorities are increasingly aligning with long-term global workforce demands.

How International Students are Navigating UK Study Fields

This alignment comes at a time when interest in UK courses is rising. Interest in UK programs grew significantly among several key student populations in 2024, with searches from students in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana, and Saudi Arabia doubling year-over-year. Meanwhile, student searches from Nigeria and Pakistan saw substantial gains, rising 66% and 40%, respectively. However, searches from Nepalese students experienced the most dramatic increase, with searches tripling compared to 2023.

Further supporting the possibility that the UK’s positive momentum in January 2025 will continue throughout the year, searches from most key student demographics reached an all-time monthly high in either December 2024 or January 2025.

The graphic below illustrates how major student populations explored different fields of study in the UK on the 91���� platform last year:

Student interest in health fields was strongest among Ghanaian (22%), Nigerian (20%), and Saudi Arabian students (16%). Compared to the previous year, the share of searches for this field rose by six percentage points among Ghanaian students and five percentage points among Nigerian students. Additionally, the proportion of health searches among Sri Lankan students doubled over this period.

By comparison, the sciences were a priority across all nine student populations, making up at least 14% of UK course searches. Students from Pakistan (18%), Saudi Arabia (18%), and Bangladesh (16%) had the highest proportion of science-related searches. Notably, seven of the nine key student populations devoted a greater share of their searches to the sciences in 2024 than in the previous year

Engineering and technology also accounted for at least 14% of searches among these major student populations although Sri Lankan (29%), Saudi Arabian (26%), and Chinese (23%) students showed the highest engagement in this field. Additionally, eight of the nine key student populations allocated a larger share of their searches to engineering and technology in 2024. As student interest in UK programs continues to grow, institutions can strengthen their appeal by aligning program offerings with evolving student priorities and workforce needs.

Leveraging 91���� to Help Drive Your Institution’s Strategic Student Recruitment

Search trends provide valuable insight into what future international students are prioritizing in their study journey. By analyzing these patterns, institutions and stakeholders can better anticipate shifts in demand, allocate resources effectively, and align programs with emerging workforce needs. What fields are drawing the most interest? Which destinations are gaining traction? How are students adjusting their choices based on evolving policies and job market opportunities? Understanding these trends is essential for building a strong, future-focused international recruitment strategy.

91����’s platform empowers institutions to reach and engage diverse student populations worldwide. With real-time data, deep market insights, and an expansive recruitment network, we help institutions adapt to shifting student preferences, diversify their applicant pools, and connect with high-intent students looking for the right program. As demand continues to evolve, leveraging 91����’s expertise can ensure your institution stays ahead of the curve—attracting the right students, in the right fields, at the right time.

Reach out to our Partner Relations Team to take your recruitment strategies to the next level of quality, efficiency, and control.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. In the past, 91���� platform search data was generated based on button clicks on a page, while the new search data is generated by any changes made to the page’s filters (destination, field of study, etc.) As a result, the new search count, if tallied using the previous search data approach, would be significantly inflated compared to the original search count. To make the search counts more comparable, we changed our methodology as of August 2024 to use unique entries per user within each hour.

2. When including engineering and technology, sciences, and health studies.

3. The PIE, . January 2025.

The post International Students Increasingly Interested in High-Demand Careers, 91����’s Internal Data Shows appeared first on 91����.

The American international education sector had strong momentum going into 2024, after achieving impressive growth in the 2023 fiscal year.¹ And, with new data showing the number of F-1 student visas² issued by the United States over fiscal year 2024, it’s clear the US remains a top-tier destination. In fact, the US welcomed international students from over 200 countries in 2024. However, fewer F-1 visas were issued than in both prior years, indicating the rising influence of study abroad destinations beyond the ‘Big 4’ of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Today, we’ll dive into U.S. Department of State data³ to understand how specific student populations have shifted, look at the total number of American F-1 student visas issued in 2024, and detail trends that may affect the international education sector moving forward.

Number of US Student Visas Issued Dropped in 2024, Remained Above Late-2010s Levels

In 2024, new student visa issuances fell by nearly 45,000 year-over-year, dropping to around 401,000. However, new issuances remained higher than they were in fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019. This may signal a levelling-out of the growth caused by the ‘double cohort’ effect which helped to drive student numbers in 2022 and 2023:

This drop in visa issuance may seem counter to the fact that the total population of international students in the US reach its highest level ever in 2024. However, the chart above only shows how many new F-1 student visas were issued over the most recent fiscal year. This means it doesn’t capture the full picture of the American international education sector.  F-1 issuances don’t account for students already pursuing their studies, or those working at job placements through post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). Additionally, up-to-date government data on F-1 visa application volumes and approval rates is not currently available. Issuance data only captures new student inflows, rather than necessarily reflecting overall demand. If F-1 visa application volumes remained stable or even increased in 2024, yet approval rates fell at a higher rate, issuances could still decline year-over-year.

Yet these lower issued volumes mean that as new graduates complete their studies or finish their placements, we may see the overall international student population in the US decline. Limited student inflows may not be enough to surpass graduate outflows, even if demand for international study in the US remains at an all-time high.

A new record for OPT placements was set over the 2023/24 academic year, accounting for almost 243,000 student visa holders.

Issued Visas Decline in Summer 2024

The 2024 fiscal year started off with student visa issuance volumes similar to 2023, but F-1 issuances fell year-over-year during the summer months:

June, July, and August are key issuance months for students planning to start classes in September. However, an average of over 17,800 fewer student visas were issued from June through August 2024 compared to the same time frame in 2023. This reduction was likely caused by a variety of factors, including potentially lower F-1 visa approval rates (as noted above). Student demand may also have been influenced by the through early 2024, as an unfavourable exchange rate could have swayed some students towards more affordable destinations, or caused them to defer their study abroad plans. The lead-up to the American presidential election also began in spring 2024, and the accompanying rhetoric may have also affected some students’ decisions.

2025 is likely to be a year of continued change. Take a closer look at four of our top predictions for how the international sector may evolve.

Indian Students Issued the Most US F-1 Visas in 2024

Six of the top ten student populations that received the most US student visas in 2024 came to the US from Asia. Students from India received the most visas, continuing a three-year trend, followed closely by students from mainland China:

Compared to the 2023 fiscal year, the majority of top international student populations received fewer student visas in 2024. While Indian students were issued 86,000 F-1 visas in 2024, this was only slightly more than the number of visas issued to Indian students in 2021 (80,000), and a significant drop from the heights of 2022 and 2023. If this decline continues, new Indian student populations may be surpassed by new Chinese students in 2025.

In fact, the number of visas issued to students from mainland China appears to have stabilized around the 80,000 mark, after dipping in 2022. While future F-1 application and approval volume data will better outline whether this was caused solely by falling approval rates or a larger decline in applications from Chinese students, this is still a sizeable drop from pre-pandemic levels. If demand has weakened, this could be driven by Chinese students’ evolving expectations amid a slowed domestic economy⁴ and a strong US dollar. Some Chinese students may be choosing other destinations or staying closer to home, but many Chinese academic institutions have also become global powerhouses over the past decade. For example, Tsinghua University ranked 12th worldwide in , followed by Peking University at 13th, along with five other Chinese universities in THE’s top 100 list. These institutions are likely attracting students who might previously have considered studying overseas, and this rising trend of strengthening domestic postsecondary education could influence student flows towards the US in the coming years.

Asian and African Populations Continue to Lead US Student Visa Growth

Students from Asia not only represent the largest new student populations in the US, they are also among the fastest-growing.⁵ Students from five Asian countries were issued at least 25% more F-1 visas in 2024 compared to 2023. Leading the pack are Nepalese students, who collectively received 130% more student visas than they did in 2023 and 114% more than in 2022. But they weren’t the only student population to achieve sustained growth over the past two years:

These fast-growing student populations are a mix of well-established source countries like France, Nepal, and Vietnam, along with a few emerging student populations like those from Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, and Zimbabwe. The recent growth of these student flows towards the US is good news for American institutions: as half of these countries have , they represent strong potential future growth. Urbanization, particularly in eastern Africa and central Asia, will likely also continue to play a key role in driving sustained student interest in, and access to, international study options including the US.

Learn more about which international student populations are driving growth in the US with our deep-dive into Open Doors 2024 data.

Diverse Student Populations See Visa Issuances Slow in 2024

Although F-1 visas issued doesn’t tell the full story of international student demand towards the US, many student populations experienced lower F-1 visa issuances in 2024. Beyond students from India and mainland China, major student populations from many global regions saw a drop in F-1 visas issued compared to 2023:

Iranian students received decade-high numbers of F-1 student visas in 2022 and 2023, before experiencing a 43% decline in 2024. These students’ journeys are complicated by legal factors including , and long-tail ripple effects of the Muslim travel ban enacted in 2018. While President Biden repealed that ban on his first day in office in 2021, that visa processing never returned to pre-ban speeds. Meanwhile, other destinations are becoming increasingly popular among students from Iran: in 2024, .

Likewise, students from India are also seeking out more affordable study destinations like Germany, Poland, and South Korea. In 2024, nearly 43,000 Indian international students alone. Still, despite visa complexities and the higher cost of living, the US remains a top choice for Indian student prioritizing academic prestige and extensive career networks.

Building Towards Continued Growth

As the new Presidential administration establishes itself, and as American institutions face shifting student demands towards more affordable destinations, 2025 could be a telling year for the US’ international education sector. Expected government releases of F-1 visa application and approval rate data for 2024 will clarify whether demand for studying abroad in the US has softened somewhat, or whether a drop-off in F-1 approval rates has limited student inflows even as demand remains high. If approval rates have dropped, heightened demand may not translate into increasing student populations in the coming years. And, if any future policy changes specifically impact approval rates—as we’ve seen with other destinations including Canada and Australia—it’s vital for institutions to clearly communicate about any policy changes affecting both current and future international students. This not only helps students to feel connected to their campus community, it helps them remain confident in their choice of the US as their study destination.

American postsecondary education has a long history of high-demand among international students, and that’s unlikely to change significantly in a short period of time. But it’s important to keep in mind that students also have access to an expanding range of study destinations, many of which are investing in new programs and infrastructure to support their education systems. And, these policy changes and investments are already showing signs of success: countries including , Ireland, and hosted more international students in 2024 than ever before.

As such, it’s vital for American institutions and policymakers to invest strategically in communicating what makes studying in the US special. Whether it’s flexible program options, cutting-edge research opportunities, or the diverse range of people and cultures students can learn from on American campuses, there are many key draws for international students. Amidst a growing crowd of study abroad options, thoughtful outreach and a collaborative approach can help American institutions maintain high global interest in studying in the US over the next decade.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. Here and throughout this piece, when a year is stated, it is in reference to a fiscal year unless noted otherwise. Fiscal years in the US run from October to September.

2. As F-1 student visas are the most common visa status used by international students in the US, we’re confining our analysis to that specific visa type. Here and throughout this article, “student visa” refers to F-1 student visas. For reference, the US government has three student visas: F Student visas are academic (for study at an accredited K-12 school, college, or university, or studying English at an English language institute; the study must lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate); J Exchange visas are for participants in an exchange program either at the high school or university level; and M Student visas are for non-academic study (not including language programs), or vocational study or training.

3. The student visa data used throughout this article is from the U.S. Department of State’s and data reports. While the U.S. Department of State advises against aggregating monthly totals as this may not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date, our test calculations found an average overcount of just 0.1% across source countries for previous years.

4. Ulrica Lin, CNBC. “.” May 2024.

5. Countries with a minimum of 1,000 student visas issued in 2024.

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