As we wrap up the year, it’s easy to see the world of international study as more complex than it was before. This year, the popularity of the “Big Four” English-language destinations (the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia) diminished. Meanwhile, destinations like Germany, Ireland, and South Korea welcomed more students than ever. And surging interest from students in countries like Ghana and Nepal reshaped campuses.
These trends show that international student interests are changing, and help us prepare for 2025. Let’s look at some of our team’s key findings from 2024.
Policy Changes Have Ripple Effects
Many study destinations announced and implemented changes affecting international students in 2024. Canada began the year with a cap on study permits, and Australia announced its own “soft cap” for 2025.
Australia’s cap was later blocked in their parliament. Then, in December, a new ministerial direction was announced that will prioritize student visas for each Australian education provider until they reach 80% of their cap amount. After an institution reaches 80% capacity, the Australian government will prioritize applications to institutions that have more space left.
Earlier this fall, our team wrote about what Australia could learn from Canada’s experience with student caps. We found that caps affected every study level, not just those directly limited by the new policies. And the drop in Canadian study permit applications was stark: new post-secondary study permit applications fell by an average of 50% year-over-year in Q2 2024.
Meanwhile, the UK issued over 432,000 sponsored study visas to international students for the year ending June 2024. That’s a drop of 13% compared to the previous year:
As most sponsored study visas are issued during Q3 of the calendar year, this data may represent the start of a larger change.
Polarizing Media Shifts How Students See Study Destinations
When changing education policies are covered in the news, this can affect how students see different study destinations.
In July, our ApplyInsights team analyzed related online search sentiment and average monthly keyword searches. We found that news in source countries about international students in Canada, Australia, the UK, and the US has become more polarized every year since 2021:
The average number of keyword searches for “study in _____” for these destinations was also dropping. Both of these measurements—global media sentiment and average keyword searches—can help us predict how demand for international education may shift.
Student and Recruitment Partner Surveys Help Us Track Changes
Twice a year, ApplyBoard surveys students and international recruitment professionals to learn which destinations and programs are popular, what motivates students, and more.
Access and Employability Are Key When Choosing Where to Study
In our Fall 2024 student survey, the ability to get a student visa was top-of-mind when choosing a study destination. It rose from fourth or fifth place in our previous two surveys to the first-place spot. Access to post-study visas and a good reputation as a destination rounded out the top three factors:
This shift toward seeking basic access over things like teaching quality and institution ranking, even cost of living, may point to how a year of policy updates and lower visa approval rates for many student populations has made getting a student visa less of a step along the way and more of a limiting factor.
Student Interest Shifts to the US
For the first time in our student survey’s history, the highest proportion of students were “extremely interested” in studying in the US:
Our Fall 2024 RP Pulse Survey echoed this finding: the US passed Canada as the most attractive destination country. As student interest shifts due to policy changes elsewhere, the US is positioned to attract a larger percentage of international students in 2025.
That said, the re-election of former President Donald Trump will also influence student mobility. During his first term, foreign enrolment in US institutions dropped by 15%, which is unusual for a four year term. More American students are considering studying abroad after the election, as well. This could be good news for countries like Ireland, as Americans were their second-largest international student population in 2023/24.
Meanwhile, the UK saw a positive swing in sentiment between our Fall 2024 and Spring 2024 surveys. This may reflect improved student perception after the UK’s change in government and its renewed support of policies like the Graduate Route.
Planning to study in the UK? Check out our guide on careers to consider to help determine your study path!
Rising Student Populations Diversify Global Campuses
While many international student populations are trending upward, Ghana and Nepal truly drove diversity on campuses this year.
The number of Ghanaian students at institutions in “Big Four” destinations has more than quadrupled since 2019. When we reported on Ghana this August, we noted its rapid growth in Canada and the US:
In Canada, Ghana jumped from the 37th most common source country for international students in 2018 to 9th in 2023. In the US, student visas issued were on track to meet 2023 levels.
We also reported that the UK saw a 9% downturn in undergrad acceptances for Ghanaian students in 2024, possibly due to the UK’s revised dependants policy. While two in five Ghanaians are 18 or younger, the average age of Ghanaian students using ApplyBoard was 30. Many students at that age may be weighing if they can bring their families into their study abroad decisions.
As in Ghana, one of Nepal’s largest demographics is 18 to 25 year olds. With limited options to study domestically, nearly one in five of Nepal’s post-secondary age students chose to study abroad in 2021.
In mid-2024, we looked at how Nepal has evolved as a student population in key Anglophone markets:
With record highs of F-1 student visas awarded to students from Nepal in 2023/2024, this population is one to watch in the US, especially for STEM fields. In fact, over 70% of Nepalese international students in the US were enrolled in STEM programs.
The US offers students access to renowned universities, cutting-edge facilities and tech, and a strong post-study job market. Is studying STEM in the US right for you?
As study destination access and government policies evolve, the ApplyBoard team is committed to covering sector-shaping events. Watch for our list of international education trends to follow in 2025 this January!
Ready to become an international student? ApplyBoard’s free platform can connect you with thousands of programs in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the US, and the UK.
