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, �ǿ�Ӱ��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.

�ǿ�Ӱ��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 �ǿ�Ӱ��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 ApplyBoard’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 ApplyBoard.

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 �ǿ�Ӱ��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 ApplyBoard’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 �ǿ�Ӱ��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.

�ǿ�Ӱ��Can Help Turn Insights into Strategy

Thanks to the feedback from international recruitment professionals worldwide, the �ǿ�Ӱ��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, �ǿ�Ӱ��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 ApplyBoard.

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 �ǿ�Ӱ��helps ensure institutions and states can stay ahead of these trends. �ǿ�Ӱ��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 ApplyBoard’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 ApplyBoard.

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 �ǿ�Ӱ��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 �ǿ�Ӱ��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 �ǿ�Ӱ��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 ApplyBoard.

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 ApplyBoard.

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 ApplyBoard’s Partner Relations team at schoolpartnerships@applyboard.com. ApplyBoard’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 ApplyBoard.

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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On January 24, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) finalized each province and territory will receive for 2025. These caps, along with the national study permit issuance target, provide institutions with a clearer framework for planning in the year ahead—though a few logistical questions remain.

Join us as we dive into Canada’s international student cap allotments for 2025. Find out how many student visa applications each province and territory can accept,¹ our approval forecasts for 2025, and key changes that could reshape Canada’s international education landscape.

Softened Demand from International Students Likely to Continue in 2025

In 2024, Canada’s international education sector was defined by softening international student demand, following the introduction of the country’s application cap. The number of new student approvals dropped 45% last year, outpacing IRCC’s intended 35% reduction by 10 percentage points. This weakening demand occurred across all study levels, including those exempt from the cap.⁴

Based on these current trends, as well as factors influencing global student flow towards Canada, �ǿ�Ӱ��projects that lower demand among new international students will continue throughout 2025:

We anticipate IRCC will approve study permits for about 207,000 new international students in 2025. This would represent a 26% drop from 2024, returning to approval volumes last seen in 2018. However, this fall represents a slower rate of decline than last year’s, partly because 2023 was a high-water mark—meaning there was more room to drop in 2024—and partly due to expectations that softening demand will stabilize and establish a new baseline by summer 2025.

It’s important to note that this forecast only measures new student demand and does not account for study permit extensions, or potential shifts in study permit approval rates. As we detailed last week, approval rates fell to near 50% in 2024, and any changes to this rate could significantly impact our forecast. Additionally, the specific allocation of study permits under the cap feature significant amendments for 2025, including the integration of postgraduate students and a requirement for ‘onshore’ students to acquire a new study permit when changing institutions or study levels. These changes each have the potential to influence student mobility flows, impacting our projections as logistical details become clearer.

How Study Permit Allocations Will Work in 2025

While our forecast estimates the effect of shifting student demand, the caps necessarily limit the supply of study permits available to international students. Putting aside this decreased student demand, what is the direct impact of the caps on the number of study permits available to students hoping to study in Canada?

Canada’s national study permits issued target for 2025—which includes student cohorts that are exempt from the application cap—is 437,000. This would be a 10% decrease from the 2024 target, as . Note, however, that there’s contradicting terminology of “approvals” and “issued” between the 2024 and 2025 targets. While the 2025 target is labeled “study permits issued,” the 2024 target (and the math outlined for that target) was for “study permit approvals.” Study permit approvals and study permits issued are two distinct parts of the student visa funnel.

The table below shows how these targets will be divided out among different study levels, including exempt applicants:

These study permits issued targets inform the number of PAL/TAL applications provinces and territories are allocated. New to 2025, graduate-level students and most onshore students require a PAL/TAL. However, the following groups remain PAL/TAL-exempt:

• K-12 students
• Certain Government of Canada priority groups and vulnerable cohorts (such as francophone students eligible for the )
• Existing study permit holders applying for an extension at the same designated learning institution (DLI) and at the same level of study

Canada’s International Student Cap 2025 Provincial Breakdown

While the overall target for study permits issued decreased for 2025, the inclusion of new student cohorts requiring a PAL/TAL resulted in most provinces and territories receiving higher application allotments compared to 2024. The table below shows the number of applications each province has been allocated for 2025:

The Canadian government revealed back in September that . Specifically, IRCC outlined that at least 12% of each province’s issuance target must be reserved for the graduate level, although this allotment will necessarily decrease the volume of non-graduate visas. On the surface, this explains why the total number of allotments in 2025 is only marginally lower than the 2024 total despite the targeted issuances being 10% lower.

As shown above, the change in allotments across each province and territory is not an even 10% reduction. Newfoundland and Labrador received nearly triple the application allotments for 2025 compared to 2024, and the Northwest Territories were allotted more than double. Quebec, Alberta, and Saskatchewan were also granted significantly more allotments than the previous year, while Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia saw significant reductions. Ontario received the highest reduction overall, accounting for the biggest volume shift.

2025 Caps and Targets Move Closer to Population Share

Why these large differences across provinces? It’s important to remember that the 2024 cap was initially weighted, prior to final adjustments, by . To limit the impact of this change, regions with increased application allotments compared to 2023 were capped at 10% growth, while reductions in other regions were adjusted case-by-case, and then additional top-ups were rolled out to account for each province’s historical approval rates.

These adjustments were a positive step, aligning more closely with sector realities and enabling provinces and institutions to adapt more effectively to the new policies. But those adjustments also meant that gaps remained between the final numbers and the provincial population weights.

By comparison, both the 2025 application allotments and study permits issued targets align more closely with population weighting:

In 2025, the proportion of the total study permit issuance target allocated to nine of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories falls within half a percentage point of their share of the country’s population. And while Alberta’s 10.3% share of 2025 issuances remains nearly two percentage points below its population share, it’s almost two points higher than its 2024 approvals target.

Population share may help explain the significant decrease in Ontario’s application allotments and the increase in Quebec’s. That’s because provinces with low approval rates will need more applications to meet their issuance targets than those with strong approval rates. And as we outlined last week, Ontario was one of only three provinces with an approval rate over 50% in 2024, while Quebec’s approval rate fell to 32%, the lowest of all provinces or territories.⁵

If IRCC continues to base study permit allotments primarily on provincial population share, this approach does not inherently consider factors like institutional capacity or local labour market needs. It also does not factor in recent PGWP policy changes that prioritize labour market fit. As a result, provinces with strong postsecondary institutions or significant employment opportunities for international graduates may not receive allocations that reflect those strengths.

To create a more balanced system, greater foundational support is needed—both to better align allotments with these strengths and to help provinces receiving larger allocations expand their capacity. This includes more efforts to communicate with students about the incentives and opportunities available in those provinces.

Forecasting 2025 Canadian Student Visa Supply Potential

If each province and territory were to reach its PAL/TAL allotment, how many new students would be approved? Based on the latest IRCC data, we’ve forecasted two scenarios for each province’s/territory’s supply potential. This forecast range shows between 253,500 and 265,600 potential new approvals for 2025:⁶

There are two critical aspects of these supply potential forecasts to keep in mind. First, they do not account for historical application and approval volumes. Both forecasts assume each province and territory will reach their application allotment in 2025, and see approval rates similar to the January through October period of 2024.

Second, and most importantly, these forecasts do not account for the inclusion of onshore student applicants. As stated in the 2025 PAL/TAL media release, the . This change will likely have a profound impact on each province and territory: From January through October 2024, there were over 160,000 study permit extension applications for postsecondary studies. The only extension cohort that will continue to be exempt from submitting a PAL/TAL is students applying for an extension for .

But, in general, extension data does not clearly indicate the proportion of applications that this cohort represents. With an approval rate consistently above 90% since 2021, including 94% in 2024, study permit extension applications and approvals are likely to significantly impact an institution’s PAL/TAL allocations early in 2025, potentially creating a competitive first-come, first-served environment that may further diminish new student volumes.

Technology is Helping Institutions Improve Conversion Rates

Faced with changing application volumes, some institutions might consider stepping back from high-demand regions with lower visa approval rates. However, this strategy carries significant risks, including reduced campus diversity, disruptions to student enrollment flows, and limited flexibility to navigate global geopolitical shifts.

A more effective approach is to focus on partnerships that drive strong visa approvals and conversions while ensuring a diverse student body. By working with ApplyBoard, institutions can access cutting-edge tools and expertise that align students with programs tailored to their academic and career aspirations, optimizing both student success and institutional outcomes.

The results speak for themselves. �ǿ�Ӱ��students consistently achieve higher study permit approval rates compared to the national average across Canada’s key source markets:

In 2024, 82% of �ǿ�Ӱ��students were granted study permits—nearly 32 percentage points above the national average. For certain countries, such as Nigeria, the difference was even more pronounced, with �ǿ�Ӱ��students achieving approval rates up to 40 percentage points higher than the national average.

Read more about why working with �ǿ�Ӱ��is an advantage for both students and institutions.

What 2025’s PAL/TAL Application Allotments Mean for Canada’s International Education Sector

With the 2025 PAL/TAL allotments now clear, institutions will need to navigate a more regulated and competitive landscape. The transition to tighter allotments, alongside changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program and the inclusion of postgraduate studies within cap limits, may initially present challenges for attracting top global talent. However, these changes also offer opportunities to enhance long-term sustainability and efficiency within the sector.

Canada continues to be a premier destination for international students, bolstered by one of the world’s strongest post-graduation work programs. Recent updates to the PGWP program reaffirm Canada’s commitment to fostering opportunities for international students, including no additional field of study requirements for master’s and doctoral levels. Additionally, new eligible programs, particularly in education, signal a proactive approach to addressing Canada’s critical skills gaps while supporting student aspirations.

Greater alignment between institutions, provinces, and employers will be key to capitalizing on these strengths. As Canada refines its approach to international education, stronger collaboration on program design, skills development, and employment pathways can help institutions attract top global talent while ensuring students are equipped for success in the workforce. This synergy will not only enhance post-graduation opportunities but also support Canada’s broader international education sector amid softening student demand.

In short, for institutions to thrive in this evolving environment, strategic partnerships will be more important than ever. ApplyBoard’s expertise in recruitment partner training, document verification, and student guidance equips institutions with the tools they need to enhance application quality, increase visa approval rates, and maintain diverse student populations.

As we enter this new chapter, Canada’s international education sector has a chance to reinforce its strengths and embrace new opportunities for growth. By staying adaptable and focused on student success, institutions can continue to provide world-class education to students from around the globe.

For personalized insights and strategies to maximize your institution’s potential in 2025, reach out to your Partner Relations Manager or contact ApplyBoard’s Partner Relations team at .

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. In this article, we’ll use the terms interchangeably.

2. This forecast measures the demand from new international students only, and is based on 2024 approval rates and rate of application volume decline. These demand projections do not factor in provincial shares of PALs/TALs and uncertainties remain about the cap’s target shifting from approvals to issued permits, as well as its inclusion of onshore students. Projections are subject to change as more information becomes available.

3. All data is sourced from unless otherwise noted.

4. Canada’s 2024 national cap on study permit applications included several exemptions based on program study level. Cap-exempt study levels included primary and secondary school, master’s programs, and doctoral degrees..

5. This approval rate is for all study levels.

6. This supply forecast does not account for historical approval volumes or the impact of including onshore applicants into the cap. The forecast is based on each province’s/territory’s application allotment for 2025 and latest available approval rates.

The post Forecasting Canadian Study Permit Volumes in 2025 appeared first on ApplyBoard.

Canada’s international education sector has weathered the impact of the first year of student caps. As we approach the rollout of Canada’s revised 2025 caps, it’s a critical time to evaluate how demand for Canadian study abroad programs has shifted due to these policy changes.

This past fall, when we analysed study permit data¹ from the first six months of 2024, we projected that processed post-secondary applications would drop by up to 40% over the full year. That prediction was made before the Minister of Immigration announced a further decrease in student caps for the next two years, and prior to significant changes to Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program.

Now, with more complete data for 2024,² a clearer picture of the effect of Canada’s international student caps has emerged: Study permit approvals are on track to fall by 45% in 2024, compared to 2023. Read on to find out which study levels and student populations have seen the largest declines, which emerging source markets have maintained growth despite the caps, and more.

Study Permit Volumes Well Below 2024 Caps

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) set Canada’s 2024 international student caps based on a 35% reduction compared to 2023. After further adjustments were made for , final targets of 552,095 study permit applications and 291,914 study permit approvals for capped study levels were set.³

Yet, even from the early days of the caps, decreased student interest outpaced government estimates. As that decreased interest continued throughout the year, IRCC is now on pace to approve only 280,000 total study permits for full-year 2024:⁴

The total number of study permits processed is set to drop by 35% year-over-year, in line with IRCC’s targets. However, study permit approvals have not kept pace. The projected 280,000 approvals would represent a 45% drop from 2023, outpacing IRCC’s intended reduction by ten percentage points. This would also be the lowest number of study permit approvals in a non-pandemic year since 2019.

This significant drop was felt across all destination provinces, but Ontario and Nova Scotia have experienced the largest impact:

While Ontario institutions accounted for over half of all study permit approvals in 2023, approvals for these schools are projected to fall 55% year-over-year, the highest of any province. This drop results in institutions in Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec accounting for a larger share of 2024 approvals, although each province is still forecasted to see approvals decline by at least 10,000 compared to 2023.

Four in every five respondents in our latest Recruitment Pulse Survey agreed that Canada’s decisions to limit study permit applications made it a less desirable destination.

Study Permit Approval Rates Fall to 50%

This rebalanced provincial distribution highlights the other main reason for the difference between IRCC targets and actual 2024 trends: approval rates. When Canada’s 2024 caps were introduced, Minister Miller initially detailed that a 60% study permit approval rate was used for all cap calculations. Later, when to encourage student distribution across all provinces, this rate was shifted down to 53%.

However, even taking this reduced 53% approval rate into account, study permit approval rates are highly unlikely to hit IRCC’s target by the end of the year:

Through the first ten months of 2024, the overall study permit approval rate hovered just above 50%. This represented a ten percentage point drop from the same period in 2023. But it’s likely this rate will fall even further once full-year 2024 data is available, based on 2021–2023 trends.⁵ As a result, we expect the average study permit approval rate will fall below 50% for full-year 2024, dropping around four percentage points below IRCC estimates.

This approval rate drop is, in part, driven by a steep decline in study permit approvals for institutions in Ontario, as noted above. Additionally, only three provinces experienced an average approval rate above 50% in Jan–Oct 2024: Alberta (60%), British Columbia (66%), and Ontario (54%). But the national average was ultimately brought down by Quebec’s declining approval rates. Average approval rates for applicants intending to study in Quebec dropped by over ten percentage points in Jan–Oct 2024, falling to just 32%, the lowest provincial approval rate over the last decade.

The average Canadian student visa approval rate for �ǿ�Ӱ��students reached 82% in 2024, nearly 32 percentage points higher than the sector average approval rate.

Cap Impact Felt Across All Study Levels

The downturn in study permit approvals was not limited to study levels directly impacted by the cap.⁶ In fact, based on our projections, study permit approvals across all study levels in 2024 will fall well below IRCC’s intended total approvals for capped study levels alone. Although cap-exempt study levels have experienced more limited approval declines, these broad impacts demonstrate the wide-reaching impact of policy changes on overall student sentimentality about a given destination country.

Number of Study Permit Approvals for Capped Programs Drop by 60%

The primary focus for Canada’s 2024 international student caps was limiting approvals for post-secondary programs.⁷ Under the national cap, up to 292,000 study permits could be approved for these study levels, amounting to a 28% decline compared to 2023.

However, the actual declines realized for these study levels will likely far surpass government estimates:

Across capped study levels, Canadian colleges have faced the starkest approval declines. In the first ten months of 2024, less than 91,000 study permits were approved for international college students, down from over 210,000 during the same months in 2023. Barring a significant increase in approvals during November and December, it’s likely that new international student populations at Canadian colleges dropped by 60% in 2024.

By comparison, visa approvals for capped university studies were marginally more stable year-over-year. New study permit approvals for international undergraduate students fell from over 57,000 in Jan–Oct 2023 to under 34,000 in Jan–Oct 2024. This 41% decrease more closely aligns with the cap’s intended reduction target, but it still represents the lowest number of approvals for undergraduate students since 2017.⁸

Earlier this year, we estimated that 231K post-secondary study permits would be approved in 2024. Based on updated IRCC data, that projection remains accurate: 192K post-secondary study permits were approved in Jan–Oct 2024, which we now estimate to rise to 221K by the end of December.

Cap-Exempt Programs Not Exempt from Shifting Student Sentiment

Four study levels were noted as exempt when Canada’s international student caps were first announced: primary and secondary school as well as master’s and doctoral programs. IRCC estimated that 140,000 study permits would be approved across these levels in 2024, based on totals from the 2023 application period.

However, approvals for these cap-exempt visas remained more than 25% lower in Jan–Oct 2024 versus the same period in 2023:

Approvals for secondary students remained the most stable year-over-year, with approvals falling by nearly 20% over the first ten months of 2024. However, declining approval volumes reached around 30% for both primary and master’s students, and doctoral student volumes continued their persistent year-over-year declines.

Given that many international primary and secondary students come to Canada with parents who are studying at the post-secondary levels, these drops reflect the knock-on effects of the 2024 caps. Despite these study levels being exempt from the cap, students have also been influenced by negative sentiment about Canada’s education sector, which in turn has further limited student flows.

This downturn in postgraduate student volumes means the impact of including these study levels in the 2025–2026 student caps may be somewhat mitigated. As we detailed last October, we project that approximately 263,000 study permit approvals will be divided among the provinces under the 2025 caps, and at least 12% of these approvals needs to be reserved for postgraduate students. As a result, we anticipate at least 32,000 approvals will be set aside for master’s and doctoral applicants, and this figure closely aligns with Jan–Oct 2024 postgraduate approvals.

Cap Influence on Key Student Populations

Interestingly, the 2024 caps have not had a uniform impact on Canada’s international student populations. Most student groups experienced year-over-year declines, but some established and emerging populations went against that trend.

Of the 61 student groups with more than 300 study permit approvals in Jan–Oct 2024, 40 saw year-over-year approval volumes fall by 20% or more. But eight student groups are on pace to grow in 2024, despite the caps:

Student populations from Senegal, Guinea, and Vietnam all grew through the first ten months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. This impressive growth signals that these student populations may be a key source of diversity across Canadian campuses during the cap era.

By contrast, declining student populations were more widespread. New approval drops exceeding 20% included eight of the top ten student populations from 2023. Additionally, five of these student groups saw their new approvals at least halved year-over-year. Students from India, Nigeria, and the Philippines, who collectively accounted for more than half (54%) of all study permit approvals through the first ten months of 2023, only represented 44% of all approvals through the same period in 2024.

Ghana remains poised to help drive international student diversity in Canada, despite cap impacts. While approvals for Ghanaian students decreased by 11% in Jan–Oct 2024 vs. Jan–Oct 2023, they remained nearly 175% higher than approval figures from the same period in 2022.

How Institutions Can Improve Conversion Rates and Maximize Diversity with ApplyBoard

While some institutions may view these shifting volumes as a reason to move away from high-demand, low-approval markets, we strongly recommend against this shift. Such a move could significantly reduce campus diversity, jeopardize student flows, and limit institutional ability to weather geopolitical shifts.

Institutions should instead focus on working exclusively with partners that drive higher conversion and visa approvals, without sacrificing diversity to manage cap allocations. By working with ApplyBoard, institutions can take advantage of our innovative platform that steers applicants toward programs that suit their academic journey.

Across Canada’s major student populations, �ǿ�Ӱ��students have significantly higher study permit approval rates compared to other applicants:

In 2024, �ǿ�Ӱ��students were approved for their study permit in 82% of cases, exceeding the national all-applicant average by nearly 32 percentage points. In some cases, �ǿ�Ӱ��student approval rates were nearly 40 percentage points higher than the average for students from those countries, such as Nigeria.

Why are ApplyBoard’s Visa Approval Rates Higher?

Over the past ten years, �ǿ�Ӱ��has taken concrete steps to enhance transparency, integrity, and technological innovation throughout the student application process:

• AI-Powered Program Matching: Our platform steers applicants toward programs tailored to their academic journey, providing tailored program recommendations with prediction scores based on the student profile and preferences.
• Application Pre-Screening: Our pre-screening process ensures applications are complete, legible, and free of potential red flags, helping to maximize conversion success. Half of all applications submitted to �ǿ�Ӱ��are not passed on to institutions, ensuring admissions teams spend time reviewing only strong and complete applications, streamlining the admissions process.
• Recruitment Partner Vetting and Training: �ǿ�Ӱ��vets and monitors recruitment partners for adherence to strict quality controls, including response times, conversion rates, and student satisfaction. We also provide training and up-to-date information on school programs, requirements, intake data, and scholarship opportunities on one platform.

The result of these efforts is that many �ǿ�Ӱ��students put forth stronger applications to IRCC. �ǿ�Ӱ��students are better equipped to write a genuine statement of purpose for their study permit application, and they are more likely to submit complete, high-quality applications, enhancing their approval rates.

By partnering with ApplyBoard, your institution can help mitigate the pressures of increased conversion and ensure your student populations remain stable, vibrant, and diverse. We also offer the ability to send offers-in-principle and consolidate tuition deposit processes, reducing the resources needed to administrate your international student program while ensuring cap spaces are allocated to students who are very likely to enroll.

What We Expect for Canada’s International Education Sector in 2025

On January 22, 2025, Canada will transition from initial cap targets to a further 10% reduction. As we’ve detailed previously, these limitations along with changes to Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program and the inclusion of postgraduate studies in Canada’s 2025 and 2026 caps could limit the ability of Canadian institutions to attract talented students from around the globe.

Yet Canada retains some key advantages that may help the sector level-off in 2025. Canada maintains one of the world’s strongest post-graduation work programs, with recent changes to the PGWP program emphasizing that there will be no additional field of study requirements for master’s and doctoral levels. Some new programs have been added to eligible PGWP fields as well, recognizing the growing need for educators across Canada. And, the inclusion of postgraduate programs into the 2025 caps may help institutions streamline application processing.⁹

Government policy changes in 2024 have reshaped Canada’s international education landscape, but 2025 could be a year of building stability. ApplyBoard’s proven track record as a sector leader in agent training and document verification can help institutions remain efficient and agile, increasing conversion likelihood from diverse student populations.

For data-backed guidance on how you can maximize conversion rates, please reach out to your Partner Relations Manager, or contact ApplyBoard’s Partner Relations team at schoolpartnerships@applyboard.com.

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. In this article, we’ll use the terms interchangeably.

2. All data is sourced from unless otherwise noted. Most recent government data cited in this article spans January to October 2024. All figures associated with full-year 2024 are �ǿ�Ӱ��projections based on Jan–Oct 2024 figures and Nov–Dec trends from previous calendar years. Projections may be subject to change based on changing conditions and source data.

3. For the 2024 year, cap-exempt study levels (which are not included in these counts) include primary, secondary, and postgraduate students.

4. While the 2024 student caps did not come into effect until January 22, 2024, and will extend until January 21, 2025, throughout this article we use January 2024 pre-cap student volumes as a proxy for expected student volumes in January 2025.

5. This assumes that study permit approval rate trends hold true to what has occurred over the past three years, where approval rates have fallen in November and December as shown.

6. Canada’s 2024 national cap on study permit applications included several exemptions based on program study level. Cap-exempt study levels included primary and secondary school, master’s programs, and doctoral degrees.

7. Not including master’s and doctoral degrees, although the Minister of Immigration announced in October 2024 that these study levels will be integrated into Canada’s 2025–2026 student caps.

8. Excluding 2020, which was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

9. Exclusion of particular study levels in the 2024 cap may have had the potential to create further limits on capped study levels. For example, if postgraduate student levels had far exceeded initial estimations, it is unclear if this could have necessitated stricter limits on undergraduate applications.

The post What Were the Impacts of Canada’s 2024 International Student Cap? appeared first on ApplyBoard.

2024 was filled with change across the international education sector, and it’s likely 2025 will continue this trend. Student interests continue to shift to a wider range of destinations, new governments and policy decisions are influencing student choice, and many Anglophone destinations are feeling the effects of lower student interest.

Building off our 2025 Trends Report, we’re leveraging the latest information—including our internal data and surveying tools—to predict how the international education sector may evolve through the year ahead.

Here are our top international education sector predictions for 2025.

1. Government Policy and Turnover Will Shape Student Mobility

From campaign rhetoric through the policy changes that follow, elections have wide-ranging effects on how international students see different study destinations. Let’s look at how some recent and upcoming elections, as well as key policy changes, may shift the sector in 2025.

Australia

The next federal election in Australia will be held on or before May 17, 2025, so expect to hear soon how different parties plan to work with the country’s education sector after a very busy 2024.

Over the past year, the Australian government implemented and proposed several significant policy changes affecting international students. Some changes limited visa eligibility, like reducing the maximum age for a Temporary Graduate visa from 50 to 35 or ending the ability to switch from a Temporary Graduate to a Student visa while in Australia. More substantially, the on international student enrolment created uncertainty for prospective students, leading to declining student sentiment about Australia as a destination.

Cooling student sentiment may also lead some students to consider nearby destinations instead. In our first ApplyInsights article for 2025, we highlighted how the international education sector in New Zealand has been growing quickly, perhaps (in part) by attracting students dissuaded by rising costs and changing policies in Australia.

Canada

While Canada wasn’t scheduled to elect its next federal government until October 2025, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation in early January means an election is now possible as early as May. While the for some time, many factors will come into play when Canadians go to the polls later this year.

Whatever the outcome of a Canadian election in 2025, most experts agree that further significant policy changes affecting the international student journey are unlikely, particularly as the sector is still adjusting to the caps placed on study permit applications in early 2024.

The 2024 caps set the target number of approved study permits at 485,000. For 2025, the cap was reduced to 437,000 while including postgraduate students—who were previously exempt. However, as we predicted in Fall 2024, the caps caused a downturn in student interest, contributing to study permit applications decreasing to the extent that the cap target wasn’t reached. This drop in demand also led to widespread concern from Canadian institutions, many of whom have been forced to make difficult decisions about staffing and program offerings as student numbers have declined. In the time since the caps were implemented, some Canadian institutions have seen international student enrolment drop by as much as 50%.¹

United Kingdom

In early 2024, international student interest in the UK dipped as the sector adjusted to new limits on dependents and questions about whether the popular Graduate Route would persist. However, possibly inspired by the new Labour government’s and policy turbulence in Canada and Australia, external perception of the UK had recovered by the fall: In our latest �ǿ�Ӱ��Recruitment Partner Pulse Survey, the UK placed second to the US for its attractiveness as a destination.

A recent Times Higher Education (THE) article also : both issuances of acceptance letters and international student deposits are higher for the January 2025 intake than they were for 2024’s January intake.

United States

In 2025, former President Donald Trump will return to the Oval Office. It has been difficult to miss the calls from several American colleges and universities for their before inauguration, uncertain of how the new administration will proceed. From 2015 to 2020, international student visa applications dropped year-over-year, and F-1 visa issuances slowed compared to the early 2010s:²

Many experts attributed part of this drop to some of the Trump Administration’s rhetoric and policies, which were less welcoming to certain international student populations.³

While foreign enrolment has recovered significantly since, and President Trump expressed at times a more welcoming outlook on international students during the 2024 election cycle, whether F-1 visa applications will continue to rebound remains to be seen. It’s interesting to note that, in the weeks following the 2024 election, , which may also contribute to changing campus compositions in the US and elsewhere.

2. Non-Anglophone Markets Will Capture a Larger Percentage of the Global Student Population

As policy and government changes give some students pause, and fluctuating currencies make some destinations less attainable, we predict international students will choose a wider range of study destinations than ever before in the coming year.

As we highlighted in our 2025 Trends Report, China and India’s growing investment in post-secondary education may not only encourage more students to study domestically, but also attract others from nearby regions. This includes some of the world’s largest international student populations such as students from Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Beyond China and India, earlier this month, we highlighted Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, and Spain as fast-growing study destinations. But they’re not the only ones set to redefine the international education landscape in 2025. Let’s look at some of the other places we think will be top-of-mind for students.

Germany

Many future students are looking to mainland Europe for study destinations. Among them, Germany has surged ahead, its international enrolments growing steadily:

For the 2023/24 winter semester, international enrolments grew by 3% year-over-year. This growth was supported by policy changes that support international students, like the (SIA), introduced in March 2024. The Act doubled the weekly hours that non-EU international students could work while class is in session from 10 to 20. The SIA also implemented new rules that improve labour market access for grads in growing fields like IT and nursing.

Building on this momentum and the recent German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) projections,⁴ it’s reasonable to predict Germany will exceed 400,000 enrolled international students in the 2024/25 academic year.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s , introduced in 2016, aims to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy through strategic development of key sectors, with post-secondary education among them. Through Vision 2030, the Saudi Arabian government plans to attract top talent to its universities and build a global education hub.

Vision 2030 is bolstered by new scholarships, partnerships with global universities and government entities, and research programs in high-demand areas. Recently, the US ambassador to Saudi Arabia and its Education Minister that would enable American graduate students to study in Saudi Arabia for the first time.

Meanwhile, social reforms enabling women to drive and travel independently have supported women’s participation in the workforce, which grew from 17% in 2017 to 34% in 2023.⁵ Of that, government data notes just over one-third of these women are in tech roles—which is on par with the global average⁶ and may encourage more diverse students to consider this rising study destination.

Malaysia

With a relatively low cost of living (estimated to be half as expensive as the US),⁷ affordable tuition, and , Malaysia is attracting the attention of many international students. Beyond the official language of Malay, , so many international students may feel at home faster than they might in a purely Anglophone community.

In 2024, demand from East Asian international students accelerated, per a recent report from ICEF. While interest levels from students in other parts of the world remained relatively stable, . This interest may be driven in part by some Chinese students being offered access to Malaysia’s 12-month Graduate Pass, which allows new grads to work in Malaysia after their studies.

The Malaysian government also recently announced its adoption of a centralized system which will use algorithms to verify applicants’ qualifications and certificates immediately. This system aims to speed up application turnaround times, thus improving prospective students’ experiences, while also boosting confidence in key documents’ veracity.⁸

3. Study Choices Will Align Further with In-Demand Fields

As many destinations train international students to replace a rapidly retiring workforce, their governments are prioritizing specific programs or courses that align with high-demand careers for international students. This is not new: incentives like the STEM OPT extension in the US , but it’s something we saw happening more often in 2024 and we expect that to continue in 2025.

For example, to support its goal of attracting 300,000 international students by 2027, the Study Korea 300k project is reshaping South Korea’s education sector. It has designated “special education internationalization zones” for global talent and in STEM. Locally, the city of Busan’s aims to boost the percentage of international students in STEM programs in its post-secondary institutions from 12% to 30% by 2028. Having these students stay in Korea matters, too. One goal of Study Busan 30K is to have at least 40% of international grads transition to working or job-seeker visas.

Elsewhere, the Canadian government exempted some bachelor degree students from new limits on spousal work permit eligibility, which may make it easier for those students to study in Canada and bring their families. Nursing, engineering, and education students’ spouses could still apply for a work permit, where partners of undergraduate students in other programs would not be eligible. Canada also redefined which study programs could lead to a Canadian post-graduation work permit.

Search Data Reveals Increased Alignment with In-Demand Fields

While there are always going to be students who follow their dreams, policy changes like those outlined above affect how viable different programs appear as study opportunities. Plus, changing levels of demand for specific workers means some sectors are more likely to hire new grads, which can influence student decisions about what to study. For example, in line with growing demand for health care workers, 2024 �ǿ�Ӱ��platform search data showed that interest in health sciences was rising:

In fact, nearly one in five searches by Nigerian students were related to health studies from January through July 2024. Our search platform data showed that several student populations were more interested in health studies this year compared to previous years, which may stem both from their generation’s desire for meaningful work and an understanding of which programs can prepare them for steady, rewarding careers.

In 2025, we expect students to show even more interest in health, engineering, and science courses than they did in 2024.

4. Academic Institutions May Leverage New Partnerships and Become More Specialized

In line with the trends above, students are not the only ones affected by policy changes. As institutions weather the , many are looking for different and innovative ways to offer in-demand courses.

While there is no single solution to these challenges, some institutions may seek to establish new partnerships with other institutions, forge stronger partnerships with local or global industry, or consolidate program offerings.

With fewer international students, some critical programs may be offered at fewer institutions, or require institutions to work together to run them. Courses that require lab space or specialized machinery, which can be more expensive for institutions to maintain, are often in the skilled trades and health sciences.

On the other hand, some institutions may seek to solve funding hurdles by working with industry as a funder. In the US, over the last decade, research deals between universities and American companies have expanded quickly. Many companies have reduced their research spending, and lean on academic institutions to fill that role.⁹

point to how working together gives both colleges and companies access to the best minds (both students and researchers, as well as potential mentorship from established professionals), career opportunities for students, and industry funding making more early-stage research possible. These partnerships are not without challenges, however. Challenges like perceptions of incompatible priorities (balancing education and commercial interests), transactional relationships, patent challenges, or unclear intellectual property ownership all require deft navigation and negotiation.

Whether in industry partnerships or course rescoping, the effects of these potential changes are significant. As such, these are shifts that won’t happen overnight. But, we expect to see more innovative approaches like these in 2025 and beyond.

Upcoming ApplyInsights Content

This year, we’ll cover all of these trends and more in our ApplyInsights articles. Some of the topics we’ll explore over the next few months include:

• Shifts in Study Permit Volumes in Canada
• �ǿ�Ӱ��Search Platform Trends in 2024
• Tracking Student Sentiment with the Spring 2025 Pulse Surveys

Our team will also share our top insights in short videos that you can catch up on during a coffee break or in-between meetings. Every month, our CEO & Co-Founder Meti Basiri will take a quick look at policy updates and key trends in international education in his .

Subscribe to ApplyBoard’s and channels to catch our latest video content.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. Moira MacDonald, University Affairs. “.” Dec. 16, 2024.

2. U.S. Department of State, . Accessed Jan. 2024.

3. David L. Di Maria, The Conversation, “.” Nov. 19, 2020.

4. ICEF Monitor, “.” Jan. 2025.

5. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, . Accessed Jan. 2024.

6. WomenTech Network, “.” Accessed Jan. 2024.

7. My Life Elsewhere, . Accessed Jan. 2024.

8. Kim Martin, The PIE, “.” Jan. 13, 2024.

9. Kenneth R. Lutchen, HBR. “.” Jan. 24, 2018.

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