The Brief: International Education Edition

A quick reality check on international education going into 2026. Despite alarming headlines, global demand remains strong—students are shifting destinations, not disappearing. Germany is growing while countries like Canada and Australia tighten controls. Approval rates show governments prioritizing higher-quality students, and fears around deportations are often overstated. The takeaway for agents: diversify markets, focus on quality, and adapt to increased scrutiny in a still-massive industry.Sources:1. https://thepienews.com/canadian-unis-see-first-rise-in-undergrad-study-permit-approvals-in-five-years/2. https://thepienews.com/germanys-record-first-year-intake-drives-6-rise-in-international-enrolments/

UK maintains commanding 82% attractiveness among international education professionals, but nearly three-quarters of students are actively considering alternative destinations. ApplyBoard's Q3 2025 survey reveals significant shifts that agents and schools must address immediately.Key Statistics: • UK: 82% attractiveness (remains #1) • Canada: 74% attractiveness (up 3 points, climbs to #2) • Germany: 60% attractiveness (up 7 points year-over-year) • Ireland: 50% attractiveness (up 8 points since Fall 2024) • Alternative destinations: 73% of students actively considering options beyond traditional choicesCritical Insights:Germany signals post-pandemic policy improvementsCanada's is now in the second place and shows sustained momentumIreland's consistent growth reflects EU access and tech sector appealTraditional destinations (US, Australia) remain stable but aren't growingSources:https://www.applyboard.com/applyinsights-article/recruitment-partner-pulse-survey-fall-2025

Australia's international education sector is heading for a decade of stagnation with growth projected at just 2% annually through 2030 - a dramatic fall from nearly 10% pre-pandemic growth. Conrad and Eden examine how Australia's increasingly restrictive policies are reshaping the global education landscape while New Zealand pursues an aggressive expansion strategy.Key developments discussed:Australia has introduced the world's most expensive student visa fees at $2,000 AUD starting July 2025, alongside stricter English requirements and enrollment caps. The impact has been severe - VET and ELICOS visas have dropped 50% year-over-year, and English language courses now represent just 30% of international students, down from 50%. The new Genuine Student Test (GST) creates assessment barriers that favor larger universities over smaller VET providers, while disproportionately restricting growth from South and Southeast Asian markets.Meanwhile, Australian universities have fallen an average of 238 places in global employer reputation rankings over the past decade, creating a skills mismatch crisis as students increasingly prioritize career outcomes when choosing destinations.New Zealand is taking the opposite approach, announcing plans to double sector revenue by 2034 with 35,000 additional students. They've expanded part-time work hours from 20 to 25 per week, introduced multi-year visas, and fast-tracked visa processing for Indian students. The results show - New Zealand's post-pandemic growth is averaging 11% compared to Australia's projected 2%.Sourceshttps://thekoalanews.com/how-bad-are-the-quality-problems-in-the-international-vet-sector/https://www.qs.com/reports-whitepapers/australia-new-zealand-global-student-flows/https://www.applyboard.com/applyinsights-article/australias-caps-refocus-student-demand-toward-university-programs

Conrad and Eden break down China's new K visa - a precision-targeted strategy to attract elite AI and STEM talent from top-tier universities. This isn't immigration reform; it's talent warfare in the global AI race.Sourceshttps://english.www.gov.cn/policies/featured/202508/18/content_WS68a31850c6d0868f4e8f4ea7.htmlhttps://thepienews.com/what-does-the-k-visa-mean-for-chinas-search-for-global-talent/

While edtech unicorn ApplyBoard faces a 74% valuation collapse, strategic consolidation continues in international education with two key acquisitions targeting Australian student pipelines. This episode breaks down what these deals mean for agencies navigating the consolidation wave.ApplyBoard's Reality CheckValuation plummeted 74% from $3.2 billion peak to approximately $800 million$2.4 billion in value wiped out, highlighting the gap between venture capital hype and market realitiesStrategic Acquisitions ContinueEaseMyTrip-Planet Education Deal: Indian travel platform acquires 49% stake for £3.5 million in Sydney-based education providerStudyIn-SUN Education Merger: UK-based StudyIn acquires Indonesian recruitment agency with 2,000 annual placements, primarily to AustraliaSourceshttps://thepienews.com/easemytrip-enters-sector-with-almost-50-stake-in-planet-education/https://thepienews.com/exclusive-studyin-acquires-indonesian-student-recruitment-agency-sun-education/https://thepienews.com/a-moment-in-time-applyboard-responds-to-valuation-decrease-claims/

International students are making calculated decisions about their UK education, and the data tells a clear story. This episode examines the significant shifts in field of study preferences among UK international students from 2019 to 2024, revealing how employment prospects and visa pathways are driving program selection.Key HeadlinesComputing/IT Surge: Up 3 percentage points since 2019 among UK international students Health Demand Steady: 11% of all new international entrants choose health/medicine programsArts Decline: Social sciences and humanities down 5 percentage points since 2019Market DriversEmployment-First Mentality: Students increasingly choose programs based on job prospects rather than academic prestigeNHS Workforce Shortage: Healthcare demand driven by domestic staffing needs and specialized visa pathways like Health and Care Worker visasTech Sector Growth: Students responding to clear career pathways in expanding digital economyLooking Ahead (2025+)AI/Machine Learning: Expect continued growth in computing programsHealthcare Crisis: International recruitment will remain priority for NHS-connected programsCareer-Focused Selection: Students prioritizing ROI over traditional university rankingsSources:https://www.applyboard.com/applyinsights-article/what-fields-of-study-are-driving-international-demand-in-the-ukhttps://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visahttps://www.nurses.co.uk/blog/impact-on-nhs-of-the-nursing-workforce-shortage-in-2025/

Canada's study permit rejection rate hit a record 62% - the highest in over a decade. Anna and Conrad analyze the policy crisis reshaping international education in 2025, from Canada's approval crash to the US ending "duration of status" for F-1 students. Plus: why alternative destinations are suddenly booming.Key HeadlinesCanada: Rejection rates jumped from 48% to 38% approval; Indian students facing 80% rejectionsUS: Proposing to end decades-old "duration of status" policy with 4-year visa limitsMarket shifts: Big Four declining (Canada -56%, Australia -22%, UK -18%, US -25%) while New Zealand (+40%) and Ireland (+37%) surgeFinancial barriers: Canada doubled requirements from $10K to $20K+Critical Stats75% of Canadian rejections cite "won't leave after graduation" concernsIDP Education: Revenue -15%, placements -29%, IELTS volumes -50% in IndiaUK has record 758K international students but cut Graduate Route to 18 months25% of UK employers unaware of Graduate Route visaSourceshttps://thepienews.com/canada-rejects-nearly-two-in-three-study-permit-applicants/https://thepienews.com/us-proposes-visa-time-limit-rule-to-end-abuse-of-system/https://thepienews.com/idp-reports-revenue-loss-in-challenging-period/