This episode is sponsored by TSI, University of Applied Science

For many years, international student mobility has been defined by the dominance of the 'BigFour': the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. These historically popular study destinations have long set the benchmark for international education, attracting a significant majority of students seeking to study abroad.

However, the global landscape is changing. A growing number of destinations across Europe, Asia, and beyond are emerging as serious contenders. With proactive government strategies, competitive tuition fees, improving world rankings, and attractive post-study work opportunities, these emerging destinations are expanding the range of quality options available to students, creating a more dynamic and competitive market than ever before.

This shift requires established destinations to adapt and prompts a wider discussion about the future geography of student recruitment. In this episode, we will therefore explore the evolving dynamics of global student flows. We will discuss:

- The dominant countries in international education, both today and in the future.
- The evolving criteria for what makes a destination 'top-tier'—moving beyond student numbers to include affordability, policy, and career outcomes.
- The strategic adjustments the BigFour can make to maintain their competitive edge.
- The opportunities for emerging destinations to solidify their position on the world stage.