Policy changes in the “big four” have opened doors for international students to consider other emerging study destinations.
With over 9 million students projected to study abroad by 2030, the sector is witnessing significant shifts in student mobility trends.
While the US, UK, Canada and Australia continue to dominate the international education landscape, collectively hosting over half of the world’s international students, alternative destinations are gaining traction.
Here is a closer look at some standout education destinations beyond the big four in 2024:
Germany
Germany’s popularity among international students has made it one of the top study destinations, with over 400,000 international students expected to pursue education in the country in the 2024/25 winter semester.
A recent snapshot survey by DAAD also revealed that 90% of German institutions have seen a stable or growing number of newly enrolled international students.
Indians have emerged as the largest international student cohort in Germany, with nearly 50,000 students, followed by Chinese students at 40,000.
Despite the growth, Germany is not without its challenges for international students.
A recent report found that international students face hurdles in the visa allocation process, finding accommodation and the cost of living, among other things.
France
France is another prominent European destination that has been actively implementing a variety of initiatives to attract international students.
In the 2023/24 academic year, over 430,000 international students were registered in French higher education institutions, marking a 4.5% increase from the previous year, according to Campus France.
Campus France has also spearheaded phase four of the ‘Study in Europe’ initiative, which helps national promotion agencies enhance the visibility of their educational systems abroad and strengthen international strategies.
Moreover, French President Emmanuel Macron has set an ambitious target of attracting 30,000 Indian students by 2030.
As previously reported by The PIE News, over 10,000 Indian students are expected to study in France this academic year.
However, experts have raised concerns about how the shifting political landscape in France may affect international students in the years to come.
South Korea
Fueled by its growing cultural influence and technological advancement, South Korea has become one of the most prominent study destinations in Asia.
According to the Korea Tourism Organisation, over 205,000 international students are currently studying in South Korea, with the country aiming to welcome an international student population of 300,000 by 2027.
Vietnam, China, and Uzbekistan are Korea’s top three source markets for international students. Chinese students make up 40% of Korea’s international student population, while Vietnamese students account for 23%.
There has also been a significant rise in American students studying in South Korea, owing to the popularity of Korean pop culture and English-taught programs.
The population of international students from the US has grown eightfold since the early 2000s, increasing sharply from 834 in the 2002/03 academic year to 5,909 in 2022/23.
Moreover, South Korea is also experiencing a rise in the number of international students wishing to work in the country as a recent survey revealed that four in 10 international students plan to stay back and pursue employment.
Japan
Like South Korea, Japan has also set a huge target for an influx of international students over the next few years.
Currently there are 280,000 international students in Japan, but the target for 2033 is 400,000, as previously reported by The PIE.
While China is by far Japan’s largest source market, other major senders for Japan are Nepal, Vietnam, South Korea, and Myanmar.
Many of Japan’s most well known universities are also strategising on how to attract more international students.
The University of Tokyo recently announced that its new five-year combined bachelors and masters degree would comprise 50% international students, with courses taught in both Japanese and English.
According to experts, Japan intends to increase its student numbers to offset its current aging population, due to which gaining a visa has also become relatively easy.
Despite the success, international students in Japan have raised concerns about job prospects within the country.
Experts have also cautioned that English-taught internationalisation models may hinder integration and raise questions about the quality of English language instruction.
China
Known for being the world’s largest international student source market, China also hosts a sizeable number of international students.
In 2021, data from the Chinese Ministry of Education reported a total of 35 million undergraduate students and 3.3 million postgraduate students nationwide.
Among them, 255,720 were full-time international students, accounting for less than 1% of total enrolments across the country.
According to experts, cheaper tuition, increase in scholarships, and top global rankings among Chinese universities have contributed to China’s appeal as a study destination.
China is also aiming to increase international partnerships through its new Degree Act.
The 2024 Degree Act stipulates that its provisions apply both to institutions awarding degrees overseas and to international students seeking Chinese academic qualifications.
This clarification indicates that as the quality of higher education in China continues to improve, the government is likely to provide greater support for Chinese universities to offer degree programs internationally.
New Zealand
As neighbouring Australia battles with immigration policy shifts, New Zealand has been applauded for seeing an uptick in international students year-on-year.
The country’s international education sector is “rebounding strongly,” with a year-on-year increase of 24%, surpassing 2023 totals by 6%, according to data released by the New Zealand government on December 4.
Moreover, a new analysis has predicted that New Zealand will witness a full post-Covid recovery in international student enrolments by 2025.
According to a recent survey, nearly nine out of 10 international students rated New Zealand as a positive study destination, with a record-high proportion describing it as “excellent.”
The seal of approval from students comes at a pivotal time for New Zealand’s international education sector, which aims to increase its economic contribution to $4.4 billion by 2027 – largely through enticing more international students to the country.
In line with changes to immigration policies in major countries, New Zealand has also increased study visa and post-study work visa fees in the country.
Malaysia
Despite having a lower volume of international students, compared to its East Asian counterparts, Malaysia is emerging as a significant study destination.
According to Education Malaysia, there has been a major spike in international students from East Asia, with Chinese students comprising the majority.
Although the initial goal of reaching 200,000 international students by 2020 was disrupted by the pandemic, the country is now aiming for 250,000 by 2025.
Malaysia has also introduced a new visa option for degree graduates, allowing them and their dependents to stay on in the country for up to a year to further their studies, travel, or work part-time.
In a first, the Southeast Asian country is also establishing a fast track for international student arrivals at the airport, indicating the “comfort it brings to students and parents.”
Ireland
Ireland is another country that has released an international strategy to attract international scholars and graduates.
In its new Global Citizens 2030, International Talent and Innovation Strategy, Ireland promoted plans to grow international students and researchers in the country by 10% by 2030.
By 2030, the government will appoint six Talent and Innovation Attachés to Irish embassies and consulates in key regions to support growth and strengthen international relations.
Ireland continued to strengthen its position as a key player in international education, targeting students from South Asia and Africa.
While Ireland now has the highest proportion of Indian students in the EU, Irish universities are aiming to double their numbers from African countries in the next five years.
Despite the growth, international students in Ireland have called for an improvement to their rights and experiences as they report increasing challenges with housing, racism, and employment.
Turkey
In the 2022/23 academic year, over 300,000 international students enrolled in Turkish universities, meeting a target set by the Turkey Foreign Economic Relations Board the previous year.
The latest figures show an increase from the 48,183 international students recorded in Turkey during the 2013/14 academic year.
In 2022/23, 34 countries sent more than 1,000 students each, with Syria (58,213 students), Azerbaijan (34,247), Iran (22,632), Turkmenistan (18,250), and Iraq (16,172) leading the way in international enrolments.
Approximately 40,000 African students from 54 countries were studying in the country, with one-third of them female and 20% enrolled in postgraduate programs.
Turkey gained attention as a rising education destination, with President Erdogan praising the economic contributions of international students.
Italy
Italy is another major study destination in the EU, with the country also being a key market for outbound students from the US.
In the 2022/23 academic year, Italy emerged as the most popular destination for US students, attracting 15% of those studying abroad, marking a 37% increase compared to the previous year.
But a recent requirement mandating visa Type D applicants, which includes students on programs longer than 90 days, to secure an individual appointment at an Italian consulate for fingerprinting has raised concerns on increasing administrative demands on consulates and prospective students.
US stakeholders have expressed concerns that the policy may lead students to choose alternative destinations and could further intensify the current trend of students favoring shorter study abroad programs.
