Image
As global student flows shift, what’s next for the UK?
In this blog, Andy Plant (Director, UK & Ireland, QS) and Selma Toohey (Executive Director, UK & Europe, QS) will take a closer look at how international student recruitment is changing. As more countries become popular study destinations, traditional markets face new challenges. They discuss what these shifts mean for UK universities and how the UK can continue attracting top global talent.
This topic will be explored in detail during a breakout session at International Higher Education Forum 2025. Join us and dive into fresh insights and discuss the future of international education in the UK.
Caps in Canada, elections in Australia with an ongoing messy debate about restricting international students, policy changes in other destinations about the value of overseas students – global international education seems to be at a crossroads.
But while traditional English-speaking study destinations are facing unique challenges with attracting international students, prospective learners are still on the move. International student mobility has proved resilient.
Higher education systems that have historically enrolled large numbers of students and scholars from overseas are seeing new competition in a global market.
In 2024, Turkish universities welcomed 340,000 international students, and while unlikely to hit a target of enrolling 250,000 international students, Malaysia is increasing total numbers from overseas, particularly from countries such as China, India and Indonesia.
Singapore, Thailand, Taipei, China, not to mention European destinations such as Germany – which is expected to be home to more than 400,000 international students in 2024-25 – Portugal, Italy, Spain, Greece and France are all increasingly seen as new and up-and-coming study destinations.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are all building higher education ecosystems – often in collaboration with global partners via TNE initiatives – that are seeking to attract international learners and talent, as well as improve quality for domestic students.
Despite the volatility of international travel, with caps on student visas, increased background checks and changes in policy, HolonIQ by QS data has previously shown that there are expected to be seven million international students around the world by 2030.
At QS, we closely track international student flows, offering an up-to-date and relevant picture that goes beyond what’s available from other data sources. If any government is making policy decisions based on figures that are two years old, they are making choices that are ill-informed and will not have the desired impact.
At UUKi’s IHEF conference in June, we will offer a preview of what is to come.
Promoted content
Despite increasing volatility, the global demand for international education has proven remarkably strong – growing by 4.1% annually over the previous decade, and still maintaining a 3.9% growth trajectory this decade, even with the pandemic pause.
The UK continues to perform well, and for good reason: our education system is recognised globally for its quality. With 90 UK institutions in the QS World University Rankings – second only to the US, and 15 in the global top 100 – we hold a distinct advantage in the global race for talent.
But students today are looking for more than prestige. They’re looking for a high-quality education in an environment that genuinely welcomes them, with the career development to change their future and to have an impact on a sustainable world. The UK can provide this.
So how do we, as a sector, do more to harness our collective strength? How do we attract top global talent to study here, to research, to innovate and to create jobs and help our outstanding higher education system grow stronger?
What is next for the UK? It all depends on how universities react to international mobility market forces now and prepare for the future.
Join us at IHEF2025 for the breakout session where our authors will dive deeper into this subject and share their expert insights. Don't miss your chance to be part of the conversation!
