The international education landscape is undergoing a major shift as emerging markets gain popularity and traditional study destinations face challenges. Recent trends indicate that countries like France, Germany, South Korea, Japan, China, New Zealand, Malaysia, Ireland, Turkey, and Italy are becoming more and more appealing to international students.
For example, Germany is expected to host over 400,000 international students in the 2024–2025 winter semester, with Indians making up the largest cohort, France has seen a 4.5% increase in international student enrollments, with President Emmanuel Macron aiming to attract 30,000 Indian students by 2030, South Korea has emerged as a major Asian study destination, with over 205,000 international students currently enrolled, by 2027, the country hopes to welcome 300,000 international students, with Vietnam, China, and Uzbekistan being its top source markets.
Japan is also hoping to accommodate 400,000 overseas students by 2033, which is an ambitious goal. With more than 255,000 international students registered in 2021, China, the largest source market for international students worldwide, is rapidly growing in popularity as a study destination.
With a 24% increase in international student enrollments year over year, New Zealand’s international education sector is rapidly recovering. By 2027, the nation hopes to double its economic contribution from foreign education to $4.4 billion.
Other newer study abroad locations including Turkey, Italy, Malaysia, and Ireland are also becoming more and more well-liked. By 2025, Malaysia hopes to have 250,000 international students, while by 2030, Ireland wants to increase the number of international students by 10%. With Syria, Azerbaijan, and Iran as its top three host countries, Turkey has already achieved its goal of welcoming 300,000 international students.
As the international education landscape continues to change, it is evident that emerging study destinations are becoming more and more appealing to international students. With their distinctive offerings, competitive pricing, and welcoming policies, these countries are poised to play a important role in shaping the future of international education. The shift towards emerging study destinations is largely driven by changing policies and regulations in traditional markets. The US, UK, Canada, and Australia, which have long dominated the international education landscape, are facing challenges like changing immigration policies, rising costs, and increasing competition.
