International students make a significant contribution to their host countries during their studies and after graduation in the labour market, too. As a result, there are multiple nations that are happily accepting international students in the coming years and positioning themselves as top choices for international education.
Students who are planning to study abroad can secure places at higher education institutions in Japan and France. Since then, Japan and France have recently presented their plans to welcome more international students.
Azerbaijan:
In the past year, Azerbaijan hosted 10,000 international students, and there are plans to increase this number further. With a current enrollment of 60,000 students in higher education, the country experienced a substantial rise from 5,765 international students the previous year to 10,000, marking a notable increase.
Finland:
To strengthen its workforce, Finland aims to attract 15,000 international students by 2030. Data from the Finnish Immigration Services (Migri) indicates that by the end of July last year, 8,762 non-EU applicants had submitted their first residence permit. Notably, there has been a 62 percent increase in international students applying for permanent residence in Finland.
France:
France has revealed plans to draw in more international students, particularly from India. French Ambassador H.E. Emmanuel Lenain disclosed his intentions to host 30,000 Indian students in the future. A survey underlines Paris as the most favoured city for international students, reinforcing France’s attractiveness as an educational destination.
Iran:
The Ministry of Science in Iran has introduced a plan to attract nearly 320,000 international students by the end of 2026. Mehdi Fayyazi, the Deputy Minister of Education, emphasized Iran’s commitment to becoming a global education hub by stating that $335 million is allocated to the education of international students in the country.
Japan:
Recent reports from the Japanese government indicate efforts to attract more international students. Japan aims to increase the number of Japanese students studying abroad and, as part of broader initiatives, plans to welcome 400,000 international students by 2033.
South Korea:
With a target of attracting 300,000 international students by the end of 2027, South Korea has witnessed a growth in international student numbers, reaching 207,125 students as of June 2023. This represents an impressive annual increase of 17.6 percent.
Taiwan:
Taiwan sets an ambitious goal to attract over 300,000 international students by the end of 2030, marking a doubling from the pre-pandemic figure of 130,000 recorded in 2018. This reflects Taiwan’s commitment to becoming a prominent destination for global education.
