International students are increasingly turning away from the traditional ‘Big Four’ study abroad destinations due to restrictive government policies and visa challenges, a new survey has revealed. According to the latest edition of the Global Enrolment Benchmark Survey, conducted by Studyportals in collaboration with NAFSA: Association of International Educators and the Oxford Test of English, universities across the globe mentioned visa costs and delays, migration limitations and policy uncertainty as major obstacles. They also spoke to the lack of consultation, and the disruptive manner in which government policies were rolled out.

62% of the 240 institutions surveyed find government policies on international students and/or problems obtaining a visa a significant issue for students to overcome to enrol. This includes 93% of universities surveyed in Canada, 86% of universities in Australia, and 70% of those in the United States. That contrasts with just 6% of responding institutions in Asian countries that feel that this issue is significant. This is a change from the last intake, where just half of institutions surveyed cited it as a significant issue — second to affording tuition and cost of living.

Fanta Aw, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators says, “Amid sweeping political shifts in the United States, this survey offers a powerful snapshot of how policy turbulence is reshaping global student mobility. The message is unmistakable: international students are paying attention—and increasingly turning away from the traditional ‘Big Four’ destinations in search of stability, opportunity, and affordability. It is really about the “Big Ten” now. If higher education leaders and policymakers fail to act, they risk losing not just talent, but also the innovation, research, and economic vitality that international students generate.”

Featuring responses from institutions across 48 countries the findings reveal mixed trends for the January to March 2025 academic intake — a crucial period that accounts for 32% of global Bachelor’s and Master’s programme start dates. 

Diverging enrolment trends across different parts of the world 

For Undergraduate enrolments 26% of institutions surveyed reported a decline in enrolments, while 40% saw enrolments staying at the same level as last year’s intake.   34% saw growth in enrolments. 

For Postgraduate enrolments, 34% of institutions reported a decline, 37% remained stable, and 29% experienced growth. 

Key obstacles to student enrolment 

Restrictive government policies and/or problems obtaining a visa: 62% of institutions surveyed view these as a significant issue for students to overcome to enrol. This includes 93% of universities surveyed in Canada, 86% of universities in Australia, and 70% of those in the US. 

Cost of living and tuition fees: these remain a significant concern for institutions globally (46%), with particular emphasis in the UK, where 57% of institutions cited this as a top challenge. 

Meeting academic admissions requirements: 15% of all responding institutions and 41% of institutions in Asian countries indicate that this is a significant issue.  

Meeting English proficiency requirements: Consistent with the findings of the 2024 survey, one in ten institutions view this as a significant issue.

Sara Pierson OBE, Managing Director English Assessment, Oxford University Press adds, “The continuation of this ground-breaking initiative to capture real-time data on international enrolments highlights the sector’s prevailing need to remain agile in an increasingly volatile landscape. With uncertainty in student mobility patterns, enabling institutions to access current data is crucial for informed decision-making. Diversification into new markets remains the most universally anticipated strategy, and meeting English proficiency is a significant issue for 1 in 10 institutions worldwide, which is consistent with the 2024 survey. This data underscores the importance of our work at the Oxford Test of English in supporting institutions and enabling opportunities for English language learners globally.”

What institutions are anticipating over the next 12 months 

Budget cuts: 67% of Canadian institutions view them as very likely over the next 12 months (compared to 38% of institutions globally), as well as 64% of institutions in Australia and 57% in the UK. 

Large changes to subjects/programmes: 17% of all institutions expect this in the next 12 months. The UK and Canada have the highest proportion of institutions that anticipate these changes (48% and 33% respectively) 

Diversification into new markets remains the most universally anticipated strategy among the institutions. 

Edwin van Rest, CEO and Co-founder of Studyportals sums up, “The global market for academic talent is as dynamic and complex as it has ever been, this poses unique challenges and uncertainties for students and universities in the traditionally largest destinations. International students have proven to be of broad and unique contribution to their host countries, and some upcoming destinations are effectively making use of the current market situation to advance talent attraction.”