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Optimise your International Student Recruitment Strategy

Step-by-step guide to international student recruitment - BONARD Education shares its best practices

February, 2025

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FREE GUIDE: INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RECRUITMENT STRATEGY

Boost your international student enrollment with a step-by-step guide trusted by educational institutions worldwide

Access the International Student Recruitment Strategy Guide—a step-by-step framework providing insights into the strategic process we follow to optimise international student recruitment for our partners

“NEAS Australia utilised this process to develop our three-year strategy for 2023–2026. I have also worked closely with BONARD to develop qualitative and quantitative analysis of activities of QALEN – the Quality Assurance Language in Education Network – helping this consortium to collect data on its member activities to inform discussion at our annual symposia. I highly recommend engagement with BONARD as a survey or data collection partner.”

Patrick Pheasant
Chief Executive Officer
NEAS

NEAS logo

“We had incredible increase in the target markets in terms of interest, in terms of inquiries that came in through our various channels. It was really very personalized for our specific needs.”

Joel Weaver
Study Hawaii

Study Hawaii

“We have engaged BONARD’s expertise in mainland China to help with agent engagement, social media development, and social media campaigns. Each time we’ve worked with BONARD, their staff provided excellent industry intelligence, professional support, and creative problem-solving.”

Ramona Hamilton Cook
Senior Marketing Manager
Richmond School District

Richmond

“BONARD has arranged our recent China exploration trip to network with prospective agents and institution partners in Tier 2 cities. The BONARD staff were very professional and helpful when making initial connections and provided ground support during travel. They have great market intelligence of the Chinese market, which helped us to enter the market in a very cost-effective way.”

Saurabh Vashisht
International Recruitment Officer
Medicine Hat College

Medicine

FREE GUIDE: INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RECRUITMENT STRATEGY

Well-defined student recruitment strategy matters

Increase international student intake

Increase your international student intake by

10%

*annually on average

when the recommended steps are followed

Streamline your capacity

Streamline your

capacity up to

54%

while growing your

international student numbers

See ROI

See ROI

in

12 - 24

months

upon implementation

FREE GUIDE: INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RECRUITMENT STRATEGY

What you will find inside

Key components of a successful international student recruitment strategy

Expert tipsfrom BONARD Education on which elements matter most

Guidance on what to manage in-house and what to outsource

SOURCE MARKET REPORT - CHINA 2024

Webinar recording

The webinar covered an in-depth presentation of digital recruitment channels and an overview of outbound Chinese student mobility statistics, including visa grant rates in selected destinations.

What was discussed:

  • A detailed overview of key findings from the report;

  • Practical strategies to enhance your student recruitment efforts in China;

  • A Q&A session addressing report-related questions.

Request the webinar presentation here.

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Access the guide now and take the next step in optimising your international student enrolment

FREE GUIDE: INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RECRUITMENT STRATEGY

FAQs

1. Why does my institution need a student recruitment strategy?

Recruiting without a clear strategy often wastes time and budget. A data-driven strategy ensures your admissions and marketing teams target the right source markets, align efforts, and achieve sustainable international student enrolment growth.

2. How can Student Recruitment Strategy improve our student recruitment results?

We help you attract not just more students, but the right students. Our strategies improve conversion rates, diversify your student body, reduce unqualified applications, and make internal student recruitment processes more efficient.

3. How does BONARD Education identify the best source markets for our institution?

We analyse student visa issuance data, enrolment trends, agent networks, affordability, and programme demand. This evidence-based approach pinpoints source markets where your institution has the strongest potential to succeed.

4. Does BONARD Education recruit students directly, or just provide a strategy?

We do not recruit students on your behalf. Instead, we deliver the strategy, identify suitable partners (such as vetted recruitment agents), and arrange introductions so you can build the right network.

5. Is the Student Recruitment Strategy fixed or customisable?

It’s fully flexible. You can select specific components, but we recommend the full package. Each part builds on the others, from institutional assessment to source market identification and entry strategies.

What is an international student recruitment strategy?

It’s a data-driven plan that helps institutions attract and enrol the right international students by defining suitable source markets, improving internal processes, and setting clear recruitment goals.

What makes BONARD Education’s approach unique in student recruitment?

Our strategies are based on real-time visa and enrolment data, combined with competitor benchmarking and partner mapping. This ensures evidence-based decisions, not guesswork.

What results can we expect from a recruitment strategy?

Results vary, based on dedicated KPIs set at the beginning of our cooperation. Institutions typically aim to improve conversion, diversify international student cohorts, or optimise internal processes that make international student recruitment more effective.

How fast will we see impact from the strategy?

Process improvements can deliver results within months. New market entry and diversification usually show measurable enrolment results in 12–18 months.

Does BONARD share examples or case studies?

Yes. We provide anonymised case studies of institutions that achieved measurable growth, improved efficiency, or expanded into new source markets.

How long does BONARD Education’s student recruitment cooperation last?

It’s continuous. We review progress with you at least quarterly, ensuring the strategy adapts to new data and market changes.

Do you just deliver a student recruitment plan on paper?

No. You receive a clear roadmap plus ongoing consultancy to guide implementation and monitor results.

Is the strategy one-off, or does it evolve over time?

It evolves. We adapt recommendations as student visa trends, enrolment data, and market dynamics shift.

How much input is required from our team?

We need input during the assessment stage. After that, a dedicated project manager provides guidance while your admissions and marketing teams apply the strategy.

Does the strategy also improve internal admissions processes?

Yes. We often identify ways to streamline admissions, agent communication, and application handling to increase efficiency.

Do you work only with universities?

No. We support universities, colleges, K-12 schools, language centres, and associations involved in international student recruitment.

Can smaller institutions with limited resources benefit?

Yes. The strategy scales to your needs, helping you prioritise high-impact international student recruitment actions.

Does BONARD benchmark us against competitors?

Yes. We analyse how your institution compares to peers in key source markets and recommend positioning strategies to stand out.

Why do we need to define suitable student source markets?

Because not all markets want to study in your country or at your type of institution. A data-driven approach avoids wasted effort and increases enrolment success.