Industry Update | June 2025

Student visa trends reveal shifts in student behaviour, driven by policy and new study options

By Sarah Verkinova

The UK continues to show strong momentum, with growing student visa applications and interest in graduate programmes — especially as other major destinations face challenges.

But how does the rest of the world compare?

• Q1 2025 student visa data declines in the US, Canada, and Australia — leading to a 28% drop across the “Big Four” and New Zealand (all study levels, Q1 2024 vs Q1 2025);

• While New Zealand was expected to grow in early 2025, overall trends remained stable, with a 6% increase in higher education;

• The UK’s growth was led by Indian and Nigerian students at the Master’s level;

• Nepal is gaining momentum across multiple destinations;

• Nigeria remains a mixed picture — with strong results for the UK, but more varied trends elsewhere.

Curious how your study destination compares?

Explore the full student visa data breakdown in our recent webinar and learn what it means for international recruitment strategy.

Explore key visa trends by destination

Insights for your student recruitment

Now that you have seen the latest student visa trends, the question becomes: How do you use these insights to strengthen your student recruitment strategy?

Below, explore key recommendations from our experts — including how to identify the right student markets, anticipate demand, and choose the best recruitment partners.

Upcoming webinars

Latest data and insights from the international education sector

Key takeaways from QS Europe: Innovation, values, and skills define future-ready education

Reporting back from the QS Higher Education Summit – Europe 2025 in Porto, we have gathered insights that signal where global education is heading:

• There is a growing demand to align university curricula with future workforce needs;

• Innovation, creativity, and skill-building are central to academic reform;

• Transnational education must be inclusive and aligned with shared values to serve both institutions and students.

Europe’s education sector is clearly evolving. Our conversations confirmed what data already indicates: institutions across Europe are becoming increasingly competitive in attracting international students.

Thank you, QS, for hosting such a valuable and insightful event.

Read more

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