The Market Monitor Digest (week 18/2026)
We're glad to bring you the key highlights from this week’s industry news. Thanks to the research from the BONARD Market Monitor team, you’re always in step with the latest market trends.
International Education
UK: 7 in 10 universities report declining international postgraduate enrolments; visa rejections are part of the story
By ICEF Monitor, April 23, 2026
Seventy percent of UK universities report declining international postgraduate enrolments. As in other Big Four destinations, the rejection rate for South Asian students is very high. Universities are adjusting their recruiting in some key markets to avoid falling into the UK government’s upcoming “amber zone” (for visa refusal rates exceeding 4%).
Global: New research finds global youth increasingly drawn to non-Western governance models and study destinations
By ICEF Monitor, April 23, 2026
Youth are increasingly drawn to countries outside of the West on multiple metrics, including for study abroad. For international students faced with more restrictive policies in the Big Four, there are other doors that are open, including in Asia and the Middle East. The implications of high visa rejection rates for students from Global South will be felt not only in international education, but in soft power and economic competitiveness.
New Zealand: New Zealand hits study destination target a decade early
By The Pie News, April 24, 2026
New Zealand has hit a key international education target nearly a decade ahead of schedule, according to a new survey by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ).
Malaysia: IDP adds Malaysia to higher education portfolio
By Study Travel Magazine, April 24, 2026
Malaysia adds to Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK and USA in IDP's student placement portfolio. Malaysia will be rolled out in selected student markets in an initial pilot phase.
China: China’s outbound student drop signals “maturing” market
By The Pie News, April 24, 2026
The return of China’s outbound student mobility rates to 2016 levels signals a market “reset” rather than collapse, say experts, as Beijing releases outgoing student mobility data for the first time in five years.
India: DAAD shifts Indian focus beyond student mobility
By The Pie News, April 27, 2026
In a conversation with The PIE, senior DAAD officials highlighted a shift in India strategy towards long-term partnerships and research, while tackling one-sided mobility and access gaps.
Australia: How many international students are studying in Australia?
By The Pie News, April 28, 2026
The PIE compiles the most recent data on the number of international students in Australia, including those in the post-graduate work stream, along with insights into the leading source markets.
France: France hikes non-EU tuition fees, move dubbed “blow to university autonomy”
By The Pie News, April 28, 2026
France will require most non-EU students to pay higher tuition fees from 2026/27, as part of a wider push to reshape international recruitment under its 'Choose France for Higher Education' strategy.
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