The Market Monitor Digest (week 23/2025)
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
US: US visa interview pause update expected within days
By The PIE News, June 04, 2025
State officials indicate an update on the Trump administration’s controversial freeze on new student visa appointments will come in a matter of days. No details on extent of appointment backlog, as international education stakeholders express concerns about incoming students’ ability to get a visa on time. Government insists no existing visa appointments have been cancelled since the pause, despite contradictory reports from NAFSA.
US: US ELT numbers moving toward pre-pandemic norms
By ICEF Monitor, June 04, 2025
If you look at English Language Teaching (ELT) numbers in the United States year-over-year, it is easy to draw very different conclusions due to the significant fluctuations in student numbers leading up to – and of course during – the COVID-19 pandemic. Enrolment in Intensive English Programmes in the United States reached 92% of pre-pandemic levels in 2024.
UK: International student interest in the US falls to the lowest level since mid-pandemic
By Studyportals, June 03, 2025
Pageviews for US programs droppede by 50% between Jan–Apr 2025. US market share fell by 30% in the same period. Compared to the 2023 peak, the market share is now down by almost 50%. Top alternative destinations: UK: 9% of US program searchers also browse UK universities (up from 8.5%), others: Spain, Ireland, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland.
UK: Russell Group aims for ‘transparency’ in contextual admissions
By Times Higher Education, June 04, 2025
Russell Group universities have promised to be more transparent about contextual admissions following calls to make the process fairer. In a new plan focused on tackling educational inequality, including for care leavers, the group of research intensive universities committed to working with one another, as well as the wider sector, to establish a “consistent language” for contextual admissions policies.
Sweden: Role of state grants for international students examined
By University World News, June 02, 2025
A recent report that seeks to understand how better to support fee-paying international students in Sweden indicates that SEK2.53 billion (US$264 million) was awarded in 10,615 grants over a period of 11 years. The true impact of the grants is still a matter of debate.
Europe: How can academic ties between Italy and UK be strengthened?
By University World News, June 02, 2025
There has been a significant decline in Italian students enrolling in UK higher education since the UK’s departure from the European Union, with a 51% drop overall and a 57.8% decrease in first-year enrolments between the 2020 to 2021 and 2023 to 24 academic years.
China & US: US curbs on Chinese students ‘free kick’ for Asian universities
By Times Higher Education, June 01, 2025
Chinese students begin to make alternative plans after Trump targets visas, but anglophone destinations not guaranteed to benefit. The US’ crackdown on Chinese student visas may accelerate declines in international student flows out of China as the government condemns the Trump administration’s “unreasonable” decision.
UK: The financial impact of government policy decisions on universities
By Universities UK, June 03, 2025
The government has recently made policy announcements which are impacting funding to universities and the costs they face. Our analysis estimates the net impact of government policy decisions will be a £1.4 billion reduction in funding to higher education providers in England in 2025–26.
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