The Market Monitor Digest (week 30/2025)
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
Australia: Australia’s high visa fees ‘undermine diversification efforts’
By Times Higher Education, July 21, 2025
Joint statement calls for immediate cost reductions for those coming to study for 12 months or less. High visa fees are restricting access to Australian higher education to all but the wealthiest students and hurting the sector’s ability to diversify.
UK: International applicants to UK universities show stronger confidence and resilience, index reveals
By Study Travel, July 21, 2025
International students applying to UK universities in 2025 demonstrate notably higher confidence levels and different priorities compared to their UK peers, according to the latest Unite Students Applicant Index. The report finds that international applicants are generally more self-assured across a range of areas.
Canada: Canada’s international student program to face auditor general probe
By Global News, July 21, 2025
The federal auditor general is planning to conduct a review of Canada’s international student program, which has seen a surge in admissions that critics say the country was ill-prepared to handle. Critics, including the opposition Conservatives, have argued Canada’s rapid increase in international student admissions over recent years drove up youth unemployment and worsened the housing crisis.
New Zealand: New Zealand ups student work limit to 25 hours per week
By The Higher Education Review, July 22, 2025
To enhance its international education sector, New Zealand has raised the part-time work limit for qualifying international students from 20 to 25 hours weekly. The shift in policy is a component of a larger plan to draw more international students, especially as nations such as the U.S. and Australia strengthen their immigration and educational regulations.
Australia: Victoria provides AUS$5 million to support international education
By Study Travel, July 23, 2025
The government of Victoria has announced AUS$5 million of funding for its universities and TAFEs to develop and deliver offshore programmes to more international students, enhance partnerships and increase exchange courses. The government said that 16 Victoria-based providers will receive grants of up to AUS$280,000 to deliver courses to international students outside of Australia, which it said will build on the state’s leadership in transnational education.
Netherlands: Dutch government rolls back curb on English-taught degrees
By The PIE News, July 21, 2025
The Dutch government has scrapped a proposed Foreign Language Education Test (TAO) for existing programs, a measure intended to reduce the number of English-taught degrees in the Netherlands. If implemented, the TAO would have required Dutch universities to demonstrate that teaching a degree in any language other than Dutch was not only a necessity but that it added value to the program.
Africa: Increase in student and weeks for South Africa's ELT schools
By Study Travel, July 24, 2025
South Africa’s ELT sector had a slight increase in students and student weeks in 2024, according to the annual report by association English South Africa (ESA), which shows strong growth from the main countries of Saudi Arabia and Brazil balanced by declines from some other markets and increasing usage of agents.
Australia: Australia’s education leaders push for lower student visa fees for short-term students
By The PIE News, July 23, 2025
Australia’s high student visa fee is hurting short-term study sectors like ELICOS, but sector leaders say lobbying efforts may soon bring relief. The visa fee is also having a negative impact on international parternships, with partner universities saying that they will direct exchange students elsewhere due to cost, in turn reducing opportunities for Australian students to study abroad.
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