The Market Monitor Digest (week 44/2025)
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
Asia: Will Asian international students turn away from the West?
By Times Higher Education, Oct 27, 2025
The article explores whether Asian students are beginning to shift away from traditional Western destinations—the US, UK, Australia, and Canada—toward more affordable and accessible study options in Asia and Europe. Factors such as Covid-era disruptions, inflation, visa restrictions, and rising costs have undermined the appeal of the “big four” study destinations. The report was prepared by BONARD.
Italy: Italy's language school sector settles at above pre-Covid levels
By Study Travel, Oct 27, 2025
The ASILS Italy member survey report shows that there were 28,945 international students enrolled in 2024, a 1.8 per cent increase over 28,442 in 2023, when the association exceeded pre-pandemic levels. There were 26,353 in-person students at member schools in 2024, a two per cent increase over the previous year, with a further 2,592 students enrolled for online courses, a slight decline against 2023 numbers.
Japan: Concerns over conservative policy impact on foreign students
By University World News, Oct 28, 2025
A rise in political and social conservatism in Japan is worrying academics concerned about the risk of a spillover into the higher education sector, which is currently seeking to increase foreign student numbers.
Global: Student interest in ‘Big 4’ Anglophone nations falls
By University World News, Oct 28, 2025
Interest in studying in Britain by Asian students for a bachelor degree rose 0.3% and for a masters by 0.7%, while among those in MENA countries, interest in going to Britain for a bachelor degree remains unchanged and has declined by 0.3% for prospective masters students.
South Korea: International students in Korea surpass 300,000
By Korea JoongAng Daily, Oct 29, 2025
The number of international students currently enrolled in universities or language schools in Korea has surpassed 300,000 for the first time. By nationality, Vietnamese students accounted for the largest share at 107,807 or 35.3 percent, followed by Chinese students at 86,179, Uzbek students at 18,155, Mongolian students at 17,870 and Nepalese students at 15,515.
UK: Bellerbys brand returns to the UK through new partnership with Twin Group
By The PIE News, Oct 29, 2025
Bellerbys Global, part of Study Group, has partnered with Twin Group, a UK-based international education specialist, to deliver the Bellerbys foundation program in the UK. This partnership marks the return of the 45-year-old Bellerbys brand in the UK, following the 2022 closure of Bellerbys College due to enrolment declines.
UK: More overseas students propel early applications to record levels
By Times Higher Education, Oct 29, 2025
Applications for early-deadline courses increased by 1.3 % year-on-year, reversing two years of decline, as record demand from China offset a drop in UK school-leavers. Applications from 18-year-old UK domestic students fell by 0.9 %, with Wales unchanged, Northern Ireland down 5.4 % and Scotland up 8.4%.
US: US eyes ending OPT tax break for international students
By The PIE News, Oct 30, 2025
The OPT Fair Tax Act, introduced by Republican senator Tom Cotton last month, seeks to remove payroll tax breaks for international students on the US’s postgraduation work route who generally cannot access the social security benefits that the taxes fund.
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