StudyWorld returns
to Brighton for the first time
in 20 years
The evolution of global English language student flows, UK inbound tourism and the importance of the pre-arrival student connection were seminar topics at English UK’s StudyWorld Conference this week. Plus, there were updates from English UK on its lobbying efforts, while recent changes to Accreditation UK criteria were also discussed.
Returning to Brighton after a 20-year hiatus, the StudyWorld event welcomed UK English language centres and other UK international course providers, service providers and agents for two-days of scheduled meetings and networking opportunities in one of the UK’s most inclusive cities.
Kicking off the seminar programme on day one, Ivana Bartosik from BONARD explored how global English language student flows have evolved over the last decade, highlighting the notable contraction and expansion of certain markets, such as China and Colombia, and the UK’s position alongside its competitor markets. Confident more juniors are set to travel abroad globally, Ivana noted that the future of ELT firmly rests with the junior market and that the UK continues to build on its legacy.
She also presented comparative QUIC data for the sector’s peak Q3 (July–September) period, highlighting Türkiye and Argentina as the only two markets in the top 10 to achieve growth in both adult and junior enrolments in 2025.
Looking at 2025 and beyond, Ivana noted that there is likely to be further consolidation in ELT student mobility globally, plus shifts in junior course preferences away from EAP towards General English plus additional activities. Meanwhile, AI will continue to affect English language teaching, and Ivana encouraged members not to think of AI as the enemy but as a supplement to language learning.
Anna Harris from VisitBritain gave an overview of the current perceptions of the UK in key inbound markets and revealed that, for the first time, the UK ranked number one (out of 50 nations) as a ‘good place to study for educational qualifications’, according to the Anholt Nation Brands Index 2025. The UK also ranked highly for culture (4th), tourism (8th) and overall nation brand (6th).
Ivana Bartosik from BONARD explored global English language student flows
Anna also covered the UK’s inbound tourism performance, noting that inbound visits are expected to recover fully by the end of 2026, followed by steady growth up to 2030. Meanwhile, “study” visitors - defined as those studying in the UK for less than one year - saw significant growth in 2024 (with 2025 data not yet available), said Anna. However, numbers remain well below 2019 levels, based on figures extracted from the UK’s International Passenger Survey.
Each year VisitBritain sponsors questions on the International Passenger Survey to understand more about visitors to the UK, shared Anna. Additional questions being asked in 2026 include whether a visitor has taken an English language course while in the country, and if so, for how long. This will provide the UK’s ELT sector with more granular data going forward, she said.
English UK talked about achieving three of the six objectives it called for in its May position paper to government
The English UK team, meanwhile, updated delegates on the association’s campaigning and lobbying efforts. Achievements from its May position paper to government include an agreement, in principle, to an EU youth mobility scheme (YES), the extension of ID card travel for German groups and the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027.
However, there is still plenty to do, confirmed the team, including dates and a numbers cap for the Youth Experience Scheme, securing an official start date for German ID travel, plus the extension of both schemes to other countries, among others.
The stipulation that centres (and agent partners) take reasonable measures to establish student motivations pre-study, among other criteria changes by Accreditation UK, were highlighted by Naadiya Rawat, English UK’s Compliance Officer. She suggested centres add questions to school application forms, conduct student interviews and record answers accordingly to show inspection staff necessary steps are being taken.
The pre-arrival stage of the international student journey was also explored in a session led by Jacqueline Kassteen of Jackfruit Marketing . She noted that the period between booking a course and physically arriving at the school is often overlooked, with students left feeling disengaged and uninformed. She called for greater transparency and wider discussion and encouraged centres to turn the pre-arrival experience into a powerful engagement process through touchpoints that build curiosity for the study experience ahead.
Later, at the evening welcome reception held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole and sponsored by Elac Study Vacations , English UK Chair Shoko Doherty reflected on the challenging trading conditions facing UK ELT, noting that while the boom years may had passed, there were positives ahead as the sector settles into a new era.
StudyWorld 2027 will take place in Glasgow from January 27 – 29.
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