How Policy Shifts in Major Host Countries Are Redefining Choices of International Students
With key destinations such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia making some important changes in their international education policy over the past couple of years, this has dramatically affected international student mobility. Students have started to eye other education markets seriously. In the next blog, let’s examine the changing policy at these erstwhile destinations and emerging trends from across the global education landscape.
United Kingdom: shifting policy, shifting sentiment
The UK has consistently ranked as one of the most popular destinations for international students. Recent policy changes, however, have seriously dented its growth in international students. In the year that ended in March 2024, the UK awarded more than 446,000 study visas, which represents a 6.2% drop compared to the previous year. This comes after the ban on dependents and less friendly rhetoric from the previous government.
Since the election of the new government under Sir Keir Starmer on 4 July 2024, some new vigour and focus have been brought into economic growth by way of foreign students. This is supported in the right direction by the Graduate Route, which will enable students to stay and work for two years after completing graduation—making money and retaining talent. However, earlier restrictive policies have already led many students to look at other destinations.
Canada: Tightening the Regulations and Raising Financial Requirements
Reform measures in Canada’s International Student Programme introduced a more restrictively controlled environment for international students through the temporary imposition of a two-year cap on study permits. The latter does not apply to Master’s, PhD, and K-12 students, nor to those currently holding permits. Facing this, the minimum financial requirement in study permit applications was increased to C$20,635 as a response to the galloping cost of living.
Adding to the complications for a prospective student, some of the new visa requirements and removal of many institutions from the PGWP programme were brought into action. On one hand, there is a huge demand for health professionals and other skilled workers, but due to stricter regulations, the approval rate for study permits has remained low, with an overall delay in processing.
Australia: Tightening its Reign on International Student Intake
Australia brought out its migration strategy in December 2023 and the genuine student requirement in March 2024. All this in a bid to cut down intake of foreign students following a record intake in 2022–23. Making matters worse, the international student visa fee has now been increased from A$ 710 to A$ 1,600 with effect from July 1, 2024, making it dearer to study in Australia compared to other countries.
Preliminary student and education sector responses to these changes have been overwhelmingly negative. While the actual ramifications are yet to be realised, there is already evidence of a downturn in interest from prospective international students.
The Growth of Non-traditional Markets
With traditional destination countries continuing to tighten restrictions, rising markets in Asia and Europe vie for greater shares of international students. Germany and Ireland are among those that have also indicated very strong growths in international enrollments. Interest in Germany had grown for 50% of respondents in ApplyBoard’s latest Recruitment Partner RP Pulse Survey. In Ireland, there was a 12% increase in international enrollments in the academic year 2022/23.
Beyond these, other countries like the Netherlands, Singapore, and Malaysia are investing heavily in their education sectors. Courses taught in English make them, with partnerships from globally renowned universities, very attractive alternatives to the traditional Anglophone markets.
Conclusion: A New Landscape for International Education
These policy changes in the UK, Canada, and Australia have been accompanied by government attempts at greater intervention over immigration flows and closer monitoring in schools. However, all of these policies contributed to unwittingly pushing students towards other alternative markets, able to remake the global education landscape. With more students eyeing fresh emerging destinations, the future for international student mobility will be more diversified and dynamic than ever before.
