🌏 2030 Outlook: 3 Scenarios for International Education
With the QS Global Student Flows Report out now and the Back to School Summit coming September 9–11, 2025, the next few months will be pivotal for shaping strategy in a rapidly evolving education landscape.
Hello 👋
By 2030, QS forecasts 8.5M international students worldwide, with future growth hinging on how universities address challenges and opportunities; the first Global Student Flows report maps where and why students move, offering three scenarios to test and refine strategy.
This Week's Highlights
🔎 Three Scenarios for International Ed in 2030. Access our latest global student flows report
🎓 Global Student Flows Insight Series. In-depth regional reports and webinars throughout 2025
🌏 In the News. UK faces £621M loss from new student fee levy, US freezes $100M study-abroad funding, and Asia-Pacific nations revise student policies
🔎 3 Scenarios for Global Student Flows
Our 2025 forecast projects approximately 8.5 million international students by 2030, representing a CAGR of just below 4%. Between 2020 and 2025, student priorities significantly evolved, reflecting a deeper focus on outcomes and institutional reputation. Powered by QS, Global Student Flows sets out 3 future scenarios and 15 key drivers shaping global student mobility to 2030.
Global Student Flows maps 4,000 mobility routes across 80+ countries – combining simulation, policy expertise, and indications of shifting demand.
🎓 Global Student Flows Insight Series
Forecasting thousands of student flows from 2,500 cities, 15 core drivers, 3 scenarios, 1 million simulations – analysed by global experts in policy, economics, and higher education. Throughout 2025, we will release 12 incisive reports and expert-led webinars - featuring forecasts through 2030, market intelligence to inform your TNE strategy, rankings analysis, and much more.
💬 2025 Back to School Summit
Join 700 university leaders, industry CEOs, investors, and philanthropists at the 2025 Back to School Summit, September 9–11 in New York City 🇺🇸. Two full days of high-impact presentations, private roundtables, fireside chats, and curated networking with top companies, global foundations, and major institutional investors.
Connect with us for the 2025 Sponsorship Brochure for deeper partnerships.
🌏 Europe and Central Asia
🇬🇧 UK plans 6% levy on international student fees, risking £621M annual losses for universities
🇹🇷 Türkiye launches Turkish program for international students aged 7–15 to aid integration
🌎 North America
🇺🇸 US freezes $100M in study‑abroad programs, affecting 12,500+ participants and 7,400 international scholars
🌏 East Asia and Pacific
🇦🇺 Australia to amend ESOS Act in 2025–26, boosting sector integrity and protections for overseas students
🇯🇵 From Apr 2026, Japan will let select universities exceed enrolment caps by 5% for top international students
🇲🇾 Malaysia’s 2024 international student applications up 26% to 115,200, led by China and Southeast Asia
Thank you for reading!
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