🌏 3 Scenarios for International Education in 2030
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 expects the international student population to reach 8.5 million. What happens beyond that will depend on how universities adapt to shifting demands. The first report in our Global Student Flows series explores the current landscape of student mobility and presents three evidence-based scenarios to help institutions evaluate and future-proof their strategies.
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. US passes higher education reform, Australian Department of Home Affairs sign with LanguageCert, and South Korea strengthens universities
🔎 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.
🌎 North America
🇺🇸 The US passed its biggest higher education reform in 20 years
🇺🇸 Texas A&M–San Antonio will launch its first Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in fall 2026, focusing on underserved communities
🌏 East Asia and Pacific
🇦🇺 The Australian Department of Home Affairs has signed a strategic agreement with LanguageCert
🇰🇷 South Korea plans to strengthen nine regional universities to match Seoul National University and reduce regional disparities
🌏 South Asia
🇮🇳 India will shift to a binary “accredited” or “not accredited” model to simplify and improve its higher ed accreditation system
🌏 Middle East and North Africa
🇪🇬 Egypt has signed 12 cooperation agreements with the University of Louisville to enhance its international academic presence
Thank you for reading!
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