🌏 Global Student Flows: Australia and New Zealand
The QS Global Student Flows: Australia and New Zealand report is out, and highlights how pivotal the next few months will be for strategy in today’s dynamic education sector.
Hello 👋
International student recruitment in both Australia and New Zealand is expected to stagnate with low growth forecast until at least 2030. This edition of Global Student Flows uses data-driven insights to show where demand is shifting and how institutions can respond. For universities, policymakers, and providers, it highlights emerging opportunities, benchmarks regional flow patterns, and guides the development of resilient, evidence-led strategies.
This Week's Highlights
🔎 Australia and New Zealand. Access our latest global student flows report
🎓 Global Student Flows Insight Series. In-depth regional reports and webinars throughout 2025
🌏 In the News. France’s student numbers rise, the US faces visa and labour gaps, and Australia sees a drop in student visa applications
🔎 Australia and New Zealand's Higher Education Sectors Are Under Pressure
International student growth in Australia and New Zealand is expected to stagnate through 2030, as source markets compete for hub status and geopolitical factors curb demand. This pressures institutions to play to their strengths by differentiating, rebuilding reputation, and aligning programs with skills demand. The report offers in-depth mobility insights, expert recommendations to outpace forecasts, and three evidence-based scenarios to guide future strategy.
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.
🌏 Europe and Central Asia
🇫🇷 France hosts 443K international students in 2024-25, growth led by Africa, Europe, and South Asia; China declines slightly
🌎 North America
🇺🇸 US visa changes lengthen waits and limit access, creating barriers for international students and researchers
🇺🇸 US faces a 5.3M shortfall of college-educated workers by 2032, driven by retirements, low graduate numbers, and tight immigration
🇺🇸 Kean University gets $10M state funding to support its merger with New Jersey City University by 2026
🌏 East Asia and Pacific
🇨🇳 China approves 159 new TNE programs in 2025, targeting 8M enrolments and diversifying partners beyond English-speaking countries
🇦🇺 Australia sees a 33% drop in student visa applications, with 67K pending by July 2025 amid stricter integrity measures
🌍 Middle East & North Africa
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and Australia expand ties in higher ed and research, focusing on exchanges, joint programs, and Vision 2030 priorities
🌏 South Asia
🇮🇳 India exempts study-abroad consultant commissions from GST, boosting agency margins and compliance
Thank you for reading!
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