The International Student Recruitment & Orientation Market
By Tim Bauer & Alexandre Glaser
The world of international education is evolving at a rapid pace. With around 7 million students globally enrolled in international educational programs, the international student recruitment market is a vibrant space. From the year 2000 to 2021, we’ve seen a staggering 600% growth in the number of international students, making the global market for international education a $124 billion industry.
India on the rise
China and India continue to dominate as the top sources for international students, with India growing at a faster pace and expected to surpass China in the near future. However, the landscape is changing. Emerging markets like Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Indonesia are showing high growth anticipation, promising a diverse and vibrant international student community in the years to come. For instance, between 2019 and 2022, there was a surge of 400% in the number of Pakistani students pursuing their studies in the UK, largely driven by the attractive Graduate Route.
US remain the leader for study destinations
When it comes to preferred locations for studying abroad, the United States remains the top preferred study destination for international students, hosting over a million students from around the world. Following closely behind is the United Kingdom, which attracts approximately 500,000 international students each year, making it the second most popular choice. Australia ranks third and hosts around 400,000 international students annually. Canada, known for its diverse culture and top-tier universities, stands as the fourth most popular destination, receiving over 350,000 international students annually. Germany rounds out the top five as the only none-english speaking country, with over 350,000 international students, largely due to its strong engineering programs and the availability of courses taught in English.
The Future of International Education: Tech Platforms Leading the Way
Despite the expansion, hurdles remain. A substantial majority of students are uncertain about their choice of international school, and an even larger proportion struggle to gather all the necessary information to make an informed decision. To address this issue, a variety of platforms are surfacing, providing a range of solutions from Customer Relationship Management and Student Enrolment Platforms, to Study Abroad Exploration Platforms, and even Mentoring and Application Support Platforms.
Platforms like Enroly, Purlos, and Adventus.io are automating the onboarding and arrival processes for universities, reducing staff admin time, ensuring visa compliance, and highlighting key risk drivers behind students dropping out during the admissions process.
On the other hand, ApplyBoard, Educatly, and Global Study are connecting students with recruitment partners and academic institutions, simplifying the study abroad process, and providing universities with access to a global student market.
For those needing a more personalised approach, Unibuddy, CanApply, and Halp offer peer insights, document review, expert advice, and even free digital coaching to help students make confident decisions about their higher education journey.
Looking Ahead
The international student market is set to expand even further. Economic forecasts predict that the number of enrolled international students will reach 8 million people by 2025. As we navigate this exciting landscape, the role of technology and AI in shaping the future of international student recruitment cannot be overstated.
In conclusion, the international student recruitment market is a dynamic and rapidly evolving space. With the right tools and strategies, more and more students will find their perfect fit, and every institution attracts the right talent. The future of international education is here, and it’s more exciting than ever.
