Visa clampdowns put brakes on international student mobility

Clampdowns on international student visas across some of the biggest higher education markets are having a clear impact on recruitment, according to a new report.

The Global Enrolment Benchmark Survey, conducted by Studyportals, found that 41 per cent of institutions reported fewer international postgraduate students in this year’s intake compared to 2023; whereas 31 per cent reported a higher intake of international postgraduate students.

The survey, which recorded data from 365 institutions across 66 countries, showed enrolment fell by an average of 27 per cent in Canada, 18 per cent in the UK, and 6 per cent in the US. African countries reported no change, Asian countries a 4 per cent fall, and other European countries a 2 per cent increase.

The report, produced in partnership with Nafsa: Association of International Educators and the Oxford Test of English, also showed that 31 per cent of providers took in fewer overseas learners at undergraduate level.

The report urges universities to “push back against restrictive policies” through collective, data-informed advocacy.

“The survey results affirm that government policies factor into student choices, by either facilitating or hindering access, and should not be underestimated,” said Fanta Aw, chief executive of Nafsa.

“Furthermore, the survey not surprisingly shows that affordability, accommodations, and language proficiency in key destinations affect student mobility and must be considered as core elements of student support.”

The survey found that half of the responding institutions globally cited restrictive government policies or problems obtaining a student visa as a significant issue.

But those in anglophone countries were more affected, with 93 per cent of universities in Canada, 61 per cent in the UK and 58 per cent in the US reporting problems.

In the last year, the governments of Canada and the UK have introduced restrictions on international students, while applicants have also told of lengthy delays to obtain US study visas. Australia, which has also limited its overseas intake, was not included in the survey results.

“Usually, when some destinations face challenges, we see alternatives benefit as students shift their plans,” said Edwin van Rest, chief executive of Studyportals.

“However, the broader drop in postgraduate enrolments in particular suggests that many discouraged students are not simply changing destinations but are instead delaying or even cancelling their study plans altogether.”

He said students that were discouraged from going to Canada, UK, or Australia in 2024 often struggled to find what they are looking for in alternative destinations.

To cope with these challenges, respondents identified diversification into new markets as the most anticipated strategy, while almost a third of them said more aggressive enrolment goals will be very likely in the next year.

Along with the effects of what has been dubbed the “great policy backlash”, the survey also revealed the impact of financial concerns across the world – particularly in Canada.

In Canada, 40 per cent of institutions anticipated large changes to degree programmes, 60 per cent thought budget cuts were very likely to occur over the next 12 months, and 27 per cent expected staffing cuts.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com