The international education sector was defined by change in 2024, as policy updates continued to affect student choice and institutional operations. As we wrap up the year, it’s easy to see the sector as more complex and with more uncertainty ahead. While that complexity isn’t a bad thing, navigating this new landscape requires careful attention to shifting trends.

This year, the popularity of the “Big Four” English-language destinations1 receded. Meanwhile, destinations like Germany, Ireland, and South Korea welcomed more students than ever, and surging interest from countries like Ghana and Nepal reshaped campuses. These trends demonstrate that international student interests are diversifying, setting the stage for future shifts in 2025.

We covered these topics and more in 2024 to provide our readers with real-time strategic insights. Let’s take a look at some of the most pivotal moments and learnings from the past 12 months.

• Policy changes in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia aimed to limit international student inflows at specific study levels. However, these limitations negatively impacted destination appeal and contributed to downturns across most levels of study, not just the ones targeted by these measures.
• News published in source countries about international students in Canada, Australia, the UK, and the US has polarized year-over-year since the pandemic, affecting student outlook.
• Growing student populations from Nepal and Ghana have helped to diversify campuses across major Anglophone study destinations.
• Edu-X Pulse Surveys this fall highlighted rising student interest in studying in the US and the UK, where Australia and Canada have become less desirable.