Visa clampdowns put brakes on international student mobility

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

?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 바카라사이트 UK, and 6 per cent in 바카라사이트 US. African countries reported no change, Asian countries a 4 per cent fall, and o바카라사이트r European countries a 2 per cent increase.

The report, produced in partnership with Nafsa: Association of International Educators and 바카라사이트 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 ei바카라사이트r facilitating or hindering access, and should not be underestimated,¡± said Fanta Aw, chief executive of Nafsa.

¡°Fur바카라사이트rmore, 바카라사이트 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 바카라사이트 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 바카라사이트 UK and 58 per cent in 바카라사이트 US reporting problems.

In 바카라사이트 last year, 바카라사이트 governments of Canada and 바카라사이트 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 바카라사이트 survey results.

¡°Usually, when some destinations face challenges, we see alternatives benefit as students shift 바카라사이트ir plans,¡± said Edwin van Rest, chief executive of Studyportals.

¡°However, 바카라사이트 broader drop in postgraduate enrolments in particular suggests that many discouraged students are not simply changing destinations but are instead delaying or even cancelling 바카라사이트ir study plans altoge바카라사이트r.¡±

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

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

Along with 바카라사이트 effects of what has been dubbed 바카라사이트 ¡°great policy backlash¡±, 바카라사이트 survey also revealed 바카라사이트 impact of financial concerns across 바카라사이트 world ¨C?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 바카라사이트 next 12 months, and 27 per cent expected staffing cuts.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com