Australia¡¯s share of demand from international students has reportedly increased by 8 per cent this year, in the latest indication that the industry¡¯s gloomy forecasts may be overstated.

by Dutch analytics company Studyportals has found that Australia was the only major destination to record an uptick over the first three months of 2025, suggesting that problems in international education may be more pronounced elsewhere.

The report is based on survey responses from 240 institutions in 48 countries, mostly the key education destinations of the US, UK, Canada and Australia. A 9 per cent increase in demand for undergraduate Australian education improved the country¡¯s overall market share, notwithstanding a 13 per cent decline at postgraduate level.

Undergraduate demand barely changed in the UK or US while plunging 33 per cent in Canada. Interest in postgraduate courses surged by 18 per cent in the UK but fell 13 per cent in the US and 31 per cent in Canada.

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The report says the issues threatening Australian education exports ¨C visa costs and delays, migration limitations and uncertainty resulting from unexpected policy disruption ¨C are universal problems afflicting some countries more acutely.

¡°We can observe clear shifts in student mobility where challenges in one market result in market share gains in other destinations,¡± observed author Cara Skikne, Studyportals¡¯ head of communications.

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The report suggests that international student demand is affected by domestic funding issues in all four destination countries, including anticipated cuts to budgets and programme offerings.

Other frequently cited challenges in Australia ¨C difficulties in attracting students who meet admissions requirements, particularly around English proficiency, and in diversifying into new markets ¨C are also familiar elsewhere.

The report suggests that Australia has been a net beneficiary of ¡°drops in student interest for competitors¡± resulting particularly from Canada¡¯s student caps and the Trump administration¡¯s threats to , and free speech.

Demand for UK education has also been suppressed by last year¡¯s legislation banning the entry of most foreign students¡¯ family members, but buoyed by the decision not to jettison post-study work visas?¨C although this plan may still be revived by the current Labour government.?

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Australia is not alone in capturing market share from its major competitors, the report suggests, with other ¡°non-big four¡± destinations ¨C Austria, China, France, Ireland, Malaysia, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Spain and the UAE ¨C also on the ascendancy.

The timing of the survey may have influenced the findings. January to March is the primary intake period in Australia, whereas most northern hemisphere courses start between August and October.

Nevertheless, rising demand corresponded with increased student numbers at many surveyed Australian institutions. Sixty per cent said ¡°enrolments were up¡± at the undergraduate level, with 54 per cent reporting postgraduate growth.

Anticipated declines in international education revenue have contributed to university job cuts across Australia, with hundreds of positions erased and well over 1,000 more on the line.

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But available data suggest an upswing in overseas demand for Australian higher education, with record visa applications in March offsetting a slump in previous months.

Income from international students rose 21 per cent last year, according to the accounts of the 11 public universities that have so far published their 2024 annual reports. Australia¡¯s earnings from international education reached a record A$51.5 billion (?24.9 billion) last year, including an additional A$3.3 billion from higher education tuition fees.

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Commentators say the revenue boost resulted from high demand before last year¡¯s government crackdown on international education, and was monopolised by a handful of universities. Almost 90 per cent of the 2024 increase came in the first half of the year, international education analyst Alan Olsen, who warned of a ¡°perfect storm¡± awaiting the sector.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com