More people than ever before are choosing to move from their home country to pursue education abroad. This report provides a comparative analysis of trends, challenges and policy responses related to international students in six leading study destinations: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. These six countries were selected among OECD member countries because they have all seen strong growth in international enrolment over the last decade, have a high share of international students in overall enrolment and have several shared policy challenges and comparable policy responses.
International students are a symbol, and an important part, of vibrant, innovative and globally connected higher education systems. Across Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, international enrolments expanded substantially over the last decade (2013–2023). While the COVID‑19 pandemic temporarily slowed arrivals, countries recovered and even exceeded pre‑pandemic enrolment levels by 2023. In the years since (2023-2025), Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have recalibrated their policies in relation to international students, while France and Germany maintained policies to attract and retain more international students. This report captures emerging evidence of slowing international enrolments and of reduced issuance of study visas/permits in these countries. It analyses how these countries worked to attract increasing numbers of international students and how some are now reconsidering earlier policies, as well as the challenges international students face and how different stakeholders are responding.
This publication was prepared by the Higher Education Policy team within the Directorate for Education and Skills as part of the programme of work of the OECD’s Education Policy Committee (EDPC). The report draws on harmonised international data collected by the OECD – in particular indicators collected for Education at Glance – information from a policy survey carried out by the International Migration Division in the OECD’s Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs and desk research analysing national data, survey reports and relevant academic literature. This evidence helped to situate headline trends within a wider policy context spanning the fields of higher education, migration, foreign affairs and employment. The project was carried out by the OECD Secretariat in co-operation with the Learning Branch of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and with the input from key stakeholders in the six comparator countries.
Chapter 1 provides an overview of trends in international-student enrolment and key policy responses. The report then follows the journey of international students from choice of programme to post-graduation. Chapter 2 examines how students choose programmes and destinations, how admissions and study visa/permit processes operate, the main patterns of international enrolment and how costs and funding shape access. Chapter 3 looks at study adaptation, progression and completion, highlighting what institutions do to support preparedness and where gaps persist. Chapter 4 considers how international students navigate life in a new country. It covers issues like housing, accessing services, working during studies, integration in local communities, discrimination and safety, and study visa/permit conditions. Chapter 5 analyses what happens after graduation, who stays, the conditions attached to post‑graduation visas/permits, labour‑market outcomes and the challenges international graduates face in finding employment and staying longer term. Chapter 6 sets out four policy considerations for policymakers and stakeholders.
The OECD hopes that the analysis presented here will support policymakers, institutions, communities and other relevant stakeholders in developing predictable and evidence-based policies around international students.