Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, international student mobility continued to grow between 2018 and 2022. The composition of host and origin countries remained largely unchanged, with about two-thirds of students in OECD countries coming from high- and upper middle-income nations. International students are particularly concentrated in doctoral programmes and STEM fields. Policies to retain international graduates vary: some countries offer pathways to work and residency, while others impose restrictive visa and employment regulations. These policies, shaped by ongoing debates on migration, continue to affect the opportunities and challenges faced by international students globally.
