During the 75th Conference of the Association of International Educators (NAFSA), which took place between May 30 and June 2, education policymakers gathered in Washington to share their plans to attract more international students. The conference's themes were centered around inspiration and inclusion. Countries have recognized the importance of investing in welcoming and training international students to retain talent. So, which countries are currently the most attractive to international students?
A glimpse at countries' strategies to attract international students
Many countries are currently deploying various strategies to attract and, most importantly, retain international students, including streamlining student visa processes, developing English-language programs, offering post-graduate work permits, and providing financial aid.
Germany
Germany is becoming increasingly popular among international students. According to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), 76% of international students have made Germany their first choice. In the academic year 2021-2022, 350,000 international students were enrolled in German higher education institutions. Germany attributes its success, in large part, to the development of its English-language programs. Half of these students are pursuing programs in English. In 2022, Germany was even ahead of the UK and the Netherlands as the top European destination for English-language study programs.
The vast majority of students (91%) chose Germany for its quality, diversity, and availability of English-language programs, as well as the conducive environment it offers for studying. Slightly fewer students mentioned the chance of obtaining an internationally recognized degree (88%), good employment prospects for graduates (81%), and highly competitive tuition fees (79%). The German strategy seems to be paying off, as 29% of students desire to remain in Germany after completing their studies, while 32% are considering it.
Turkey
"Study in Turkey." The country is developing its marketing efforts and promoting its universities to attract foreign students, relying on diverse curricula and an "innovative and inclusive" approach. According to Irfan Gündüz, the president of the Council of Education Economy Enterprises, Turkey currently has 310,000 international students. Although this figure falls slightly below the government's target of 350,000, it is still relatively encouraging. Gündüz emphasizes the economic benefits of attracting international students, who can become potential financial partners for their home countries. Turkey aims to be a viable alternative in an inflationary world with soaring tuition fees. The government highlights the quality of Turkish universities, particularly in fields such as medicine, social sciences, and engineering, with some programs offered in English. In fact, Turkey facilitates the process for international students with online visas and offers various scholarships based on the student's home country.
Canada
Canada remains a top choice for international students. The "Emerging Futures" study conducted by IDP Education, involving 21,000 current and prospective international students from over 100 different countries, confirms that Canada is the most preferred destination (27%), followed closely by Australia (23%) and the United States (21%). The main reasons for this success include the quality of university programs, post-graduate employment opportunities, a welcoming environment for international students (warm welcome from Canadians, cosmopolitan cities), financial assistance, and part-time work opportunities.
Most students (72%) in Canada express their willingness to apply for a post-graduate work permit, which is viewed positively by international students, as it facilitates employment opportunities and integration into the Canadian job market. Canada is currently home to 800,000 international students. The government is committed to making their arrival and integration into the job market smoother. Some post-graduate work permit holders may even be eligible for an additional 18-month work permit.
To ensure its long-term economic competitiveness, Canada has updated its Provincial and Territorial International Student Programs in autumn 2022. The government has also expanded the online application process to enable students to submit 100% of their requests online (up from 60% previously).
Indonesia
Is Indonesia on the way to becoming a hotspot for international students? The country recently launched new measures to attract wealthy expatriates (such as the Golden visa, digital nomad visa, and second home visa) and is also aiming to attract academic talents. For instance, the prestigious Muhammadiyah Surakarta University offers fully funded scholarships for international students, mainly targeting students from developing Muslim countries but open to students of all nationalities.
This strategy aligns with the government's economic growth policy. Indonesia faced challenges during the pandemic and experienced multiple crises (inflation, energy, etc.). Although the country has resumed growth (projected at 4.8% in 2023, according to the Asian Development Bank forecasts), it is still striving to become the world's 6th largest economy by 2030 (currently ranked 16th). The government believes international students are valuable assets to nurture and harness, as they can help boost the economy.
Are international students a financial windfall?
Most countries consider students an integral part of their growth strategy as they provide significant financial benefits. British universities, for instance, are well aware of this and express concerns about recent announcements to reduce the number of international students. France also acknowledges the economic and cultural contributions of international students. These students generate approximately 1.35 billion euros for France annually. Despite hosting an average of 300,000 to 400,000 international students each year (a 35% increase in the last 5 years), France still has room for improvement to become one of the most attractive destinations. The United States leads the pack with around 33.8 billion dollars annually contributed by international students to its economy. However, the US is losing some of its students to Canada, which has become a star destination for expatriates.
To increase profits while welcoming fewer students, some countries, like the UK and the Netherlands, apply high tuition fees for international students. In the Netherlands, for instance, with only one-third of international students compared to France, the country still manages to earn approximately 1.5 billion euros. Non-European students pay tuition fees ranging from 6,000 to 15,000 euros for undergraduate programs, and in the UK, fees range between 15,000 and 19,000 euros. This strategy has been criticized by various student associations and immigrant advocacy groups.
Retaining foreign talent to address labor shortages
In this fierce competition, some countries remain more attractive than others. Germany has outperformed France, primarily due to the diversity of its English-language programs and more active involvement from businesses. Germany is indeed investing in retaining its international students. On the other hand, Turkey faces the challenge of a limited job market for foreigners, with certain fields restricted by law (e.g., medicine). In France, efforts are underway to address the paradox: while many international students desire to stay, only a portion actually do so. According to the Council for Employment Guidance, this is partly due to a visa policy perceived as restrictive and limited access to employment opportunities. Another area of focus for countries is simplifying visa procedures to retain their foreign talents. France aims to attract 500,000 international students by 2027.
