The educational guidance company IDP Connect recently published its Emerging Futures 3 report. In it, they analyze which destinations international students prefer and why. Canada came out as a top favorite, followed by Australia, the US and the UK in that respective order. The quality of education, post-study work opportunities and safety emerged as the key factors in choosing a destination.
International students want quality education and a clear study-to-work pathway
The survey had a very large research sample of over 21,000 prospective and current international students. They hailed from over 100 countries, but most were from Nigeria, India, China and Ghana – four major sending countries that drive the international education sector of many receiving countries. Nearly 60% of the survey respondents are postgraduate students, with only one-quarter being undergraduates. The rest are doing vocational or pathway courses (i.e., preparation courses for a degree).
These students were surveyed between February and March 2023. 61% of them chose the quality of education as their primary factor in choosing a country to study in. 53% prioritized post-graduation employment opportunities, which usually come in the form of post-study work visas. 72% said they would apply for these visas, and nearly half (44%) even said they'd change their mind about a destination if it decided to shorten the duration of their post-study work rights. 65% really want to gain experience abroad through that kind of visa regardless of whether they want to settle down there for good.
Tolerance and safety were crucial for nearly half of them. 47% prioritized the destination country's reputation for being safe for international students, and 43% prioritized its general openness to people of other cultures. The level of support given by institutions to international students was also important for 43%, and this was closely related to the ability to find part-time work while studying (45%). Indeed, 81% of those surveyed were already working part-time or planning on doing so, although relatively few (31%) rely or plan to rely on it as the main source of funding.
Canada remains the favorite for its quality education, relative affordability, reputation for tolerance and work opportunities
Canada had already emerged as the favorite destination of international students in previous reports of IDP over 2021 and 2022. Other countries' positions fluctuated, but Canada consistently remained at the top. In this survey, Canada is the first choice of 27% of international students, the second choice of 21% and the third choice of 18%.
What makes the country so popular? It is home to many excellent universities, 28 of which appeared on the QS World University Ranking 2023. This includes the University of Toronto, McGill University, the University of British Columbia and the Université de Montréal. Some international students choose to study outside major Canadian cities to enjoy a lower cost of living. More rural provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador also have excellent educational institutions and often have more job openings because they are more affected by the nationwide labor shortage. The aforementioned province is home to the Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Tuition fees in Canada remain relatively affordable as compared to other highly-developed countries. This partly owes itself to the fairly favorable exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the currencies of developing countries. For instance, 1 US dollar is ~460 Nigerian nairas, while 1 Canadian dollar is ~340 nairas.
EduCanada says that the average yearly tuition for international students in the country is CA$ 36,100 (US$ 27,000) for undergraduates and CA$ 21,000 (US$ 15,500) for postgraduates. In comparison, in the neighboring US, out-of-state undergraduate students at public universities pay an average of $26,000 in tuition fees – and it is even higher at private universities. Master's students, who are rarely funded like doctoral candidates, usually pay tuition fees over US$30,000 in the US.
Furthermore, as detailed by CIC News, private financial aid is quite accessible in Canada because international students don't need a local co-signer to take a student loan from a private Canadian bank. They are also eligible for a limited number of loans from the government's Canada Student Loan Program. And like in most countries, they can also work part-time for 20 hours per week to fund their studies.
The IDP Connect study revealed that work opportunities were students' second major concern, and Canada has a very clear study-to-work pathway. While the path to getting a Green Card in the US as a former student is often tricky and competitive, international students in Canada have a much clearer idea of what bureaucratic procedure to undertake to eventually become permanent residents.
After graduating, international students in Canada apply for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) that lasts 1-3 years. When the PGWP's expiration date is imminent, they can switch to one of the following permanent work visas: Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, or the Quebec Experience Program. All of them award extra points to Canadian education and work experience.
The country also has an international reputation for safety and tolerance. A 2022 survey by the Canadian Bureau for International Education found that nearly 80% saw the reputation for safety as their biggest draw to the country. Cities like Toronto and Vancouver are some of the most multicultural in the world. And even if there have been isolated incidents like the deadly Toronto van attack in 2018, violent crime rates tend to remain low.
The Canadian government has been consistently pro-immigration, as seen in their yearly increase in immigration targets (465,000 in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025). Other countries have had more vacillating stances towards immigration or even outright xenophobic policies, which helps strengthen Canada's image as stable.
Australia's popularity is driven by great part-time and post-study work provisions
Australia arguably has the best part-time and post-work provisions among popular study destinations right now. The country has been dealing with a severe general labor shortage since the pandemic. As one solution, the Australian government has increased the number of hours that current students and the number of years that international graduates can work. This is likely a temporary measure and should be reversed when the labor shortage has been solved.
Since July 2023, students can work part-time for up to 48 hours per fortnight. Last year, they were allowed to work for unlimited hours. A cap has been reintroduced, but it's still higher than the cap of 40 hours that existed before 2022. It's also higher than the cap of 20 hours per week (i.e., 30 hours per fortnight) that is in place in most other countries.
The post-study work rights of some international students have also been upgraded since July 2023. Those studying in fields that are severely affected by labor shortages now enjoy 4-6 years of post-study work rights instead of 2-3. It concerns those studying agriculture, engineering, health and education. Those getting a bachelor's degree can work for 4 years, for a master's degree it's 5 years, and for a PhD in any discipline (even not a priority one) it's 6 years.
IDP Connect's study has shown that work opportunities are international students' second priority, and when it comes to that, Australia's provisions clearly have a competitive edge. It is the first choice of 23% of the students surveyed and the second choice of 18% of them. After students' post-study work period ends, they can apply for a permanent work-stream visa like the Skilled Independent Visa or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.
These work opportunities can make it worthwhile to invest in an Australian education even if it comes with a very expensive price tag – indeed, out of all the countries in the survey, it is the priciest study abroad destination. HSBC's 2022 study “Value of Education: Springboard for Success” found that one year of studying in Australia costs an average of US$42,000, or around AU$65,000.
Australia has plenty of prestigious universities, 24 of which appeared on the QS World University Ranking 2023. They include the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales and the University of Queensland.
The most prestigious universities tend to be in big cities, but, like in Canada, studying outside these major metropolitan areas (i.e., in regional Australia) will not only allow you to spend less money on daily expenses but also easily obtain specific work visas that exist only for these regions which are particularly hit by labor shortages. The aforementioned Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme is one such visa: through it, employers based in regional Australia can sponsor expats. Some well-known universities in regional Australia are Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory, Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, and the University of Tasmania.
It might also be best to choose regional Australia at the moment because major metropolitan areas are facing a housing and cost-of-living crisis. Australian media reports that cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Perth are seeing rent go up in an unpredictable way. ABC News reports that international students are being informed of sudden $200-300 hikes in their weekly rent whilst others struggle even to find an available room. This is causing a lot of distress to international students, even leading to anxiety disorders and depression.
The US has outranked the UK compared to the 2022 survey
In 2022, IDP Connect published the second report of the Emerging Futures series. In it, the UK had ranked as the third favorite study destination. However, in the Emerging Futures 3 report, the US is slightly more popular than the UK. 21% of those surveyed chose the US first, while 18% chose the UK. 23% chose the US as their second choice, and 18% went for the UK as their second choice.
Both countries have many of the most prestigious universities around the world and tend to dominate rankings. After Australia, they are also the two most expensive study-abroad destinations. HSBC's aforementioned report states that a year studying in the US costs an average of US$35,000, and one in the UK costs US$30,000 (about £25,000). Full or partial financial aid is more readily available from individual private American universities, whereas scholarships tend to be more rare and competitive in the UK. And of course, as is the norm, in both countries, international students can work for up to 20 hours per week to fund their studies.
How about post-study work rights? Even if the US was preferred by those surveyed, the UK actually has a better post-study visa. The UK's Graduate Visa gives all international graduates the right to remain for 2 years. They have a lot of flexibility during that time: they can take a traditional job, they can work multiple jobs, or they can be self-employed, it's really up to them. After 2 years, however, they'll have to apply for an employer-sponsored visa or return home.
In the US, the OPT (Optional Practical Training) is a 1-2 year work permit available to international graduates. The 2-year OPT is for STEM graduates whose science and technology skills are deemed more high-value. At the end of this period, these graduates need another visa, like an employer-sponsored one or an O-1 visa (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement). The process to get a Green Card (i.e., permanent residency) after this is more complex. It often requires legal help and has a long waiting list.
Unfortunately, the US is the country in this survey with the biggest safety problem. Gun violence is a real danger, and school shootings happen nearly every year, with international students sometimes among the victims. A 2019 survey by World Education Services showed that the fear of violence is a big concern for 40% of East and South Asians considering the US as a study destination.
New Zealand and Ireland are popular “backup” destinations
These two study destinations are more popular as backup plans than as first choices. Only 3% of international students chose New Zealand as their first choice, and 2% chose Ireland as theirs. Yet, 12% and 15% chose the land of the Kiwis as their third and fourth choice, respectively. As for Ireland, 6% and 10% of those surveyed chose it as their third and fourth destination of choice.
Ireland has slightly lower tuition fees than the other countries in IDP Connect's survey. Tuition fees tend to vary between €10,000-25,000 per year there. The country has a low crime rate and offers many advantages as a member of the European Union. Unlike international students in post-Brexit UK, those in Ireland can still easily access internships in other European countries via their Irish university.
Even if tuition fees are affordable, the cost of living in Ireland can be as high as in more prominent countries. Ireland has one of the most acute housing shortages in the world, and Dublin is among the ten most expensive cities in Europe. Dublin is home to some of its most prestigious universities, such as Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin. There are also excellent universities in the smaller cities of Cork, Galway and Limerick.
Ireland has decent post-study work provisions. It has a post-study visa that lasts between 6 months and 2 years depending on your level and length of study, and it has other attractive visas for international graduates like General Work Permit and Critical Skills Employment Permit (for fields experiencing a labor shortage).
What about New Zealand? Safety was the third most important issue for students in the IDP Connect survey, and New Zealand has been ranked the second safest country on earth by the Global Peace Index in 2023 owing to its low crime rate. It is also a very green country with breathtaking natural spaces which are easily accessible.
As a small country, New Zealand has only eight universities. The most prestigious one, the University of Auckland, is in the capital. However, as Auckland is the most badly hit by a cost-of-living crisis, it might be more financially sound to choose a university in a smaller town. The University of Otago in Dunedin or Massey University in Palmerston North might be good choices. Tuition fees in New Zealand are significantly lower than in other countries of IDP Connect's survey, generally ranging between NZ$20,000-30,000 per year (US$12,000-19,000). However, this advantage can be canceled out by a high cost of living.
