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Study Abroad Trends: How 2025 Preferences Will Shift Dramatically in 2026
The ranking for 2026 is expected to change significantly as a result of various variations, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
The influx of Indian students continues to grow in global educational mobility and is rapidly changing, more so than at any other point between the years 2025-2026. 2025 featured record-high outbound mobility, traditional/highly predictable/established destination countries, and countries that would be viewed as safe 'academic' bets. Starting in 2026, we will see the above-mentioned paradigm shift due to new educational policies, new realities for job markets, and an increase in global competition influencing the study-abroad 'road map.'
In 2025, Indian students had very predictable preferences; Canada, the UK, the US, Australia, and Germany remained in the top tier because of a combination of their post-study work regulations/policies, easy entry pathways, and the comfort of well-established Indian communities in those countries. The students were primarily centered around three things: job security, potential for permanent residency, and affordability.
Despite increasingly strict scrutiny of visas, Canada continued to attract many students due to its current and future potential for PR. The Graduate Route Visa attracted a significant number of students from the UK; however, the cost of living rose in addition to this influx. The job market for STEM Demand and H1B optimism allowed the US to regain momentum with students; Germany continued attracting students with lower-cost education and high-quality engineering programs; and, as a result of policy stability and expanded rights to work, Australia saw a large spike in interest from students.
The ranking for 2026 is expected to change significantly as a result of various variations, both qualitatively and quantitatively. There are significant structural developments that will occur due to an increase in the number of regulations governing immigration in traditional locations, alongside an increase in other locations, as well as an overall increase in the availability of improvisational incentives.
For instance, Canada will reduce the number of student visas issued and also place restrictions on how much time students can spend in Canada. In addition, the UK Graduate Route program is undergoing evaluation, and as a result of this, it is likely that students who will be applying in 2026 will take a more cautious approach when applying to this program. While the United States will probably continue to attract STEM students, it will be increasingly competitive for these students as the costs associated with attending college continue to increase dramatically. As a result of this, students will begin to look at their return on investment more carefully than ever before.
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Ultimately, one major factor that will change the current trend for international students looking at higher education will be the increased number of other options available to them in 2026. Countries, such as New Zealand, Ireland, South Korea, France, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates, will see increases in international student enrollment, as they offer more supportive visas and scholarships, and they also continue to generate significant economies, creating substantial medium- to long-term job opportunities. Many international students will likely consider New Zealand to be the largest global winner, due to the availability of an increased number of jobs and alternative visa pathways. The growth of the virtual technology market in Ireland and fewer restrictive visa policies for STEM and business students will create excellent opportunities for international students. South Korea is aggressively developing and recruiting for international talent in the field of technology, and many students who prefer affordability as well as exposure to the Asian culture have reacted positively to the English-taught programs that South Korea has developed. Many of the world's largest companies expanding their operations internationally are going to need many more multilingual employees. Countries such as France and Spain will greatly benefit from this expansion of multinational corporations.
The trend of attracting international students to the U.A.E. is gaining traction because the U.A.E. has created a new generation of international education hubs, along with providing students who attain a job and settle in the U.A.E. with the opportunity to obtain residency.
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One of the more immediate shifts in thinking about post-secondary education that will occur in 2026 is decisions based on courses. By the year 2025, the first organization that students will be looking into will be their choice of school. Once they know where they want to go to school, they will then be in a position to select which degree they want to pursue.
Due to strong industries in engineering and renewable energy in Germany and the Netherlands, most students from Germany and the Netherlands will likely major in these fields. In the United States and South Korea, many students will be attracted to studying artificial intelligence and robotics.
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Many students and their families will evaluate ROI heavily before making any decisions because of rising global inflation, higher living expenses, and continuing economic uncertainty. Many families may also prefer to send their children to smaller countries that offer clearer pathways to employment rather than attempting to obtain a degree from an institution with a high level of prestige or brand recognition.
(This article is written by Ritika Gupta, CEO & Counsellor, Aera Consultants)
