The Studymove analysis – including a forecast for the rest of this year and into 2027 – is based on commencement data from the first six months of 2026 as well as current student visa trends.

Flat or negative growth for higher education

For four consecutive years, there has been no growth in number of new international students in higher education in Australia, and this year the projection is for a -4% decline in commencements.

“It has been four years of basically no growth in commencements,” said Mr Ramirez. “Although we don’t have a cap system technically, obviously the policy framework has been constraining growth. And effectively, we’re actually having a ceiling on the number of commencements of about 210,000 [students per year]. I think this clearly shows that the cake is not growing. In order to grow your piece of the cake, what institutions are probably having to do is just to get market share from competitors.”

Robust onshore progression but declining flows from overseas

Mr Ramirez points out that policy settings are also shaping offshore and onshore enrolment trends. Faced with a AU$2,500 visa application fee and higher visa requirements in general, fewer students are applying from their home countries (about -10%). In contrast, the number of foreign students progressing from one institution or level of study to the next within Australia rose about +9%. Students are making the most of their time and education in Australia by securing more than one visa – but this does not translate into more new international students.

The impact on universities is growing

Onshore flows of students are increasingly determined by price: many students are choosing to progress to private education providers (where annual tuition is about AU$24,000) rather than universities (where students can pay more than AU$40,000).

And while universities received more NOSC allocations in 2026 than in 2025, most did not reach their quota. In fact, only five universities reached 80% of their NOSC allowance. Mr Ramirez points out that government policies are depressing overseas demand, so NOSC allowances are a weak predictor of new enrolments.

Visa rejection rates are high but not for all source markets

Driven by a significant spike in month-by-month rejections from January 2026 on, Australian immigration officials rejected about 21,000 higher education student visa applications from offshore applicants in the first six months of 2026. Refusals during this period were mainly concentrated in three key markets: India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Should the rejection rates remain high, Mr Ramirez says international commencements could drop off by an additional -8% by the end of the year.

Recommendations for recruitment

With a smaller flow of incoming international students, Australian institutions must distinguish their offer not just from competitors in leading destinations, but also from each other. Market stabilisation means that growth will stem from gains in market share rather than in increasing the volume of new students.

Mr Ramirez advises universities to take a conservative and careful approach to revenue forecasting – fewer international students naturally reduces the tuition line, especially since most institutions are not benefitting from a significant uptick in domestic enrolments to mitigate the trend.

The policy environment is such that Mr Ramirez says that recruitment strategies should be laser-focused and based on a more nuanced understanding of diversification: reducing overreliance on established sources of students – but not by flinging a wide net across the globe hoping that it lands somewhere promising. Market characteristics of countries in emerging regions are unique and dynamic, and policy instruments affect demand differently not just at the regional level, but at the country level. A great deal of research is called for to determine whether a new market makes sense to invest time and money in.

Developing growth markets where institutions have developed brand image and strong relationships is a strategy made for these unpredictable times. Recruitment results will increasingly be determined by those relationships as they allow for more precise student targeting and understanding of outbound drivers.

“This sector has very, very strong roots,” concludes Mr Ramirez. “And those roots are actually based on people-to-people relations. For many, many years, this sector has been building relationships based on trust, based on understanding the needs of students, and at looking what is the best for students…we are not a commodity sector; we are a people sector.”

For additional background, please see:

• “Australia poised to further restrict immigration in bid to drive down net migration figures”
• “Australia: As visa applications from foreign students fall, the government has set the national target for new international students in 2027”
• “Australia: Multiple data indicators signal further declines ahead for international student numbers”

The post Australia: Decline in international higher education commencements projected for 2026 appeared first on 91ɬ��Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

QS describes “a gradual reshaping of Indian student mobility by 2030” where the Big Four destinations remain central but with very different positions on the leaderboard. The UK is projected to overtake Canada and the US as the top destination for Indian students. Otherwise, key destinations in the EU are projected to see the fastest growth in Indian enrolments over the rest of this decade – albeit from a smaller base.

Further: “With transnational education and international branch campuses set to expand and mature in India, we could see further mobility changes,” cautions the report. “By 2030, significant volumes of Indian students may study at the branch campuses of international institutions, rather than travelling overseas.”

The overall picture is one of a broadening and more balanced distribution of Indian students, both within the Big Four and otherwise. While Canada and the US are both projected to see their Indian enrolments decrease through 2030, they continue host significant numbers. Germany is projected to see the largest gains with a forecast to nearly double its Indian enrolment, at which point it will have surpassed Australia as the fourth-largest host of Indian students.

“Demand from Indian students looking to study in the ‘Big Four’ is expected to remain substantial,” says QS. “But students’ choices are likely to be shaped by affordability, visa policy, post-study work opportunities and perceptions of long-term value.”

We recently highlighted the continuing strong growth of India’s middle class, and in particular its expansion outside of the major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad as people move to smaller cities to escape high costs of living.

We noted as well that India’s middle-class families are cautious, careful, and looking for value for money. Where the affluent class is able to make decisions based on rankings and other markers of prestige, the middle class is more interested in institutions in destinations with welcoming policies, lower tuition and living costs, and strong post-graduate outcomes.

These are some of the same drivers that we see reflected in the QS analysis which concludes that, “Institutions in established destinations will need to work harder to defend their position, while universities in fast-growing markets have an opportunity to build visibility with Indian students looking for credible alternatives.”

For additional background, please see:

• “Changing landscape for student recruitment in India calls for new strategies“
• “The questions families are actually asking: Inside the student advising conversation in 2026“
• “What is happening to student mobility flows between the Global South and Global North?“

The post The outlook for Indian student mobility through 2030 appeared first on 91ɬ��Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

China and India

US colleges’ top two markets, China and India, saw steep declines of -28% and -57%, respectively. This has massive implications: For years, Chinese and Indian students have composed more than half of the total international student body in the US. Many colleges remain incredibly dependent on the continued flow of these students into their programmes despite efforts to recruit across a wider range of countries.

Diversification interrupted

To complicate matters, diversification is becoming more difficult because students in several growth markets are banned from entering the US (e.g., Nigeria) or are experiencing high visa rejection rates (e.g., Ghana and Nepal). It is no coincidence that:

• Visa issuances to Ghanaian and Nepali students dropped by -52% and -55%, respectively, in 2025 compared with 2024;
• The CommonApp platform (which receives a large number of all international applications to US colleges) registered fewer applications from Asian and African students, respectively, for 2025/26 programmes. The percentage drop was -34% for applications from Ghana.

Slow visa processing is also hitting the applications pipeline and causing stress for institutions and students alike.

The importance of the Indian decline

The huge drop in Indian visa issuances is particularly difficult for US graduate/STEM programmes. The number of Indian students pursuing graduate degrees is the number in undergraduate programmes.

Trends for India have been worrisome for some time. For example:

• More than 6 in 10 (61%) Indian students were rejected for a visa in the US in 2025;
• The vast majority (61%) of institutions participating in the survey for the IIE’s 2026 Spring Snapshot on International Educational Exchange said Indian application volumes had declined.

The decelerating trend for India will almost certainly continue. A new rule from the Trump administration abolishes the decades-old Duration of Status (D/S) system that among other things, allowed students to progress from F-1 academic studies to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) work stream. The new system requires students to ask for a visa extension from immigration authorities after they have been in the US for four years, with no guarantee they will be approved. Virtually all students will need an extension to participate in post-study OPT since it happens after the completion of four years of study.

A total of in 2024/25 – accounting for . The end of D/S – if it happens, since plaintiffs including NAFSA are now challenging this in court – will remove a key driver of Indian student mobility to the US.

The following chart was created by International Data & Recruitment Strategist Dave Amor, who posted it on LinkedIn. Mr Amor illustrates the decline of total F-1 visa issuances in the past year – and the extreme drop for the Indian market.

Broad implications

Earlier this month, based on the application trends reported by US colleges in the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Spring Snapshot survey. NAFSA projects that there will be up to 111,000 fewer international students at US higher education institutions in 2026/27, resulting in close to US$3.4 billion in lost revenue and nearly 40,000 job losses. 

For additional background, please see:

• “Visa delays and policy uncertainty projected to reduce foreign enrolment in the US by more than 100,000 students this fall“
• “Decline in Indian demand a major factor in softer outlook for foreign enrolment in US higher education in 2026/27“

The post US Department of State issued 23% fewer study visas to international students in 2025 appeared first on 91ɬ��Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Based on institutional responses in IIE’s , the estimate is for a 9.5% decline in overall foreign enrolment in the US in fall 2026. This could result in . In economic terms, that translates to up to US$3.4 billion in lost spending and 39,000 jobs affected.

“The projections underscore what we’ve long warned,” said Fanta Aw, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA. “US policy and regulations affect where international students plan to invest their future—and their decisions carry significant short- and long-term consequences for US society and economy, All Americans lose when international students and scholars are driven to more welcoming countries.”

Where is this coming from?

The analysis points to three major factors behind the projected decline in enrolment for 2026/27: reduced or diverted demand; process and policy around student visas; and policy uncertainty.

There are a number of indicators of declining demand for study in the US this year, whether those students are simply deferring their study plans or choosing an alternate destination. First, recent findings from the highlight that the international pool of doctoral candidates shrunk by -21% for 2026/27, a trend that led to an overall decline in international PhD admissions of -17%. Meanwhile, says that international applications filed via its college admissions platform are down -9% for the coming academic year. And, as we reported recently, nearly two-thirds of respondents to IIE’s Spring Snapshot Survey are expecting enrolment declines for 2026/27.

Those trends are no doubt influenced by a series of underlying issues around student visa processing. An expanded ban on travel to the US affecting citizens from 39 countries, including Nigeria, has been in place since 1 January 2026. While there has not been an outright pause on visa processing this year, the State Department’s prioritisation of visa processing for FIFA World Cup ticket holders traveling to the US supplanted the historical norm of prioritising student applicants during the peak processing months over spring and summer. Making the situation even more challenging, there are widespread reports of significant processing delays and in India, China, and Europe.

Finally, both announced and anticipated rule changes are combining to create additional uncertainty for international students in the US this year. A new rule will come into effect on 15 September 2025 to replace the longstanding “Duration of Status” framework with a fixed Admit-Until-Date (AUD). The new AUD mechanism sets a maximum limit for which a student visa can be granted, and requires continuing students to apply for an extension with US immigration officials. This, says NAFSA, creates “significant planning uncertainty for prospective students, particularly those considering longer-degree programmes,” and an issue which is compounded by “the current administration’s continued warnings that it intends to reform the Optional Practical Training programme.”

The need for speed

“Forfeiting the US position as the top destination for global talent hurts students, hospitals, research laboratories, the economy – and carries the real risk that the next big invention will not happen on US soil,” adds Dr Aw. “We urge the administration and Congress to take swift action to ensure international student contributions continue to benefit American ingenuity, economic prosperity, and national security.”

In order to ease the projected decline for 2026/27, NAFSA is urging the US administration to take the following steps.

• Prioritise processing for all F and M visa applicants as well as for those pursuing a J visa for exchange in the US;
• Exempt students and exchange visitors from the current travel ban “while maintaining background checks and vetting required for visa issuance”; and
• Preserve Optional Practical Training for foreign graduates in the US.

For additional background, please see:

• “Decline in Indian demand a major factor in softer outlook for foreign enrolment in US higher education in 2026/27“
• “Updated: US Department of Homeland Security publishes rule to end Duration of Status for international students“
• “US regulatory agenda for 2026 aims to end ‘duration of status and introduce Optional Practical Training and H-1B reforms“
• “US extends travel ban, Nigeria now included on ‘restricted’ list“

The post Visa delays and policy uncertainty projected to reduce foreign enrolment in the US by more than 100,000 students this fall appeared first on 91ɬ��Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

The answer used to be pretty simple: the Big Four. Just a couple of years ago, Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US welcomed more than 70% of all Indian students abroad, offering a range of quality study opportunities, post-study work rights, and the possibility of immigration.

But a combination of factors is changing (1) the shape of Indian student mobility, (2) the drivers of that mobility, and (3) the profile of Indian students most likely to consider study abroad.

Weakening demand for Big Four destinations

Readers of 91ɬ��Monitor are well aware of policies that are making it more difficult for students from the Global South to study in Australia, Canada, the UK, and US. In brief, these include reduced incentives for immigration, changes to work rights, high visa rejection rates, steeper visa application fees and/or other costs of study, and high costs of living. Some of the following statistics indicate the effect of policies that discourage Indian students from applying to Big Four countries at this time:

• High visa rejection rates: 61% in the US (2025), 62% in Canada (Q1 2026), and 60% in Australia (February 2026);
• Declining visa applications: for example, in Canada, Indian study permit applications fell from 35% of the total in 2023 to 17% in 2025;
• Fewer new students: for example, commencements fell by -33% in the UK between 2022/23 and 2024/25, -5.5% in Australia in 2025 versus 2024, and -44% in the US for F-1 visas in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.

Other destinations gaining share

Indian students are diverting their interest to alternative destinations. From 2024 to 2025, Indian enrolments rose by:

• +21% in Russia;
• +20% in Germany;
• +20% in Ireland;
• +18% in New Zealand;
• +17% in France;
• +5% in Italy.

New drivers of Indian outbound mobility

India’s affluent and middle classes are growing rapidly. Goldman Sachs estimates that the “affluent” cohort nearly tripled from 24 million people in 2015 to about 60 million in 2023, and the firm predicts that this cohort will reach 100 million by 2027.

As for the middle class, Oxford Economics notes:

“India’s middle class is the second largest [after China] in emerging markets at just over 27 million households, but it’s roughly the same size as Brazil’s, which has a population seven times smaller. By 2029, India’s middle class will more than double in size to reach 62 million households.”

The size and growth of a country’s middle class is important to all global product and service companies because it indicates robust and burgeoning purchasing power. Middle-class consumers are able to go beyond satisfying basic needs (e.g., food and shelter) to seeking quality and prestigious brands. They are thus more likely to be interested in – and able to pay for – programmes at foreign universities that result in well-regarded and internationally recognised degrees.

The following chart shows the rapid forecasted rise of the middle class in India (as you can see, the Philippines, Vietnam, Egypt, and Thailand are also notable in this regard).

What’s the catch?

If we move beyond middle-class statistical indicators, the picture becomes more complex. As marketing intelligence firm notes of India’s middle class:

“Simply put, prudence in everything so as to feel safe, secure and comfortable. Always aspirational but rarely overambitious. This cohort is perhaps becoming more inscrutable and not as easy to please as they perhaps have been in the past.”

India’s middle-class households may be moving from “need” to “want” in their purchasing mindset, but that doesn’t mean that “want” always translates to “buy.” Indian fintech company estimates that India’s “middle-class salaried household” spending is spread across three categories:

• “39% goes to obligatory expenses – things like loan [payments], insurance premiums, and rent. These are the non-negotiables that hit before anything else.
• 32% goes to necessities – groceries, utilities, fuel, medical expenses, school fees. Things you need but have some control over.
• 29% goes to discretionary spending – dining out, entertainment, subscriptions, clothing, travel, and everything else.”

SalarySe explains:

“That 29% discretionary figure sounds generous until you remember it’s the last call on a budget that’s already been carved up by rent, [loan payments], school fees, and petrol. In practice, it’s where the most emotional spending happens, and where the most guilt tends to follow.”

As a result, India’s middle-class families are necessarily cautious, careful, and looking for value for money. Where the affluent class is able to make decisions based on rankings and other markers of prestige, the middle class is more interested in institutions in destinations with welcoming policies, lower tuition and living costs, and strong post-graduate outcomes. It may take more time and resources to convince families in this cohort that a university is worth their money.

This is especially true given that the number of quality higher education institutions in India is rising. India stands out as the country that sent more universities (eight) into the 2026 World University Rankings for the first time than any other country – and that is in a field of 106 countries. Over a span of 12 years, India’s higher education system has risen more quickly in the rankings than any other G20 country.

India is also notable for its interest in partnerships with foreign universities and transnational education arrangements such as branch campuses and joint programmes. The Indian government has official strategies aimed at reducing brain drain, and it is at least as interested in partnering with foreign universities and attracting international students as it is in sending students abroad.

What does it all mean?

India’s middle class is expanding the most significantly outside of major metropolises such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, as people move to smaller cities to escape high costs of living. More families are now able to consider study abroad in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and rural areas than in the past.

Because characteristics of the middle class will vary across cities and regions, working with vetted, proven education agents and forming relationships with top Indian universities and schools is more crucial today than ever. Ensuring that agents are reputable – with strong track records and demonstrated ethics – is key, especially for institutions in Big Four destinations where visa rejection rates are high.

Just as important is developing proof points on the institutional website, through alumni and student ambassadors, and in all communications that enrolling with your university delivers amazing value for money. This means collecting data on post study outcomes; being completely transparent with costs; and offering distinguishing features such as applications assistance, comprehensive support services, internships, and institution-employer connections.

Quite simply, Indian families have been spooked by policy developments in the Big Four. They will need more reassurance, proof, and support from institutions and agents alike. They have more options – as enrolment data in alternative destinations clearly shows. As a result, India represents a more discerning – while still very promising – source of international students.

For additional background, please see:

• “What is happening to student mobility flows between the Global South and Global North?”
• “The number of Indian students abroad fell in 2025”
• “How post-study work rights can make or break the return on investment for study abroad”

The post Changing landscape for student recruitment in India calls for new strategies appeared first on 91ɬ��Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

has just been released, and it gathers responses from 585 US colleges and universities over a period from 5 May through June 11. Collectively, the responding institutions host roughly half of the international students in the US.

The outlook for 2026/27

The survey highlights the following key trends for the coming academic year.

• Application volumes: 14% of responding institutions are reporting an increase in application volumes for 2026/27; 20% said that application volumes are roughly the same as the previous year; and 59% report a decrease in the number of applications.

• Projected enrolment: Nearly two in three respondents (63%) expect a decline in international student numbers for 2026/27; 26% predict stable enrolment year-over-year; and 11% forecast an increase in foreign enrolment.

Shifting demand from India looms as a major factor in the overall outlook for the year ahead. As IIE explains:

“At the country level, most reporting institutions indicate that international student applications either increased or remained stable across the majority of the 21 leading places of origin surveyed…The most pronounced decreases are reported for India, with only 39% of institutions indicating stable or increased application numbers. This is notable given that students from India made up nearly one-third (31%) of all international students in the United States in 2024/25.”

Contributing factors

Nearly all respondents (92%) cited visa processing issues (e.g., delays in processing or rising rejection rates) as the most significant factor affecting the enrolment outlook for this year. “Aligned with this concern,’ adds IIE, “64% of respondents noted an increase in questions and concerns from both current and prospective international students about the US political climate.”

The expanded travel ban and other travel restrictions were noted as an important factor by 80% of responding institutions. And the report notes as well that more than three in four respondents (77%) cited increased competition as a factor for 2026/27 with more students choosing to study in a destination other than the US.

“While this preliminary data suggests that enrollment numbers will decline in the 2026/27 academic year due to numerous factors,” concludes IIE, “it remains too early to determine the magnitude of potential declines.”

For additional background, please see:

• “US regulatory agenda for 2026 aims to end ‘duration of status’ and introduce Optional Practical Training and H-1B reforms“
• “What is happening to student mobility flows between the Global South and Global North?“
• “US visa processing centres in Africa to be reduced by more than half; only the latest barrier for African students“
• “Universities urged to focus on ‘factors they can control’ as policy settings depress international student enrolments in the Big Four“

The post Decline in Indian demand a major factor in softer outlook for foreign enrolment in US higher education in 2026/27 appeared first on 91ɬ��Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Roughly 380,000 foreign students from nearly 200 countries were in China during the 2024/25 academic year, according to a senior Chinese education official quoted in the . While this is down from nearly 500,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a huge increase (+96%) from the 255,700 low in 2021. China closed its borders for longer than any other major study abroad destination or economy during the pandemic, opening up again only in January 2023.

This steady post-pandemic increase contrasts with the -20% drop in Chinese students abroad in 2025 (570,000) compared with 2019. There is also a rising trend of Chinese foreign-educated graduates returning home for studies (535,600 in 2025, suggesting about a 90% return rate).

Part of the plan

The uptick in international students in China is intentional. The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30) includes the prioritisation of the “Study in China” brand. Speaking with the China Daily in May, Wang Daquan, a Ministry of Education spokesperson, said, “We have confidence in that goal [of China becoming one of the world’s most attractive destinations for international students], and we will continue to make efforts to achieve it.”

Of China’s total foreign students in 2024/25, more than half (54%) were seeking a higher education degree. More of than a third (35%) of those degree students were in postgraduate programmes.

In terms of subject preference, more than a quarter (28%) were in engineering degrees.

Asian students dominate

The Ministry of Education reports that in 2024/25, Asian students made up the largest share of foreign enrolment at 61%, while African and European students accounted for about 16% each. Country-level figures have not been released, but top markets in recent years include South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Pakistan. Emerging markets that China invests heavily in developing are in Africa and Belt and Road countries in general.

Why the decline in outbound?

Nous Group principal Matt Durnin estimates that Chinese enrolments across Australia, Canada, the UK and US have fallen by approximately -13% since their peak in 2019/20. Posting on in late-2025, he wrote:

“There are a lot of factors driving the decline, but the one that I think deserves more attention is the rapid improvement of perceptions in the quality of Chinese universities.”

The 2026 QS rankings include 72 Chinese (mainland) institutions, compared with 192 in the US and 90 in the UK, putting China into third place globally. When Hong Kong universities are included, China moves into second place with a total of 99.

Another factor in weakening Chinese demand for study abroad is that the country’s disposable income growth has slowed, and consumers have become more cautious and price-sensitive. In May, consumer spending (measured in terms of retail sales) fell by -0.6% compared with May 2025 – the first year-on-year decline since the pandemic. Chinese consumers are using more of their income to pay off debt, and in a major departure from habits in the 2010s, they are becoming much more interested in discounted and second-hand goods.

Amid these consumer trends – and with so many high-quality Chinese and international universities close at hand – Chinese students have less reason to study abroad than in the 2020s.

The Chinese government wants to see the number of Chinese students enrolled in transnational education programmes to rise from 800,000 to eight million, and it is rapidly expanding international research collaborations, branch campuses, and joint programmes with foreign institutions.

For additional background, please see:

• “Inbound, outbound, and transnational: the landscape for international education in China continues to evolve”
• “China opens up to global STEM talent with new visa class”
• “China leverages higher education capacity with expanded TNE partnerships”
• “China: Two-thirds of new TNE partnerships are with countries outside the Big Four”

The post China in 2026: Slowing outbound student mobility, accelerating inbound momentum appeared first on 91ɬ��Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Students in the region – and farther afield – are becoming aware of Azerbaijani universities’ strengths, especially in medicine, energy, and engineering, and of the relative affordability of tuition.

Azerbaijan’s other advantages include:

• Scholarships;
• Degree recognition across Europe under the Bologna Process and participation in Erasmus+;
• Proximity to Southeastern Europe and Central Asia, and not too far from North Africa, Pakistan, China, and India;
• Languages (Azerbaijani, which is closely related to Turkish; Russian, which has hundreds of millions of speakers across Eastern Europe, Central Asia and parts of Western Asia; and English, which is now a language of instruction in several universities, mostly private);
• Increasing importance as a middle power with ties to Europe, Russia, China, and the US.

The religious characteristics of Azerbaijan are also compelling to Muslim students. More than 90% of Azerbaijanis are Muslim (60/40 spilt between Shia and Sunni), but the state is secular. Citizens and visitors have freedom to practise – or not practise – any religion. A thriving minority population of Jewish Azerbaijanis clustered around the capital (and largest city) of Baku coexists peacefully with the Muslim majority.

While the country enrols a relatively small number of international students, there is solid – and government-endorsed – potential for more. In 2024/25, attended Azerbaijani universities, which represents year-over-year growth of +10% and five-year growth of +70%.

Geopolitical strengths

The world is becoming more multipolar, with power and influence diffused across the US; the European Union; and the BRICS+ (including China, India, Russia , and Brazil as well as six other countries in Africa and the Middle East). Countries that are able to manage multiple economic and diplomatic relationships across geopolitical divisions have a major advantage because they are not dependent on one ally or trading partner.

Azerbaijan is one of those countries. It was once part of Iran, then Russia, until it left the USSR in the 1990s and became independent. Despite rising tensions with Iran and Russia, it maintains diplomacy and trade with those countries. At the same time, Azerbaijan has formal “strategic partnerships” with the US, Türkiye, China, Italy, and Romania.

The US/Iran war and Western sanctions on Russia have elevated Azerbaijan’s importance to European allies because of its vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas. Italy is the top importer of these fossil fuels, but Azerbaijan also sends hundreds of thousands of tons to Romania, Czech Republic, Portugal, Germany, Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Thailand. The main export route flows directly into Turkiye territory via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.

As Azerbaijan’s , its ability to attract international students and forge educational partnerships with foreign universities increases.

Most students are from Türkiye, but demand is rising in South Asia

The following chart shows the top nationalities represented in Azerbaijani universities. Türkiye, by far Azerbaijan’s closest ally and defence parter, accounts for over a third of the overall international student population.

However, diversification is well underway,

South Asia is a new regional opportunity for Azerbaijan. For example, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are the fastest-growing markets mainly due to intense student interest in affordable, World Health Organisation-approved (WHO) medical degrees, especially those offered by Azerbaijan Medical University. Medicine and health sciences programmes enrol more than a third of all international students in the country.

Institutions rising in the rankings

This year was historic for Azerbaijani’s education system: nine Azerbaijani universities made QS’s 2026 World University Rankings – six of them for the first time. India and Azerbaijan stand out (in a field of 106 countries) for having the highest number of universities enter the ranking for the first time.

Another first was Azerbaijan’s highest placing university, Baku State (BSU), having its petroleum engineering programme appear in QS’s top 100 subject rankings. BSU also had several other programmes in the top 500.

Across the higher education system, seven of the country’s universities were represented across 22 subject fields, with many improving their positions over 2025.

Affordability

International tuition fees vary across Azerbaijan’s over 50 public and private institutions, but most international students , and to budget for up to US$600 in living expenses. To get a study visa, they need to show proof of funds of at least US$5,000.

Private institutions offer more English-taught programmes, and these are priced higher (up to US$8,000).

Government support for internationalisation

The “State Strategy for the Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan,” plan, launched in 2028, prioritises internationalisation. are:

• Establishing more dual-degree programs between Azerbaijani higher education and prestigious foreign institutions;
• Funding doctoral education abroad to build research-oriented academic staff for Azerbaijani universities.

Some of most prominent examples of internationalisation include “joint universities” overseen by the Ministry of Science and Education but launched through bilateral agreements with countries such as France, Italy, and Türkiye. Joint universities:

• Lead to qualifications recognised by both countries;
• Promote student and faculty exchanges and collaborative research – especially in engineering in energy (oil and gas) fields.

Azerbaijan’s joint universities include:

• (UFAZ) in Baku. This institution was founded in 2016 through collaboration between the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) and the University of Strasbourg and University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. UFAZ offers many courses, but specialisations are petroleum and chemical engineering.

• (ADA), whose campus opened in October 2025 in Baku, is a partnership with five Italian institutions: Luiss Guido Carli University, University of Bologna, Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza University of Rome, and University of Padua. Two main schools are design and architecture and agriculture and food sciences, but other programmes are also available.

• (TAU) in Baku specialises in education, health sciences, engineering, and informatics.

Scholarships

The government has launched a “” (SIA) portal to promote the country to international students as well as a major new five-year scholarship programme beginning in 2026/27: . This programme provides 100 students with full scholarships covering tuition fees, international flights, monthly allowance, medical insurance, and visa and registration fees. It is open to students from 100 countries.

There are also scholarships that promote two-way mobility, including the Hökumətlərarası Təqaüd Proqramları (intergovernmental) scholarships for Azerbaijani students wanting to study abroad and for foreign students wanting to pursue higher education in Azerbaijan. Scholarship recipients have their tuition and accommodation covered and a stipend for living expenses. Partner countries include China, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Romania, and Russia.

Finally, participate in Erasmus+ and Germany’s DAAD exchange programmes.

Big ambition

In 2024, at an event called “Opportunities of International Education in Azerbaijan,” Deputy Minister of Science and Education Hasan Hasanli that Azerbaijan’s goal was to host 75,000 foreign students by 2026.

There is no indication that this target has been met, but growth of 70% over the past five years, new demand from Asia, and the rapid introduction of joint universities and programmes suggests that expansion of Azerbaijan’s international student population is well underway.

For additional background, please see:

• “Kazakhstan sets its sights on being a regional hub for international students”
• “What students want: The top decision factors for study abroad”
• “From the Big Four to the Big Fourteen”

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