This episode is sponsored by TSI, University of Applied Science For many years, international student mobility has been defined by the dominance of the 'BigFour': the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. These historically popular study destinations have long set the benchmark for international education, attracting a significant majority of students seeking to study abroad. However, the global landscape is changing. A growing number of destinations across Europe, Asia, and beyond are emerging as serious contenders. With proactive government strategies, competitive tuition fees, improving world rankings, and attractive post-study work opportunities, these emerging destinations are expanding the range of quality options available to students, creating a more dynamic and competitive market than ever before. This shift requires established destinations to adapt and prompts a wider discussion about the future geography of student recruitment. In this episode, we will therefore explore the evolving dynamics of global student flows. We will discuss: - The dominant countries in international education, both today and in the future. - The evolving criteria for what makes a destination 'top-tier'—moving beyond student numbers to include affordability, policy, and career outcomes. - The strategic adjustments the BigFour can make to maintain their competitive edge. - The opportunities for emerging destinations to solidify their position on the world stage.
• News & developments
- Search data highlights surge in student interest in Asian and Middle Eastern destinations at mid-year
- Australia raises enrolment limits for 2025/26 but are they reachable?
• Main topic: From ‘Big Four’ to ‘Big Fourteen’: Redrawing the map of global student flows
with
Kym Nguyen
Vice President, Student Recruitment
QS
Andrew Ness
Senior Vice-President, Analytics and Consulting, North America
Studyportals
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF