ICEF Podcast

From ‘Big Four’ to ‘Big Fourteen’: Redrawing the map of global student flows

Episode Summary

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.

Episode Notes

• 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