Policy Uncertainty Emerges as Major Barrier to Global Student Mobility
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A new global survey by IDP Education has revealed that sudden and unclear policy changes are now among the biggest barriers to international student mobility, eroding trust and reshaping study destination choices.
While affordability remains the leading concern, the Emerging Futures 2025 survey found that policy unpredictability in destination countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom is increasingly discouraging students from pursuing overseas education.
“Students can adapt their budgets or find scholarships, but they cannot plan for uncertainty,” said Simon Emmett, Chief Partnerships Officer at IDP Education. “When rules change without warning or clarity, students lose trust and delay or abandon their plans.”
The survey, which gathered responses from nearly 8,000 students across 134 countries, ranked New Zealand highest for clear visa and arrival guidance, while the United States and the United Kingdom were rated lowest. The UK also recorded the sharpest increase in student withdrawals, driven by policy changes around the Graduate Route and tighter compliance measures for universities.
More than half of students surveyed cited unaffordable tuition fees as a key deterrent, while one in five said obtaining a visa had become too difficult. In markets such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and the UAE, unclear government announcements triggered immediate delays or redirections in student applications.
Canada showed signs of stabilisation as clear communication helped rebuild student confidence, despite a significant decline in study permit issuances in 2025. Meanwhile, Australia retained its position as the most preferred destination, praised for value for money, graduate employability, and post-study work opportunities.
The United States saw the steepest fall in popularity, dropping to third place, as visa restrictions and policy hostility under the Trump administration fuelled uncertainty.
NAFSA CEO Fanta Aw warned that inconsistent policies have “real human and economic costs,” urging governments to maintain transparency and predictability. Emmett added that countries offering stability “will win the confidence of students and their families,” while those that do not risk losing global competitiveness.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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