Vietnamese students attend a study abroad information session at a university in Hong Kong (China) in 2024.
PHOTO: NGOC LONG
Contrasting admissions picture
The “Global Admissions Standards” survey, published last week by NAFSA, Studyportals and Oxford Test of English, with the participation of 461 universities in 63 countries and territories, showed that many US and Canadian universities have seen a decline in the number of international students, both undergraduate and graduate, while Asian and European countries have seen significant growth, recorded in the August-October 2025 intake period.
Specifically, 82% of Canadian universities and 48% of American universities participating in the survey said they recruited fewer international undergraduate students than the previous year, and the figures for graduate students were 71% and 63%, respectively. Meanwhile, if only considering the number of new enrollments, foreigners coming to the US and Canada to study undergraduate studies decreased by an average of 6% and 36%, while graduate studies decreased by an average of 35% and 19%, according to statistics from 201 American schools and 20 Canadian schools.
In contrast, Asia and Europe are the two regions that have maintained growth in new enrolments at both levels, ranging from 1-8% at undergraduate level and 3-5% at postgraduate level. In terms of general enrolment trends, 81% of 26 Asian universities, including Vietnam, reported that their undergraduate enrolments remained the same or increased compared to the same period last year. The figures for 39 UK universities and 133 universities in the European Union were 60% and 73% respectively.
At the postgraduate level, 75% of Asian universities surveyed said they attracted the same or more international students than last year. This is the same as the EU and 15% higher than UK universities.
Fall 2025 Admissions Outlook for Some Popular Destinations
CHART: NGOC LONG
In the US and Canada, 85% and 90% of schools, respectively, agreed that restrictive policies and visa issues are the biggest barriers to attracting international students. "The cap on study permits, new requirements for proof of financial resources, and changes to criteria for post-graduation work permits have created uncertainty and undermined Canada's image as a trusted study destination," a representative of a Canadian university analyzed.
In Europe, policy issues are also the biggest concern, but there is a significant difference, with just under 60% of schools agreeing. Universities in the UK said that cost is the biggest problem in attracting international students, including tuition fees and living expenses, with 72% agreeing. Meanwhile, in Asia, 35% of schools said that the lack of affordable housing is the biggest barrier to recruiting international students.
Diversify sources of international students
To adapt to the new international recruitment landscape, 40% of the surveyed institutions prioritize expanding into other source markets in the next 12 months. This is also the top target for institutions in Canada (60%), the UK (51%), the European Union and the US (36%), countries and regions that have traditionally attracted large numbers of students from China and India, but are seeing their numbers dwindling.
In contrast, Asian universities place more importance on achieving enrollment targets (27%), followed by diversifying recruitment sources (23%) and increasing the use of artificial intelligence (12%). In fact, countries and territories such as South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have all announced comprehensive strategies with various goals to dramatically increase the number of international students coming to study in the coming years.
Cutbacks are also a move that many schools are considering, with 60% of Canadian universities saying they will cut their budgets and 50% wanting to cut staff in the next 12 months. Meanwhile, universities in the UK, US and the European Union prioritize budget cuts more, with the consensus rate ranging from 19-33%. In the US alone, 26% of the schools participating in the survey will expand online training programs in the next year to ensure revenue.
“The latest survey results once again confirm the profound impact of policy changes in major destinations, highlighting that global student mobility dynamics are shaped by a complex combination of political , geopolitical, economic and demographic factors,” the report said.
Ms Fanta Aw, CEO and General Director of NAFSA, said the world is experiencing one of the most dynamic times in international education , “largely due to changes in US visa and immigration policies”. This requires higher education institutions to be more flexible and responsive to learners’ needs, while also requiring the entire ecosystem to continue to advocate for policymakers, Ms Aw commented on the survey.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/du-hoc-sinh-khong-chon-my-canada-ma-do-ve-chau-au-chau-a-vi-sao-185251127121731143.htm
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