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Despite all the problems, tightening of visa rules and immigration policy, the United Kingdom in 2025 once again issued more student visas to foreigners than any other country. It is now officially the most popular destination in the world for obtaining an education.
However, analysts at Higher Insights can clearly see that the global market is undergoing significant restructuring. Thus, the long-standing leaders — the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia — issued approximately 38% fewer student visas over 2024-2025 than before.
- United Kingdom. 394 921 student visas in 2025, but in Q4 the number dropped by as much as 32% (an increase in rejections + seasonal decline).
- Canada. The most significant reduction in international enrollment: compared to 2023, a full 400 000 fewer student visas were issued.
- France and Germany are breaking into the top, overtaking Canada: they have attracted more new international students than the North American country.
- United States. In 2025, approximately 298 000 visas were issued; moreover, public analytics stopped being published in the second half of 2025. Visa and immigration policy is being tightened ever further, and the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, so attractive to international students, is undergoing worrying restructuring.
- Asian countries are seeing rapid growth: South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and China, which are already being called «new educational hubs» (challenger destinations).
