Recruitment & agents

Agents are inadvertently misleading and raising the hopes of prospective students in India, a conference has heard, with calls for more training around cultural differences.

Two new datasets from the Home Office and UCAS offer a cautiously optimistic view of international student recruitment to the UK, highlighting some positive developments amid broader downward trends.

In-country university recruiters delved into policy changes, their changing roles, challenges and opportunities at The PIE Live India 2025.

Prospective international students from Sri Lanka are increasingly looking to India as a high-quality and affordable study destination, stakeholders heard at The PIE Live India 2025. 

The PIE talks exclusively to an international student recruitment agent under complete anonymity. This is an uncensored view of recruitment activity from someone working in the private sector.

Following a string of sponsors placed on UKVI ‘action plans’, The PIE examines what is driving increased scrutiny and what institutions can do to improve compliance.

Scotland's universities, already renowned for their strong collaboration, are being encouraged to take "collective action" to promote the study destination as both headwinds and tailwinds continue to shape the future of international recruitment.

The UK's education secretary has released a video inviting prospective international students to the UK to join a "new generation of leaders" as she promotes UK universities.

A higher education expert has questioned the accuracy of reports linking agent partners of Canadian institutions to a human trafficking ring.

The PIE talks exclusively to an international student recruitment agent under complete anonymity. This is an uncensored view of recruitment activity from someone working in the private sector.

Claims that Canadian study visas were being exploited by human traffickers have opened up vital conversations in the international education sector, says Maria Mathai.

Recent analysis into UK student recruitment from Latin America has highlighted the potential for universities to expand existing efforts in markets such as Chile, Peru, Panama and Ecuador.

A number of "pull factors", including a longstanding internationalisation strategy and the K-pop phenomenon, are resulting in students from the US flocking to South Korea for their education.

Agents in the UK will be formally named on Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies documents – a significant step forward in enhancing transparency and addressing compliance issues linked to agent practices.

Despite Pakistan seeing a rise in outbound student mobility, recent fraudulent activities threaten the country’s reputation as a key source country for international students.