Research

Some 4.5 million students studied abroad in 2012, but growth has slowed compared to previous years, the latest Education at a Glance report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the most thorough international student market report available, reveals.

Onshore international students in the UK applying to study at UK higher education institutions are twice as likely to be accepted as those applying from overseas, new research from British consultancy, The Knowledge Partnership (TKP), has revealed.

The 10th QS World University Rankings has been published with a familiar UK and US dominance. Science and technology research is driving the elite institutions such as MIT in the USA, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London as research citations are up for all best-ranked institutions.

Revenues generated by digital English language learning products are set to explode. Research from US-based Ambient Insight predicts a compound annual growth rate of 11.1% for global sales over the next five years increasing revenue from US$1.3bn to US$3.8bn led by mobile learning products.

Postgraduate degrees are increasingly providing students with a competitive edge in the job market but cultural differences and a degree’s subject dictate success, according to a study carried out for HEFCE. Researchers also outlined strengths and challenges in themes of quality and access.

Affordable fees and a strong reputation for higher education are among the main draws for international students choosing to study in South Africa, but discrimination and difficulty finding affordable accommodation are significant obstacles, the first major survey of international students in the country has revealed.

There is “no question that suspect and outright fraudulent practice exists” among some agents, but there is an indisputable need for agents in international education, a report by the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education (OBHE) has concluded.

An analysis by The Brookings Institution of the economies of 118 metro areas in the USA has revealed that foreign students are vital players in connecting cities with economies around the world and contributed US$21.8bn in tuition and US$12.8bn in living costs from 2008-2012.

As increased access to foreign study changes the demographics and backgrounds of the typical mobile student, higher education institutions are struggling to meet the evolving needs of international students, according to analysis from benchmarking company i-graduate.

New Zealand has experienced its strongest ever start to the year with an 8% increase in international student enrolments resulting in an additional 5,100 students compared to the same January to April period last year. All sectors have experienced growth, but most notably Private Training Establishments have seen a 13% boost in enrolments.

The Hobsons’ Good Universities Guide 2015 rates Australian universities based on graduates' ability to get a full-time job, starting salary and overall student satisfaction. It also provides information on fields of study, showing business and management degrees were the most popular among foreign undergrads.

The Council for Graduate Schools reports an increase of 9% in admissions for foreign students on the back of rising demand from Indian students. Data from the organisation also reveals that most institutions don't require domestic students to do research or study abroad.

A first-of-its-kind report by the Australian Trade Commission reveals the first six months of the year have seen an 11.5% increase on January to June 2013, with green shoots being seen in the ailing VET sector and notable growth from most source markets.

The annual National Student Survey in the UK, which polls final year undergraduate students about various aspects of their education experience, has revealed a 10-year high in overall satisfaction levels across students studying in the UK, with 86% indicating they were happy with their course. The University of Bath got the best individual rating for a mainstream HEI.

Almost two-thirds of international students consider offline communication as important as online information when researching higher education options according to a TopUniversities.com survey of some 2,000 students.