The fading dominance of the ‘big four’ study destinations, Trump’s second presidential term and currency fluctuations in Latin America all promise to shape the region’s international higher education landscape in the coming year.
While GDP is predicted to grow across the region, fluctuating exchange rates in Latin America are expected to increase student demand for more affordable education options including more online education. Inter-regional university partnerships in Latin America are also set to rise.
In December 2024, the devaluation of the Brazilian real hit an all-time low in comparison to the US dollar, which could reduce the “wave” of Brazilian students studying abroad in the first semester of 2025, noted Antônio Bacelar, CEO of Viamundo study abroad provider.
Though there are concerns of a Trump presidency further devaluing Brazil’s currency, Bacelar believes the long-term growth of Brazilian higher education to be “irreversible”.
“All programs will suffer from the present world political situation, as well as the high dollar rate in Brazil, but I do believe, it will be temporary,” predicted Bacelar.
Despite currency fluctuations, “the economic outlook across the region is good with GDP across the region expected to grow”, said Simon Terrington, co-founder of EdCo LATAM consulting.
Latin America’s three key markets – Brazil, Colombia and Mexico – are expected to see lower inflation and interest rates, boosting regional economies, said Terrington.
Furthermore, Latin America’s middle class is on the rise, fuelling a demand for education abroad with an emphasis on career-oriented programs, said Humberto Costa, director of CI Group study travel firm in Brazil.
Europe will likely dominate as the preferred destination due to the emergence of excellent business schools
Humberto Costa, CI Group
“Europe will likely dominate as the preferred destination due to the emergence of excellent business schools offering programs in English, high employability prospects and immigration benefits.
“A renewed Trump presidency could result in more restrictive US visa policies, which may drive Latin American students toward other destinations such as Canada and Europe,” predicted Costa.
Echoing this prediction, Terrington said that while the ‘big four’ markets would remain popular, “students will apply for programs in a greater range of countries”, fuelling the already-increasing market presence of institutions in alternative study destinations.
While postgraduate study remains the most popular for students from Latin American countries coming to the UK, a recent survey by EdCo LATAM highlighted the rising interest in undergraduate programs.
It also revealed the growing prominence of Latin America’s secondary and tertiary markets including as Chile, Peru, Panama and Ecuador.
In Brazil, where 70% of undergraduate students are said to be taking online degrees, Costa expects that 2025 will bring the “growing adoption of AI-powered tools in education, improving accessibility and personalised learning experiences.
“We anticipate reforms in Brazil’s education sector, potentially focused on digital transformation and the expansion of public-private partnerships,” he said.
