By Jakir Hossain
According to a presentation by Navitas Australia, outbound student mobility from South Asia is expected to increase by over 4% by 2030, making up 15% of the global share of international students.
Despite growth in enrolments, TNE, and university partnerships, the policy changes in major study destinations like Canada and Australia have led to a shift in student mobility trends in 2024, leading to new expectations for 2025.
India is still South Asia’s biggest market
The year 2024 marked a pivotal shift in the global education landscape, with policy changes across traditional study-abroad destinations like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK creating new challenges for students
said Aritra Ghosal, Founder and Director, OneStep Global.
Due to these policy decisions, the reputation of the 'big four' has changed a bit, allowing European and Asia-Pacific countries to gain more attention.
According to the Indian Student Mobility Report 2024, the number of Indian students studying abroad is projected to reach 1.5 million by 2025, up from 1.3 million in 2023
stated Arora.
Pakistan: A rising source country
Despite being a small market, Pakistan had over 103,000 students studying abroad as of 2022.
We noted that more students started exploring options in other EU destinations rather than traditional ones like Australia, the UK, Canada, and the US due to costs, visa regulations, and ease of getting admissions
said Dr. Osamah Qureshi, Director at the Institute of Career Development in Pakistan.
Trends in Nepal
Similar to other South Asian markets, changes in policies by major study destinations have made Nepalese students rethink their options.
We have seen a good shift of students for Luxembourg, Finland, and Norway in recent times. Students have been captivated towards studying more in Europe lately and will continue to do so in 2025
said Garriema Bista, an education consultant based in Kathmandu.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka’s adjustments to new policies
While the UK and the US remain favourites, an increasing number of students are turning to regional options like Malaysia, China, and even Japan, which offer affordable education and government-funded scholarships
said Ujjol Mia, CEO, Aspire Global Pathways.
With Bangladesh witnessing student protests in 2024, which led to the ouster of former leader Sheikh Hasina, the quota system and rising unemployment were considered major reasons for Bangladeshi students to study abroad.
Sri Lanka continues to show growth in outbound student mobility, and it is expected that this number will exceed 32,000 by 2027
said Suresh Gunasekera.