Australia’s appeal as a study destination fell by almost one quarter over six months.
Australia’s first-choice share is twenty-four per cent
Only twenty-four per cent of prospective international students chose Australia as their first-choice destination. That figure sets a narrower benchmark than general consideration: it identifies respondents who put Australia ahead of other destinations, while the separate appeal measure records a decline across a six-month span. Read together, the results show a fall in appeal alongside a first-choice share below one in four; they do not establish how many students ultimately enrolled.¹
IDP Education released the data at this year’s Australian International Education Conference in Sydney. The survey collected responses from four thousand eight hundred and thirty-four students across one hundred and six countries. Responses were gathered between 18 August 2026 and 16 September 2026, setting a defined collection window for the findings rather than covering a full year.¹
The comparison of destination interest covers a different period: between March and August 2026, the proportion of students considering the UK and US rose by eight percentage points. This measures consideration, meaning students were weighing those destinations, rather than recording which one they ultimately selected. The increase therefore describes a change in the pool of students looking at the UK and US, not a count of confirmed enrolments.¹
IDP Education released the data at this year’s Australian International Education Conference in Sydney.
Australia’s international student policy rating fell
Australia was the only study destination whose rating for international student policy fell. That finding distinguishes the country’s policy score from its broader appeal measure: one tracks how students rated international student policy, while the other reflects Australia’s attraction as a place to study. The two measures point in the same direction in the survey, but they describe different aspects of students’ destination assessments.¹
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Read More →Simon Emmett, chief partner officer at IDP Education, said it was “no surprise” that Australia’s rating was the only score to fall. He said constant rule changes are weighing on students’ decisions, and that Australia is making itself harder to choose. Emmett also said the country is losing ground in the global race for talent. His comments link the policy rating to the decisions students make, while the survey records the ratings and preferences themselves.¹
More than four out of five prospective students now consider multiple study destinations. That means many students are comparing options rather than focusing on a single country from the start. In that environment, destination ratings and the practical details students weigh can shape which places remain in consideration. The survey finding describes how widely students compare destinations; it does not say which option those students choose in the end.¹
Visa prospects and living costs weigh on choices
Over half of prospective and applied students surveyed said visa approval prospects strongly influence their destination choice. Separately, the proportion of students who were no longer considering international study rose from eleven per cent to sixteen per cent since IDP Education’s last survey. These results cover different decisions: one concerns how visa prospects affect destination choice, while the other tracks whether students continue to consider studying abroad at all.¹
Among students whose preferred destination was Australia, a quarter named the cost of living as their biggest concern. The finding concerns a particular group—students who already preferred Australia—and identifies the issue they ranked highest. It does not describe all prospective students, or show that the same concern was the leading one for students who preferred another destination.¹
It places the destination findings alongside a separate measure of the overseas-born share of Australia’s skilled STEM workforce, without establishing that the surveyed students will enter those jobs.¹
More than half of Australia’s university-qualified STEM workers were born overseas. This figure concerns workers with university qualifications in STEM, rather than the student survey respondents or international students currently choosing a destination. It places the destination findings alongside a separate measure of the overseas-born share of Australia’s skilled STEM workforce, without establishing that the surveyed students will enter those jobs.¹
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Read More →Reduced cost is the leading TNE motivation
Fifty-two per cent of respondents said reduced overall cost was their top motivation for considering TNE. The result identifies cost as the most frequently named leading motivation among respondents considering that option. It is a separate finding from the living-cost concern raised by students who preferred Australia: one concerns the reason for considering TNE, while the other identifies the biggest concern among a specific group of Australia-preferring students.¹
Taken together, the survey findings record several distinct pressures in destination decisions: changing destination consideration, policy ratings, visa approval prospects, living costs and the cost of TNE. The measures should not be collapsed into one ranking. Some describe whether students are considering a country, some capture their stated preferences or concerns, and others record views about international student policy or study options.¹
Compare Destinations, Not Just Rankings
If you are weighing study abroad, treat Australia as a weaker option than six months ago. Its appeal fell by almost one quarter, and only 24% of prospective students now pick it first. Meanwhile, consideration for the UK and US rose by eight percentage points between March and August 2026. More than four out of five students compare multiple destinations, so you should too. Check each country’s visa approval prospects, which over half of students say strongly influence their choice, before committing.¹
Also note that more than half of Australia’s university-qualified STEM workers were born overseas, so skilled migration pathways matter.
Plan for policy and cost risks if Australia remains your target. It was the only destination whose international student policy rating fell, and constant rule changes are weighing on decisions. A quarter of Australia-preferring students name living costs as their biggest concern. Also note that more than half of Australia’s university-qualified STEM workers were born overseas, so skilled migration pathways matter. If cost drives you, 52% of respondents cite reduced overall cost as the top reason for considering TNE.¹
Sources
Written by Career Ahead AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify key facts. Report errors to support@careeraheadonline.com
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