Global Enrolment Benchmark Survey to reveal real-time trends in international student enrolments 

The Global Enrolment Benchmark Survey aims to provide universities across the world with early, real-time data on international student enrolments, offering insights months or even years ahead of national statistics. 

[Eindhoven, 2 October 2024] — As higher education continues to face rapid shifts in government policies, markets, and student behaviors, having access to timely data is crucial. The Global Enrolment Benchmark Survey will give universities the opportunity to compare their performance against their peers, helping them navigate the evolving challenges of international recruitment in today’s turbulent environment. 

NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Oxford Test of English and Studyportals Analytics and Consulting have partnered to launch this unique initiative.  

What makes this survey different? 

Unlike traditional data sources, which often lag behind by months or years, this survey offers real-time data gathered from institutions worldwide. It allows universities to quickly adapt to changes in student demand, emerging markets, and policy shifts, well before official national figures are available. The survey will also offer a comparable view on global student flows across countries.  

By taking this six-minute survey, institutions will not only contribute to the global understanding of enrolment trends but will also receive exclusive, granular information on how they compare to peer institutions across the globe. 

All participant data will be anonymized, remain confidential, and be reported solely at an aggregate level to ensure privacy. 

Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators said: 

 “The state of global enrolment is changing rapidly and having the data to understand those changes is essential to setting the course for international higher education strategy and public policy priorities. We look forward to the survey results and future collaboration in this area.” 

Sara Pierson, Global Director, Assessment, Sales & Marketing, Oxford Test of English said:  

“I am delighted that the Oxford Test of English, together with NAFSA and Studyportals Analytics and Consulting, is launching the Global Enrolment Benchmarking survey. This ground-breaking initiative will capture real-time data on international enrolments, enabling institutions to quickly understand changes in global enrolment trends and respond with agility. This is truly exciting news for the Oxford Test of English as it continues to play a role in shaping the future of education across the globe.” 

Edwin van Rest, CEO and Co-founder of Studyportals said: 

“The Global Enrolment Benchmark means to illuminate one of the sector’s largest blind spots. An increasingly competitive and high-stakes landscape changes overnight with government regulations, reputation or world events. Current enrolment data is months or years old when published, not internationally comparable and lacks granularity. This project will offer participating universities and policy makers a ‘hot off the intake’ global snapshot of enrolment trends: vs their peer groups, their country and all other countries in the world — empowering them to stay ahead of the curve and grow the sector’s understanding of fast-changing global student flows” 

About NAFSA: Association of International Educators 

International education is the cornerstone for building a more understanding and peaceful world. NAFSA serves the needs of more than 10,000 members and international educators worldwide and is the leading organization committed to international education and exchange, working to advance policies and practices that build global citizens with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in today’s interconnected world. 

About Oxford Test of English  

Endorsed by the University of Oxford and developed by Oxford University Press, our English language proficiency tests – the Oxford Test of English, Oxford Test of English Advanced and Oxford Test of English for Schools – join OUP’s renowned learning resources empowering English language learners across the world. You can trust our fair, valid, and reliable tests of English proficiency which have undergone years of research, rigor, and quality assurance to ensure they meet the highest standards in English language assessment. 

About Studyportals 

Studyportals is the world’s most comprehensive study choice platform, helping students to choose their best-fit study across 200,000+ English-taught programmes from 3,500+ institutions.   Over 55 million students use Studyportals platforms annually to find and compare their study options across borders and select the right programme. Our goal is to make education choice transparent, globally.  

Based on the search and choice behaviour of millions of students, our Analytics and Consulting team provide real-time, forward looking market insights on student interest, institutional offering, pricing, and the changes in the competitive landscape for international education.