fbpx
Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
5th Sep 2018

Annual survey finds continued growth in international schools

The latest edition of an annual global study reveals ongoing growth in the international schools sector, both in terms of the number of schools and with respect to enrolment. The 2018 Global Report on the International Schools Market from ISC Research counts a total of 9,605 English-medium international schools worldwide. This represents a year-over-year increase of 6.3%, and contributes to a compound annual growth rate of nearly 6% over the last five years. ISC defines the segment as follows, “These schools, for children aged between 3 and 18, offer an international curriculum or a curriculum other than the country’s national curriculum (often the National Curriculum of England or an American style of curriculum). Most are entirely English-speaking, others are bilingual with English as one of the main languages of learning.” The locations with the greatest number of international schools are summarised in the chart below, with Dubai and its 306 leading the way (followed at some distance by Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, and Beijing – each with between 140 and 170 schools). the-nine-leading-global-centres-by-number-of-international-schools-hosted-2017-18 The nine leading global centres by number of international schools hosted, 2017/18. Source: ISC Research Looking ahead, ISC is already tracking another 104 new school openings planned for the 2018/19 school year.

Enrolment growth

Along with an expanding field of school choice, the number of students enrolled in international schools has also continued to grow this year. ISC reports 7% growth in enrolment year-over-year, taking the total student population to 5.1 million worldwide (on a compound annual growth rate of just under 7% over the past five years). As the following chart reflects, roughly a third of this total enrolment is concentrated in four markets: the UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, and India. leading-international-school-locations-by-enrolment-2017-18 Leading international school locations by enrolment, 2017/18. Source: ISC Research This volume of enrolment translates to roughly US$49 billion in direct tuition revenues and supports a global workforce of 467,000 teaching staff. “This continuing demand for international education reflects a trend that we are seeing in a vast number of countries,” says ISC Schools Director Richard Gaskell. “It is fuelled by increased wealth and parents’ aspirations to prepare their children in the best possible way to study at universities overseas, and for careers that can take them around the world. There is a very high level of investment interest in international education in many countries and we expect this trend to continue as economies improve.” Looking ahead, ISC projects continued strong growth for the sector over the next decade, with all top-level indicators – including number of schools, enrolment, revenue, and employment – all expected to exhibit significant further growth through 2028. By that point, the research consultancy forecasts the total number of schools worldwide will exceed 16,000, global enrolment will approach ten million students, and combined sector revenues will reach US$95 billion.

Indicator for global mobility

The significance of this continuing rapid expansion of international schools extends well beyond the sector itself. As ISC puts it, “Approximately 20% of [international school] students are the children of expatriate families who are seeking a school offering the language of learning and curriculum from their home country. However, the vast majority of international school students today are the children of local families choosing, what they consider to be, the best possible education close to home to prepare their child for university overseas and global careers.” Thus, the growing population of students in the sector also represents an important – and expanding – pool of well-qualified applicants for higher education institutions abroad. For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • United States: Government enforcement action on schools, universities, and international students intensifies Read More
  • UK commission calls for a more strategic and sustainable approach to international student recruitment Read More
  • Study shows that international educators and students want to lessen carbon footprint but that barriers remain Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

United States: Government enforcement action on schools, universities, and international students intensifies The Trump administration is intensifying its scrutiny of US higher education institutions and international students. As of April...
Read more
UK commission calls for a more strategic and sustainable approach to international student recruitment The United Kingdom’s most recent international education strategy was released in 2019. It set a target of attracting...
Read more
Ireland: Non-EU international students will be most affected by a new, increased threshold for available funds The Irish government has announced increases in the minimum funds requirements for foreign students. The changes will come...
Read more
SEVIS data reveals decline in international enrolments in the US in 2024/25 The Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Fall 2024 Snapshot reported a 3% increase in foreign enrolments in US...
Read more
International student policy in the spotlight during Australian election Australia will hold its next federal election on 3 May 2025. The vote looks to be hotly contested,...
Read more
US tariffs trigger global economic disruption and new concerns for international educators If in 2024, we looked back over the past 25 years, most of us would have identified three...
Read more
US signals new scrutiny of student visas amid reports of softening demand from foreign students Student surveys conducted earlier this quarter highlight an overall positive disposition among international students towards studying in the...
Read more
Taiwan is close to reaching its pre-pandemic benchmark for international enrolment Taiwan is steadily increasing the number of international students it hosts in its colleges and universities. In 2024,...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links