Transforming Student Futures | 2nd Insights Report
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New NCUK research reveals international students prioritise quality over politics in university destination choices.
A comprehensive survey by NCUK, a leading global pathway provider, has revealed that international students are prioritising educational quality over political developments when choosing their university destinations, with the UK maintaining its position as the preferred choice for 80% of respondents.
The Transforming Student Futures 2 report, based on responses from 921 students across 88 countries studying International Foundation Year, International Year 1 and Master’s Preparation programmes, provides crucial insights into the motivations and preferences of international pathway students.
Key findings:
Destination preferences remain stable:
- Destination preferences among our students remain stable, with the UK being the preferred university destination for 80% of survey respondents
- Australia follows as the second choice (4%), with Canada, USA, New Zealand and Ireland each attracting 3% of preferences
- Business and Computer Science are the preferred subjects for nearly one-third (31%) of respondents
Quality drives decision-making:
- Education quality is the primary motivation for 69.9% of students choosing to study overseas
- Enhanced career development opportunities (56.4%) and gaining new knowledge (55.2%) follow as key motivators
- 94% of students express confidence that NCUK pathways will enhance their career prospects – a 5% increase from last year
Policy changes have limited impact:
- Despite widespread media coverage of policy changes, these developments are not significantly impacting student decision-making in the UK, but have made a larger impact in Australia, the US and Canada
- Only 12% of respondents who said they were considering the UK as study destination said that financial requirement increases would prevent them from applying to study anywhere in the UK (sample size 646)
- 36% of those who were interested in studying in Australia indicated that the Australian student cap proposals would affect their applications (sample size 411)
- 26% of those considering Canada as a destination said they will no longer apply to study in Canada as a result of Canadian policies, especially the changes to Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) (sample size 417)
- 38% of those considering the US as a place to study said the new US presidency would influence their decision to study in America negatively with these students no longer applying to study in the US, 14% will now be applying to study in the US and almost half (48%) says it has no bearing on their decision. (sample size 464)
Learning preferences:
- Two-thirds (66%) of students still favour fully on-campus learning at main overseas campuses
- Full online learning has gained popularity, climbing two places from last year’s rankings
- Academic preparation assistance (51.6%) and access to higher-ranking universities (50.5%) are the most valued benefits of pathway programmes
Post-study plans:
- Half (50%) of respondents plan to remain in their study destination after graduation
- 31% intend to work in their study destination, while 19% plan further studies
- 23% plan to return home immediately, showing a slight increase from 18% last year
The survey also revealed that students are highly informed about their chosen destinations, with 65% following news about their destination countries at least weekly, primarily through YouTube (50%) and international TV news channels (47%).
“This research demonstrates that international students are sophisticated decision-makers who look beyond political headlines to focus on educational quality and career outcomes. While policy changes generate significant discussion in our sector, students are primarily motivated by the academic excellence and opportunities that institutions can provide. The remarkable 94% confidence rate in NCUK pathways shows that quality education remains the decisive factor. We must continue focusing on the benefits that truly matter to students and their families.”
Andy Howells, Chief Marketing Officer at NCUK
Explore these insights and more in the full report, now available on the NCUK website: