The Global Enrolment Benchmark Survey, conducted by NAFSA, the Oxford Test of English and Studyportals, examined 461 universities in 63 countries for the August‑October 2025 intake and identified visa restrictions and government policies as the top obstacle to attracting international students.

Overall, 68 % of surveyed institutions cited visa rules as a major concern, up from 51 % in the previous year, with the United States showing the steepest increase to 85 % of universities reporting the issue.

In Canada, 82 % of universities recorded lower undergraduate enrolments, averaging a 36 % drop, while 71 % saw postgraduate numbers fall by an average of 35 %.

U.S. institutions also reported declines, with 48 % noting fewer undergraduate students and 63 % observing reduced postgraduate enrolments; the average losses were six percent for undergraduates and 19 percent for postgraduates.

NAFSA Executive Director Fanta Aw linked the downturn to recent changes in U.S. immigration policy, describing the period as a highly dynamic moment for international education.

Conversely, universities in Asia and Europe reported growth, with 36 % of Asian and 43 % of European institutions noting increased undergraduate enrolments, and the United Kingdom seeing a 42 % rise at the undergraduate level.

The survey also revealed that 40 % of institutions worldwide are actively seeking students from new source countries, reflecting a shift toward diversifying recruitment markets.