Other international education data and research

Student visa grants in Australia, Canada, UK, and USA

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced a decline in student visa grants in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA between 2019 and 2020.

Time series of student visa grants since 2019 in these four countries are provided below.

External sources by country

Australia

Department of Education

Higher Education Statistics

The Department of Education manages the Higher Education Statistics Collection which provides data relating to domestic and international students studying in Australian higher education institutions.

Department of Home Affairs

Student Visa Statistics

The Department of Home Affairs publishes quarterly and annual reports which provide data about Australia's Student Visa Program. These reports incorporate data on student visa applications lodged and student visas granted.

Student Visa Statistics (Pivot Tables)

These pivot tables provide data on student visa applications lodged and student visas granted in the current and previous financial year.

Temporary Entrants in Australia (Stock Data) Statistics

The Department of Home Affairs publishes quarterly reports on the number and composition of temporary entrants and New Zealand citizens present in Australia at a particular date, including student visa holders.

National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

NCVER is an independent body responsible for collecting, managing and analysing national VET statistics and survey data that cover both domestic and international students studying in Australian public VET institutions.

English Australia

English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS)

English Australia is the national peak body for the ELICOS sector and publishes data on international ELICOS students in Australia on student visas and other visa types.

Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Temporary Residents: Study Permit Holders – Monthly IRCC Updates

Study permit holders by country of citizenship and year in which the permit(s) became effective.

New Zealand

Education Counts

International students in New Zealand

Education Counts is an official government source of information about international students studying in NZ. It includes international students’ progression through the New Zealand education system, their academic achievement, support provided for international students and international students’ experiences in New Zealand. It also includes information of graduate employment outcomes and graduates ongoing links to New Zealand as alumni.

Education New Zealand (ENZ)

IntelliLab

ENZ is the lead government agency for the promotion and representation of New Zealand education. The IntelliLab is a comprehensive information resource on international students studying at higher education institutions in New Zealand.

UK

Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Higher Education institutions data

HESA is the official agency for the collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative information about higher education in the UK, including domestic and international students at higher education institutions.

Home Office of the United Kingdom

Immigration statistics quarterly release

The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics relating to the issuances of visas to individuals intending on studying in the UK.

UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)

Visit the UKCISA website

UKCISA serves the interests of international students and all who work with them in universities, colleges and students' unions and collates research and statistics from a variety of sources.

USA

Institute for International Education (IIE)

Open Doors

IIE provides a comprehensive information resource on international students studying at higher education institutions in the United States, and US students studying abroad for academic credit at their home institutions.

U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs

Monthly Non-immigrant Visa Issuance Statistics

The Bureau of Consular Affairs publishes monthly statistics relating to the issuances of visas to individuals intending on studying in the USA.

Global

UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

Online Data Centre

UIS’s online data centre gives access to data and tools to build customised statistical tables.

OECD

Education at a Glance

On 9 September 2025, the OECD released Education at a Glance 2025, annual flagship publication that reports on the funding and performance of education systems across 38 OECD member countries and some partner countries. It covers early childhood education and care (ECEC), school, vocational education and training (VET) and higher education.  

Key findings show that Australia’s education systems performed very well internationally in several areas:  

Productivity    

• A major finding of EAG 2025 is the strong link between educational attainment, labour market outcomes and health. Australia reflects this trend, with a comparatively high proportion of tertiary-qualified adults, who have employment rates, earnings and self-reported health status above OECD averages.

Domestic student support and funding

• The EAG 2025 report showcases a number of current Australian Government programs and initiatives, including: Suburban and Regional University Study Hubs; the High Achieving Teachers Program and In Home Care and Family Day Care services.
• Government expenditure per student at public schools was slightly above the OECD average at primary level, moderately higher at lower secondary level and much higher at upper secondary (general program) level in 2022.
• Australia recorded comparatively high enrolment rates in early childhood education and care across most age groups in 2023, with the rates of children aged 2 and below significantly above the OECD averages.
• Australia is continuing to grow higher education participation and attainment, with a much higher proportion of young adults (aged 25-34) having a bachelor’s qualification (36%) than the OECD average (26%) in 2024.

International students

• Among OECD countries, Australia had the third largest number (after the US and UK) and the second highest proportion (27%, after Luxembourg at 52%) of international students in tertiary education in 2023.  
• EAG 2025 reports that international students were relatively evenly distributed across all Australian higher education institutions, not concentrated in a few leading institutions. 

Australia Country Note (see Country notes section)

The Australia Country Note provides an overview of the key characteristics of the education system in Australia. It draws on data from Education at a Glance 2025 report.  

OECD Data Explorer

A new database of statistics developed by OECD, including the indicators published in Education at a Glance. 

Education Policy Outlook

Education Policy Outlook

The OECD publishes an Education Policy Outlook each year which monitors the evolution of policy priorities and policy developments across OECD participants worldwide. This includes a comparative analysis and highlights best practice examples together with what can be improved over time.

OECD Education Policy Outlook – Country Profile: Australia 2023

The OECD also publish Education Policy Outlook country profiles which review a selected country’s education system and examine its challenges and policy responses according to six policy levers.

OECD Education Policy Outlook – Country Profile: Australia 2013

Australia participated in the inaugural suite of Education Policy Outlook country profiles in 2013.

Project Atlas

Project Atlas

Project Atlas collects and reports accurate, timely and comprehensive data on global student mobility.