CISaustralia has released its 8th annual Learning Abroad (LA) Industry Survey, providing critical insights to guide Australian universities’ 2026 strategic planning.
Since its inception in 2020, this survey has evolved into a leading benchmarking tool, offering data-driven analysis to inform institutional decision-making, enhance student mobility programs, and advance collaboration across the sector.
According to the 2025 Learning Abroad Industry Survey (8.0), enrolments in Learning Abroad programs are projected to decline by 13% from 2024 to 2025, before rebounding with a 5% increase in 2026. This pattern reflects both the sector’s vulnerability to shifting conditions and its resilience as it adapts to new strategic imperatives.
The 2025 data reveal’s a highly uneven distribution of outbound enrolments. Just five universities in Australia account for half of all outbound Learning Abroad enrolments, with enrolments ranging from 1,500 to over 5,000 students per institution. In contrast, the remaining 35 institutions have an average of approx. 500 enrolments each.
So what’s Behind the Dip?
The 13% decline in 2025 is linked to a complex interplay of persistent barriers and institutional challenges. Government policy shifts in the inbound space and changes to NCP in the outbound space are prominent (unwanted) distractions. Despite notable improvements, such as: limited marketing (-25%), lack of academic staff engagement (-20%), and weak senior management support (-11%) have all declined —financial pressures remain. In fact, a lack of funding and scholarships has emerged as a growing barrier, increasing by 11% in 2025.
Staffing and resource constraints also persist. Most universities (83%) report no plans to hire new LA staff, and only 50% of Universities have more than three FTEs dedicated Learning Abroad staff. Furthermore, half of the institutions have yet to embed Learning Abroad in their central strategic plans, limiting the program’s visibility and institutional support.
A significant proportion (69%) of universities aim to send 90–100% of their Learning Abroad students for academic credit in 2026. Most institutions (80%) require no more than two semesters of study before eligibility, signalling flexible access. Nonetheless, staff engagement remains hindered by workload, reduced resourcing, morale issues, curriculum misalignment, and insufficient incentives.
Program Preferences and Destination Shifts
Short-term faculty-led programs remain the most popular Learning Abroad format, though a projected 11% decline suggests efficiency concerns. Notably, these programs are also perceived as the least efficient to deliver. Geographically, Europe is forecasted to become the top destination region in 2026 (+17%), displacing Asia-Pacific (-14%). Country-level trends show rising interest in Japan (+17%), Netherlands (+16%), and China (+11%), while Fiji (-25%) and Scandinavia (-20%) see sharp declines.
Institutional Policy and Sustainability
Despite growing global focus on sustainability, nearly 50% of universities still lack an environmental policy addressing emissions from student travel. This gap represents a missed opportunity for institutions to align Learning Abroad with broader climate goals.
Funding, Staffing, and Strategic Integration
Most institutions (72%) will offer central funding for LA programs, typically between $500–$3,000 per student. However, over half of Australian universities have yet to embed Learning Abroad into their central strategic plans, and 64% are either unaware or unclear on its inclusion.
Limited Integration with Recruitment and Retention
Learning Abroad’s role in domestic student recruitment and post-program retention remains underutilized. A majority of universities have limited understanding of its impact, with most LA offices meeting their domestic recruitment counterparts just twice or less per year.
Strategic Imperatives
To sustain growth beyond 2026, institutions must act on key levers:
- Funding equity: Addressing financial access is essential to scale participation. A focus on OS-HELP as the key funding mechanism.
- Academic engagement: Workload and incentives remain major barriers to staff involvement.
- Policy alignment: With nearly 50% of universities lacking environmental travel policies, sustainability must be embedded in future planning.
- Recruitment integration: Learning Abroad remains underused as a domestic recruitment and retention tool.
Conclusion: From Dip to Drive
The 2025 survey paints a story of cautious optimism. While a 13% enrolment dip signals short-term disruption, the 5% growth forecast for 2026 reflects a sector positioning itself for ongoing recovery. With strategic investment and broader institutional integration, Australian universities can transform this rebound into sustained momentum—ensuring Learning Abroad continues to thrive in an evolving global education landscape.
The Koala thanks Brad Dorahy from CISaustralia for access to the data and support for the story.
