A new global study has found that international education continues to deliver powerful personal and professional benefits for students — but the true value lies far beyond employability.
The miXabroad Global Benchmark Report 2025, drawing on insights from more than 4,200 students across 100 host countries, is the first international effort to standardise how the impact of study abroad is measured. The report provides evidence-based insights into what students gain, what motivates them to go, and what institutions can do to improve their programs.
Students driven by meaning, not just metrics
Across the global cohort, 96% of students were satisfied with their international experience, with nearly three-quarters “very satisfied.” Those who reported the highest satisfaction were also the most likely to recommend studying abroad to others — a finding that underscores the link between strong experiences and student advocacy.
But the report’s real insight lies in what drives students to go abroad in the first place. While employability remains important, students consistently ranked personal growth, cultural immersion and social connection above career advancement.
Emily O’Callaghan, CEO of miXabroad, said the data confirms what many educators have long suspected. “Students seek connection, culture and experience — meaning, not just résumé-building. When institutions focus on the human side of global learning, the impact is transformative”.
Growth beyond the classroom
Personal transformation was the most commonly reported outcome, with 95% of students citing significant gains in self-awareness and confidence. Communication and intercultural skills followed closely, while career and academic benefits, though still strong, ranked lower.
Students described becoming more adaptable, empathetic and globally aware — attributes that employers increasingly value but that are often hard to quantify. The data also challenges a common assumption: program length doesn’t determine impact.
Whether abroad for two weeks or a full semester, students reported similarly high levels of learning and growth. According to miXabroad, quality — not duration — is what matters most.
This finding lands at a pivotal policy moment. Australia’s New Colombo Plan recently doubled its minimum program length from two to four weeks, while the UK’s Turing Scheme moved in the opposite direction. The report suggests neither change, on its own, guarantees better outcomes.
Safety, affordability and access
Students said they felt safest on campus, but perceptions of community safety varied widely by destination. Asian destinations such as Singapore and Japan topped global safety rankings, while Australia ranked mid-table.
When it comes to affordability, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, India and Thailand were perceived as the most cost-effective study destinations. Australia, North America and northern Europe were considered the most expensive.
The findings also highlight ongoing access and equity challenges. Many institutions are still working to broaden participation, and miXabroad intends to use future datasets to track inclusion across groups such as Indigenous, refugee, disabled and first-in-family students.
Lessons for providers
The report offers practical recommendations for universities, urging them to design programs around personal growth, connection and reflection, rather than focusing solely on academic or career outcomes. It also encourages early engagement, noting that almost half of students begin considering study abroad before starting university.
Institutions are advised to build stronger pre-departure and re-entry support, provide transparent information on cost and logistics, and capture data on personal and social impact — not just grades or job outcomes.
“By standardising how we capture experience, miXabroad turns student voices into evidence,” O’Callaghan said. “That evidence helps institutions strengthen programs, advocate for funding, and ensure that global learning remains accessible and meaningful.”
A new chapter for evidence-based global learning
The 2025 report marks the close of miXabroad’s pilot phase and the beginning of a global benchmarking network aimed at helping universities measure and improve international learning outcomes.
As institutions face tighter budgets and heightened scrutiny over impact, the findings reinforce the importance of quality, inclusivity and purpose in every international experience.
For the global education community, it’s a reminder that the most lasting outcomes of studying abroad are often the hardest to measure — confidence, connection and a renewed sense of self in a bigger world.
The report can be downloaded here.
