amberRadar Student Mobility & Higher Education News Roundup | 16th Sept-15th Oct
Table of Content
Missed keeping track of all the latest happenings affecting the global higher education sector?
This monthly recap encompassing key developments in student migration, policy shifts, visa trends, university affairs, student housing and more across major study destinations helps you stay updated.
United Kingdom
UK universities raise concerns over “late surge” in student visa refusals
In late September, UK university officials and study abroad partners reportedly expressed concerns over an unforeseen and unexplained late surge in visa refusals between July-August. This in turn has pushed some universities’ rejection rates over 10%, according to a report in Times Higher Education. The new Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) rules, introduced in June, require visa refusal rates to remain below 5%, putting universities’ ability to recruit international students at risk and prompting them to look away from certain markets entirely. Several stakeholders have called for faster responses from the Home Office alongside more transparency on policy implementation; amber's research note explains the BCA changes in detail and their implications for the sector.
UK TNE students surpass onshore international student numbers
According to a report published by Universities UK International (UUKi) on 30th September, the number of students studying for UK higher education qualifications overseas reached 699,660 in 2024-25, up 7% year-on-year (YoY) and 36.6% from 2020-21. The total surpassed the 681,430 international students studying at UK institutions, with 183 providers delivering transnational education (TNE) across 229 countries and territories. Asia accounted for 51% of TNE students, while South Asia recorded the fastest growth among major regions, rising 76.9% to 124,500 students from 2020-21. These figures emphasise the expanding role of overseas provision in the UK’s higher education at a time when the country has ranked second in HEPI’s Soft Power Index.
United States of America
US colleges tighten CPT rules, curbing international student internships
Many universities across the US, including Ivy League institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania, have either restricted or fully suspended new internship and co-operative education approvals for international students unless practical training is a mandatory part of their degree. The restrictions follow warning messages issued on 12th and 24th August by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) operating under the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reiterating that Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must be integral to an established curriculum. These broadcast messages have prompted legal action, with four higher education organisations filing a lawsuit against DHS on 5th October over unprecedented changes to CPT guidance. Officials warned that non-compliance could jeopardise institutions’ authorisation to enrol international students. While stakeholders acknowledge concerns about “Day 1 CPT” arrangements being misused as supposed work visas, they warn that stricter enforcement could further weaken the country’s appeal as a study destination.
Nine US universities investigated over J-1 visas
On 8th October, the Trump administration announced investigations into nine US universities, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, over alleged misuse of J-1 exchange visas. This probe scrutinises the employment of international researchers amid allegations that immigration programmes are being used to undercut US grad students’ and researchers’ wages. The university investigations remain allegations, not established findings of wrongdoing, adding to wider scrutiny of international student and graduate work routes.
Second US judge blocks President Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee
On 30th September, a federal judge in California blocked the Trump administration from enforcing an exorbitant US$100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. The ruling stated that US Citizenship and Immigration Services, US Customs and Border Protection and the State Department failed to follow required rule-making procedures. The decision follows a similar ruling in June 2026 by a Boston judge in a separate case brought by 20 states. A proclamation signed on 18th September extended the fee through 21st September 2027, but the California ruling applies to that extension as well. Meanwhile, DHS has moved to establish a permanent fee of about US$103,000, which could face separate legal challenges.
US bill proposes fines of up to $250,000 and 10-year H-1B programme bans
The H-1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act (H.R. 10643), introduced in the US House of Representatives on 1st October, proposes significantly tougher penalties for employers violating specified H-1B programme rules. For serious violations involving the displacement of US workers, the maximum fine would rise from US$35,000 to US$250,000, while the minimum debarment period would increase from three to 10 years. The bill, which also proposes higher penalties for immigration-document fraud, has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and is not yet law. This comes amid a broader crackdown on employment pathways for international students, including a DHS proposal to charge US$70,000 for a student’s first OPT recommendation, and US$30,000 for each subsequent one.
Australia
Australia probes sudden surge in enrolments for cancelled diploma course
Government authorities are probing private colleges after nearly 3,000 last-minute enrolments were issued for the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning). This course was deregistered on 5th October over concerns that it was being exploited by disingenuous students. Since the ban was announced, more than 1,300 new enrolments were issued and over 1,500 existing enrolments were brought forward. Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill warned that providers attempting to circumvent the restrictions could be barred from recruiting new students. Investigators are also monitoring potential misuse of other study arrangements, warning that infringing students could risk their current or future visas.
Australia raises visa risk ratings for key student markets as refusals rise
The country’s Department of Home Affairs has raised immigration risk ratings for multiple countries and universities, with India, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Colombia and Pakistan now classified as high-risk student markets. The changes follow record student visa refusal levels, which feed into the risk-based assessment system and can increase documentation requirements for applicants. Following the update on 30th September, 22 universities now carry moderate-risk ratings, with many regional institutions among those affected. The revised ratings could add scrutiny for prospective international students and further impact recruitment for Australian institutions amid tighter visa settings.
Europe
Ireland urged to expand overseas education
Ireland’s higher education minister James Lawless has called for greater focus on delivering education overseas as accommodation shortages, visa challenges and capacity constraints complicate further growth in inbound international student numbers. Higher Education Authority data recorded 44,535 international enrolments in 2024/25, up 10.2% YoY, with India, China and the US accounting for 20.6%, 13.8% and 9.9% respectively. The shift comes amid wider funding pressures, with university leaders seeking an additional €190 million in annual core funding as enrolments and costs rise.
Appeal for Europe rises among international students
Canada-based student recruitment platform ApplyBoard released its Fall 2026 Recruitment Partner Pulse Survey on 22nd September. The survey, based on responses from over 900 advisors across 52 nationalities, found a rising appeal for Germany, with 79% considering it affordable, safe and welcoming. Germany’s overall attractiveness increased by four percentage points from Spring 2026. Across destinations, 87% of advisors cited overall study costs as a key factor in student decisions, followed by post-study work opportunities at 68%, highlighting Europe’s potential appeal amid shifting student priorities, which were also showcased in amber’s report on Chinese student mobility.
France and Germany gain ground among Indian students amid US visa delays
With visa processing delays, policy uncertainty and affordability concerns compounding in US higher education, France and Germany are emerging as preferred destinations for Indian students. Reports published in late September by Indian media organisations highlight that government-funded institutions, lower study costs, English-taught programmes and post-study job opportunities are contributing to these European destinations’ appeal. France is also expanding academic partnerships and simplifying visa processes to attract more Indian students, signalling a gradual shift in destination preferences beyond traditional markets.
Asia
Vietnamese student mobility climbs in South Korea, Taiwan and Japan
Rising demand for overseas education among Vietnamese students is strengthening education partnerships across Asia, with South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and China emerging as key destinations. Vietnamese student numbers rose 17% YoY in South Korea and 33% in Taiwan in 2026, while enrolments in China more than doubled between 2018 and 2024. Japan saw a 7% growth in Vietnamese students in the 12 months leading to May 2025. Notably, Singapore, China and Hong Kong are also among the leading foreign investors in Vietnam’s education sector.
Hong Kong strengthens status as education hub
Hong Kong is consolidating its role as both a regional education hub and a major source market for overseas study, according to a British Council-commissioned study conducted by market intelligence firm BONARD. Published on 30th September, the report surveyed 600 Hong Kong students and parents. Non-local students now account for more than half of higher education seekers in Hong Kong, largely driven by mainland Chinese enrolments, while outbound mobility shows early signs of decline as local options become more attractive. The UK remains Hong Kong’s leading overseas study destination, accounting for around half of students heading to major English-speaking destinations.
South Korea’s international student share reaches 5.3%
Foreign students made up 5.3% of South Korea’s higher education enrolment in 2024, up from 1.7% in 2015, according to the OECD’s Education at a Glance 2026 report. Despite the growth, the share remains below the OECD average of 12.1%. South Korea continues to lead OECD countries in higher education attainment among those aged between 25-34 years, at 71.1% in 2025 against the OECD average of 47.5%, as the country steps up efforts to attract international students amid a shrinking domestic college-age population.