Overview

• ApplyBoard’s Fall 2025 survey of nearly 400 recruitment partners ranks the UK first and Canada second, displacing the US from last year’s top spot.
• Only 50% of respondents now view the US as open and welcoming to international students, a decline of about 24 percentage points from spring.
• Affordability leads decision drivers, followed by post‑study work opportunities and cost of living, with Germany, Ireland and Canada most often cited as cost‑effective.
• Official IRCC data show Canada issued 47,695 study permits to Indian students in January–June 2025, sharply below the first halves of 2023 and 2024, as industry sources say processing times are easing.
• Recruiters report rising interest in alternatives such as New Zealand and France, even as 84% still describe Canada as a safe and welcoming destination.