Vietnamese students help stabilize enrollments in Australia, Canada, UK, US

In 2024, nearly 40,000 Vietnamese students received study visas for the "Big Four" English-speaking destinations—the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K.—marking a 20% increase compared to five years ago.

More than 150,000 Vietnamese students are studying overseas, and that number is expected to grow over the next five years, according to ApplyBoard, a Canadian educational technology company.

This growth is fueled by Vietnam's strong academic culture, a growing middle class, and robust international family connections. Vietnamese students also benefit from a solid English-language foundation throughout their schooling, making them well-prepared and competitive for admission to top programs in the Big Four countries, the report said.

The U.S. remains the top destination, with 18,500 Vietnamese students receiving study visas in 2024, up 27% from the previous year and 8% above the pre-pandemic peak. Vietnam ranked sixth among all source countries for international students in the U.S., and fourth by the number of F-1 visas issued.

Citing data from the Institute of International Education's Open Doors report, ApplyBoard noted that for the past decade, at least 63% of Vietnamese students in the U.S. have been enrolled in undergraduate programs—the highest proportion among the top ten sending countries. This trend is expected to continue.

ApplyBoard projects that Vietnamese enrollment in the U.S. will remain stable and resilient in the coming years. Based on F-1 visa data from October 2024 to May 2025, the company expects a modest increase in visa issuance to Vietnamese students in 2025.

"Recruiting from this high-demand population may help U.S. institutions weather any potential softening student enrollment from other key populations due to geopolitical shifts," the report stated.

Australia has also experienced significant growth, with Vietnam becoming the third-largest source of new international students in the 2023–2024 academic year. More than 35,000 Vietnamese students were enrolled in Australian higher education and vocational education and training (VET) institutions last year.

However, new enrollment caps for the VET sector are expected to reduce the number of Vietnamese study visas to around 7,000 in 2025.

In Canada, the number of study permits granted to Vietnamese students rose by 16% between 2022 and 2024, with another 14% increase projected in 2025. Nearly half of these permits are for students in primary and secondary education.

In the U.K., Vietnamese student numbers have remained steady over the past decade, with annual student visa issuance ranging from 2,000 to 3,500. ApplyBoard anticipates around 2,100 visas will be granted in 2025, in line with historical trends.

"As other large markets like India and Nigeria face more volatility due to shifting policy or affordability concerns, Vietnam offers institutions a high-potential and reliable pathway for diversification and long-term enrollment growth," Meti Basiri, the chief executive of ApplyBoard, told Times Higher Education.

Basiri added that Vietnamese students tend to prioritize destinations with strong post-study work opportunities and are closely monitoring policy changes in their target countries.