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Latest data shows continued growth in international enrolments
The latest full-year enrolment data confirms there were 92,580 international students enrolled with New Zealand education providers in 2025. This is an increase of 11 percent from the same period in 2024 and 80 percent of the pre-COVID peak.
ENZ’s Acting Chief Executive, Dr Linda Sissons, says the results reflect steady progress across the sector driven by the sustained effort of education providers and enabled by ENZ’s brand and promotional activity.
ENZ’s recent Global Brand Health and Awareness Survey found that 22 percent of prospective students place New Zealand in their top three study destinations. This strengthening preference is consistent with the growth we are seeing in international student enrolments.
“In a highly competitive global market, New Zealand’s high-quality education providers, great student experience and strong graduate outcomes are the factors that most influence student choice,” says Dr Sissons.
Universities have seen a 14 percent increase to 38,025, significantly exceeding 2024 levels. School enrolments grew by 10 percent to 20,155.
International enrolments in our primary, intermediate and secondary schools remain a key point of difference for New Zealand, offering an early pathway into our education system.
Outside of universities and schools, recovery across subsectors has been more uneven, with institutes of technology and polytechnics progressing at different rates. This reflects varied recovery across subsectors and markets.
“We are regularly assessing priority markets so we can understand where demand is growing and can direct our effort and resources toward markets with the greatest opportunity to support sustainable growth.”
China and India remain the top two countries for international student enrolment, at 34 percent and 14 percent respectively, followed by Japan (9 percent), South Korea (4 percent), Sri Lanka (4 percent), Germany (3 percent), the United States of America (3 percent), Nepal (3 percent), and the Philippines (3 percent).
“Strong growth was seen in a small number of new markets including Sri Lanka and Nepal. These markets have been factored into our market prioritisation and investment framework for 2026/27,” says Dr Sissons.
International students are studying across all regions of New Zealand. Auckland remains the largest centre, hosting around 55 percent of international students, followed by Canterbury and Waikato.
“Canterbury (10 percent), Auckland (14 percent) and Waikato (19 percent) experienced the strongest growth,” says Dr Sissons.
“Growth across regions reflects a sector that is rebuilding at pace and contributing to our local communities and economy.”
ENZ plays a key role in supporting the sector by providing market intelligence and insights to help providers understand trends in demand and make informed decisions in an increasingly competitive global market.
A webinar for interested stakeholders is being held at 12:30pm (NZT) on 19 May where ENZ’s Director of Insights and Performance, Marie Clark, will present the numbers and provide insights into each subsector and market.
Register for the webinar: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/db7275ad-de60-42ad-bb00-c0d46b7c2804@7fab8d82-1c85-4170-acbf-74e098fcca29.
Full enrolment data is available on ENZ’s Tableau public account as interactive dashboards and data tables.
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Chilean students and teachers tour New Zealand
The programme aims to broaden access to intercultural learning opportunities for Chilean students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is fully funded by the Chilean Government and administered by AFS Chile and AFS New Zealand.
The students – from Cerro Navia, Lo Prado, and Pudahuel, three of the lowest income territories in Chile – had never travelled before. In New Zealand, they participated in English language lessons as well as cultural activities in Auckland and Whitianga. This included visiting a Marae and living with local host families to experience family life in New Zealand.
AFS National Director, Doris Cuthell, said it was a privilege to welcome the students to New Zealand.
“The Chilean Government is committed to increasing access to cultural and educational experiences for young people, to help equip them for a more interconnected world,” said Ms Cuthell.
“Our Global Choice programme was a perfect fit for these students, and the experience life-changing.”
The students and their teachers finished their trip at a reception in Wellington on 12 December with Wellington Mayor Justin Lester, the Chilean Ambassador to New Zealand Rodrigo Espinosa and AFS New Zealand. Mr Lester spoke to the students about his own life-changing AFS experience during an exchange to Germany.
“Immersion allows students to experience other cultures and learn English in a way you can’t at home in the classroom,” said Ms Cuthell.
“From Barrancas to New Zealand is a fantastic initiative – we’re very proud to be involved in a programme that is increasing our capacity to broaden access to intercultural learning for more diverse communities.”
The Chilean Government is committed to working with AFS New Zealand through the Global Choice programme and will provide From Barrancas to New Zealand scholarships for the next three years.
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International students welcomed to New Zealand
James Hargest College’s new international students meet their homestay families at the airport (the stuffed lion toy (school mascot) has all the emergency contacts in its school bag!)
Whakatane High School performed a powhiri for its new German, Austrian and Swiss students.
International students at Mount Maunganui Primary School
International students at Mount Maunganui Primary School
International students at Mount Maunganui Primary School
International students at Mount Maunganui Primary School
International students at Mount Maunganui Primary School
International students at Mount Maunganui Primary School
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Dr Linda Sissons appointed as Acting Chief Executive
Many of our international education community in New Zealand will know Dr Sissons from her two-terms on the ENZ Board and more recently in her role as Advisor to Grant, supporting the strategy development work. Dr Sissons has considerable experience in the tertiary and vocational education sector and her understanding of the opportunities and challenges ahead means she is well placed to step in at the current time. She has served as Chief Executive for UCOL, WelTec and Primary ITO and recently completed two terms as Chair of the Board of Governors of Commonwealth of Learning, an intergovernmental agency delivering technology-mediated learning for sustainable development throughout the Commonwealth.
Dr Sissons and Grant will work together between now and mid-November to ensure a smooth transition.
The Board is working on the process to recruit a permanent Chief Executive and aims to be advertising this role in the market by the end of October.
The Board would like to take this opportunity again to acknowledge Grant’s long and dedicated service to Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao and the international education sector.
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