According to the latest survey by the Japan Association of Overseas Studies (JAOS), the number of students sent abroad by member agencies in 2024 increased by 6.4 times compared to the pandemic period, reaching approximately 90% of pre-COVID levels. Student placements to Australia and other Asian destinations also saw notable growth.
The JAOS annual survey reported that in 2024, 39 member agencies dispatched a total of 70,253 students overseas, an increase of 4,246 students compared to the previous year. This figure represents about 90% of the 77,953 students sent abroad by 41 agencies in 2019.
Shifts in Preferred Destinations
Australia overtook the United States as the most popular study destination in 2024, with 16,904 students enrolled—a 33.9% increase from the previous year. In contrast, the number of students choosing the US fell by 12.9% to 12,619.
Other top destinations included Canada with 9,267 students, experiencing a slight decline; the UK with 8,232 students, up 19%; and New Zealand with 6,064 students, up 22.4%.
JAOS noted that most Asian destinations, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea, have now surpassed their pre-pandemic visitor numbers. However, traditional markets such as North America, Oceania, and Europe have not fully recovered.
Singapore and Taiwan saw particularly strong growth in 2024, with student numbers rising 42.8% and 28.9% respectively, totaling 1,901 students.
Overall, 14,391 students were sent to other Asian countries in 2024, up from 12,460 in 2019.
Growth in School and Government-Sponsored Programs
For the first time, JAOS classified school- and local government-organized study tours funded by agencies as a separate student category. This group accounted for 15,345 students or 22% of the total outbound study population.
JAOS Executive Secretary Tatsu Hoshino highlighted this segment as a key growth area for Japanese agencies. He attributed the increase to rising support from schools and municipal authorities promoting global education. “With greater subsidies from national and local governments and efforts by the Ministry of Education to internationalize domestic education institutions, more schools and local governments are expected to implement these programs,” Hoshino said.
Australia was the top destination for organized high school group tours, with 5,524 participants, followed by the US (3,096) and New Zealand (2,360).
Student Types and Course Durations
In 2024, short-term language students attending courses of three months or less made up 57% of all outbound students, followed by group study tour participants (22%), long-term language students (10%), and K-12 school program students (4%). Students on working holiday, internship, and degree programs accounted for smaller proportions.
For short-term language courses, Australia led with 8,081 students, followed by the US (7,198), the UK (5,730), Canada (5,116), and the Philippines (3,366).
Among study regions, only JAOS agencies in Asia exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Australia was also the leading destination for long-term language courses (over three months), hosting 1,724 students, followed by Canada (1,513), the UK (904), and the US (844).
At the K-12 level, New Zealand remained the top choice with 1,488 students, followed by Canada (553), the US (504), and Australia (431).
Degree Programs and Market Trends
The US remained the most popular destination for undergraduate (297), graduate (102), and non-degree undergraduate programs (150).
While undergraduate enrollments increased year-on-year, the US market share declined somewhat as Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and other Asian destinations gained ground.
Hoshino pointed to factors such as the weakening yen and rising study costs that have made Asia a more economical option. “Malaysia and Taiwan both have well-established international student infrastructure, and educational institutions actively promote these destinations through seminars and exhibitions,” he said.
Related Topics
