AACSB Survey: Business Schools Report Policy Shifts Are Undermining International Student Mobility
As part of AACSB’s new report, Global Minds, Local Impact: A Case for Student Mobility, a survey of 97 business schools across 27 countries reveals a stark divide in enrollment outlooks. Institutions impacted by recent policy changes anticipate an average 16 percent drop in international student enrollment for the 2025–26 academic year. Meanwhile, schools in countries without such restrictions expect enrollment to increase by as much as 10 percent, highlighting how national policy environments are directly shaping global mobility trends.
“International students are essential to innovation, cultural exchange, and economic growth,” said Lily Bi, president and CEO of AACSB. “This research shows that when policy shifts, institutions must quickly adapt or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive global education landscape.”
Additional findings:
• The most cited barriers include visa restrictions, political climate concerns, and uncertainty over post-graduation work opportunities
• More than 50 percent of schools are adjusting their global strategies either by increasing domestic outreach or forging new cross-border partnerships
• International students currently contribute 43.8 billion USD to the U.S. economy and 41.9 billion GBP to the U.K., according to Universities UK International research.
The report offers case studies and data from key global regions, drawing from successful European integration models and cautionary policy shifts in countries like the Netherlands and Canada. It calls on business schools to adopt inclusive, resilient strategies that treat student mobility as a long-term investment, not a transactional trend.
“Success hinges on reframing international students not as revenue generators but as essential participants in innovation ecosystems, cross-cultural learning environments, and long-term economic development,” the report concludes.