Most prospective international students are now trying to choose between at least three destination countries, and many are using generative?artificial intelligence to filter their options, a global study has found.

The survey of almost 8,000 students, conducted by educational services company IDP, highlights the increasingly prominent role of technology in helping students navigate a world of higher education possibilities.

Among the 2,400-odd participants still considering their options, 85 per cent were yet to decide which nation to target ¨C up from less than two-thirds when a similar study was conducted a year ago.

Twenty-eight per cent were tossing up between two destination countries with 22 per cent considering three, 19 per cent four and 16 per cent five or more.

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The findings come from the latest wave of IDP¡¯s ¡°Emerging Futures¡± surveys. The results are due to be released at the Australian International Education Conference on 15 October, co-hosted by IDP. ?

The most recent survey, conducted in July and August, found that Australia remained the favoured country for earning foreign degrees. Twenty-eight per cent of participants nominated it as their first-choice destination, an unchanged share from the study¡¯s previous wave in February.

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The UK leapfrogged the US into second place, up one percentage point to 22 per cent, with the US slipping three percentage points to 19 per cent. Canada rose one percentage point to 14 per cent, while New Zealand remained unchanged on 5 per cent.

While non-Anglo countries collectively slipped by two percentage points, Germany is now first-choice destination for 4 per cent of would-be international students ¨C double its 2023 share, and marginally ahead of Ireland. It is among the countries being considered by 25 per cent of students from India and 19 per cent from China. France is a live option for 30 per cent of Chinese students.

Collectively, non-Anglo countries are under consideration by 49 per cent of would-be students ¨C up nine percentage points since February ¨C although Australia leads on this measure, mulled over by 56 per cent of students.

Of the five anglophone study destinations, Australia was rated the most welcoming and safe. It was also perceived as having the most favourable graduate employment opportunities and post-study work visa policies, and ¨C in a three-way tie with the UK and New Zealand ¨C the best international education policies.

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The US was rated best on education quality and second best on graduate employment opportunities, but worst on safety, visas and student policies. ?

The study found that 54 per cent of prospective students had used ChatGPT or another generative?AI platform, or planned to do so, to help select their institutions ¨C up from 35 per cent a year earlier. Fifty-three per cent were relying on generative AI to help choose study discipline.

¡°This is bigger than just student behaviour,¡± said Joanna Storti, IDP¡¯s Asia-Pacific director of partnerships and stakeholder engagement. ¡°It requires institutions to rethink how they market and recruit in an AI-enabled world. Traditional methods of recruitment and communication will no longer be as effective as they once were.¡±

Senior education counsellor Vaishali Jain said more students were using AI to ¡°explore study options¡± before they sought professional advice. ¡°[It] is helping students clarify their interests, compare institutions and come to us with more focused questions.¡±

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The survey found that 39 per cent of participants had used AI to write their applications, or intended to do so.

Forty-one per cent of the participants had lodged their study applications and 25 per cent had commenced their courses, with 30 per cent still weighing their options. Sixty per cent were interested in postgraduate study. Most participants were from Asia or Africa, particularly India, China, Bangladesh and Nigeria.

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john.ross@timeshighereducation.com