Student mobility from established student cohorts has been softening across most major English-speaking destinations in response to ongoing government policies. As such, emerging student populations are critical to redefining diversity at institutions around the world. Alongside Vietnam, Pakistan is a rising source of international students with the potential to define student flows from Asia over the next decade.
That’s why we’re digging into Pakistani student mobility trends across the ‘Big Four’ and Germany. We’ll take a closer look at how many Pakistani students are studying abroad, along with where and what they study. And, we’ll provide insight into what institutions and recruitment partners need to know about supporting the international education journeys of Pakistani students.
Key Insights at a Glance
- The number of new student visas issued to Pakistani students for ‘Big Four’ English destinations—Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US—nearly quadrupled from 2019 to 2024.
- Pakistan has become a critical source of student diversity at UK institutions, rising to become the UK’s 3rd largest source of new international students in 2024.1
- In fiscal year 2024, the US government issued 4,500 F-1 visas to Pakistani students, with 2025 on track to surpass this all-time high by nearly 30%.2
- More than 10,000 Pakistani students studied in Germany in 2023/24, a 70% increase compared to 2018/19.3
Factors Driving Pakistan’s Current and Future Growth as a Major Student Population
Pakistan’s growth as a source of international students is largely shaped by its young population. 59% of Pakistan’s 241 million citizens are between the ages of 5 and 24, making it one of Asia’s youngest populations.4 While there are ongoing challenges around broad access to education, restricted domestic capacity for postsecondary students paired with economic pressures are fuelling outbound student mobility.
More students and families increasingly view international education as a necessary investment for a secure and prosperous future. Economic challenges—such as limited income growth, rising living costs, and increasing education expenses— make it harder for many to achieve their study goals within Pakistan. A high youth unemployment rate, a limited number of high-skill job opportunities domestically, and growing awareness of international opportunities, all contribute to a steady rise in outbound student mobility.
This mobility is largely centered on pursuing studies in high-demand fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Pakistani students tend to enrol in STEM fields at a higher rate than other fields of study (as outlined below) due to employability and career considerations. However, there are limited opportunities for such programs—especially research-intensive graduate programs—in Pakistan, compelling many students to consider studying abroad.
At the same time, there is growing economic optimism in Pakistan. The country is expected to see economic growth of up to 2.7% in fiscal year 2025. As the economy begins to stabilize and expand, more families may gain the financial mobility needed to support overseas education. Ultimately, Pakistan’s youthful demographics, economic evolution, and deep-rooted educational aspirations position it as a significant current—and future—source of international students.
UK Remains Top Global Destination for Pakistani Students
As Pakistani student mobility has grown over the past five years, the UK has been at the forefront of destination demand. In 2019, fewer than 5,500 UK student visas were issued to main applicant students from Pakistan. But issuances have grown in each year since, even through the pandemic:
Over 35,500 Pakistani students were issued a UK student visa in 2024. That represents an increase of over 550% in just five years, driving significant diversity on UK campuses. This substantial rise made Pakistan the 3rd most common source country for new UK international students in 2024, up from 11th in 2019. And, while our projections forecast that issuances will decline slightly in 2025, Pakistani students have nonetheless played a key role in supporting and stabilizing the UK’s institutions during a time when demand from India and China has softened.
Notably, postgraduate students have driven much of this growth. 83% of new entrants from Pakistan pursued postgraduate studies in 2023/24, up nearly 20 percentage points from 2018/19.5 Similarly, while many students from Pakistan enrol in UK business courses, recent trends have shown a pronounced shift towards computing and IT. In 2023/24, over 13% of new Pakistani entrants enrolled in computing and IT courses, nearly double the 7% proportion of new entrants from Pakistan enrolled in such courses in 2017/18. This pivot toward tech aligns with developments in the UK’s labour market: the country’s tech sector now exceeds £1.2trillion in market value, and new graduates are well-poised to help drive technological innovation in the coming years.
US F-1 Visas Issued to Pakistani Students on Track to Reach All-Time High
Although the UK remains the most popular destination for Pakistani students by a wide margin, interest in studying in the US is on the rise. 4,500 US F-1 visas were issued to Pakistani students in the 2024 US fiscal year, up nearly 40% from 2023. And while the 2025 fiscal year isn’t over yet, F-1 visas for Pakistani students are on track to grow even more:
Nearly 3,000 Pakistani students were issued a student visa from October 2024 to May 2025, approaching full-year volumes for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Given that July and August are often the busiest months for F-1 visa issuance, we expect new Pakistani student populations to achieve their second consecutive all-time high in fiscal year 2025.
Taking a look at total Pakistani student populations in the US, there is a higher demand for postgraduate level studies. Institute of International Education (IIE) Open Doors data shows that, in the 2024 US fiscal academic year, almost 3,700 Pakistani students in the US were pursuing undergraduate degrees, while nearly 5,000 were studying at the postgraduate level.6
Unlike in the UK, most Pakistani students in the US are enrolled in STEM programs. In 2024, over 50% of students from Pakistan were completing programs in engineering, physical and life sciences, or math and computer science. This high STEM enrollment shows strong alignment with US labour needs, where STEM jobs have grown 79% over the past three decades, more than double the rate of all employment growth in the US over that time.
Canada’s Caps Slow Demand from Pakistani Students
While Canada experienced a significant rise in new Pakistani students post-pandemic, this trend reversed in 2024 alongside the rollout of Canada’s international student caps.7 After reaching an all-time high of nearly 3,400 new study permits issued in 2023, new permits for Pakistani students fell 33% in 2024:
Given even more limiting cap allocations in 2025 and weakening student sentiment towards Canada, we expect new Pakistani student populations to drop further in 2025. Just over 300 new study permits were issued to Pakistani students through the first four months of 2025, less than half the number issued during the same period in 2023.
Pakistan remains a relatively untapped opportunity for international student diversification and growth for Canadian institutions. Pakistani students are interested in both Canadian bachelor’s and master’s programs,8 and Canada is home to over 300,000 Pakistani migrants.9 This means Pakistani students arriving in Canada will have more cultural—and potentially familial—support structures in place, making them more likely to succeed in their journey. Dedicated efforts to connect to these local communities and alumni, as well as promoting the quality of a Canadian education to Pakistani students, could lead to future growth and sustainability for this rising South Asian population.
Pakistani Student Flows to Australia Weaken After Post-Pandemic Surge
Before the pandemic, Australia was the second-most popular destination for Pakistani students among the ‘Big Four’.10 This status slipped when Australia’s borders closed during the height of the pandemic and were slower to re-open than other destinations. Yet, after a significant influx in 2023 due to pent-up demand and the ‘double cohort’ effect seen across student populations toward Australia, new visas issued to Pakistani students are on the decline:
Although new student visas for Pakistani students surpassed 11,000 in the 2023 fiscal year, they fell nearly 65% in 2024. And, based on data for the 11 months of the 2025 Australian fiscal year, we project that these figures will continue to decline, dropping to just over 1,700. That would represent a 50% decrease from pre-pandemic figures.
Unlike what we found when digging into Vietnamese student trends, it’s difficult to attribute this decline solely to Australia’s recently implemented ‘soft caps’. The overwhelming majority of Pakistani students in Australia study at Australian universities, rather than heavily-impacted VET institutions.11 More likely, this shift is caused by falling visa approval rates for Pakistani applicants. In 2019, 88% of higher ed visa applications from Pakistani students were approved, compared to just 41% in 2024.12
Popularity of Studying in Germany Rising Among Pakistani Students
Beyond the ‘Big Four’, other destinations have seen increased interest from Pakistani students since the pandemic. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced a 7% rise in international students from Pakistan in recent years, and Germany has seen even more stable growth:
Pakistani student populations in Germany surpassed 10,000 in the 2023/24 winter semester. That represents a 70% increase in Pakistani students in Germany in just five years. And, with Germany expected to reach a new all-time high of total international students in 2024/25, we anticipate this population will continue to grow.
Why are more Pakistani students turning toward Germany for their study abroad journey? Germany’s often tuition-free public post-secondary education makes it a highly competitive destination in light of the affordability concerns most global economies currently face. Additionally, Germany is known for its strong engineering and technology programmes, aligning with the interests of many Pakistani students. Plus, Germany’s Pakistan expat community has more than doubled in the past decade,13 providing clearer support and connections for Pakistani students considering their study abroad options.
Pakistan Poised to Drive Increased Student Diversity
Institutions and destinations that invest in student flows from Pakistan will likely see positive outcomes spanning decades. Pakistan’s population is projected to reach 360 million by 2050—compared to around 250 million today—with Pakistani citizens under 24 comprising half that figure.14 This means that the number of Pakistani students looking to pursue post-secondary education will likely keep climbing, especially if domestic economic factors continue to improve and economic mobility rises.
What can institutions do to attract more Pakistani student interest, even as visa policies shift? First, given cost sensitivities and concerns around affordability, institutions should highlight the scholarships and financial support they provide to potential Pakistani students. We also recommend that institutions showcase STEM programs, especially at the postgraduate level, as well as any degree-to-career pathway they’ve established with local businesses. High quality STEM education, as well as career development opportunities, are at the forefront of Pakistani student demand. Additionally, institutions should connect with local Pakistani communities and alumni to demonstrate their commitment to supporting Pakistani students and tap into word-of-mouth excitement.
Although Pakistan is already a strong market for many UK institutions, it is a crucial time for all institutions to reevaluate their recruitment networks in Pakistan. By working closely with ApplyBoard, institutions can benefit from our established network of trained and vetted recruitment partners on the ground in Pakistan. For data-backed guidance on how you can expand your diversification efforts in South Asia, please contact your Account Director Or, you can reach out to ApplyBoard’s Commercial Partnerships team at schoolpartnerships@applyboard.com to start a conversation.
Subscribe to ApplyInsights
Sign up for the latest insights on international education.
About the ApplyInsights Team
FOOTNOTES:
1. UK student visa data courtesy of the UK Home Office.
2. All US student visa data courtesy of the U.S. Department of State. The US fiscal year runs from October of a given year to September of the next year. For example, fiscal year 2023 would range from October 2022 to September 2023. As F-1 student visas are the most common visa status used by international students in the US, we’re confining our analysis to that specific visa type. For reference, the US government has three student visas: F Student visas are academic (for study at an accredited K-12 school, college, or university, or studying English at an English language institute; the study must lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate); J Exchange visas are for participants in an exchange program either at the secondary school or university level; and M Student visas are for non-academic study (not including language programs), or vocational study or training.
3. All German international student data in this article is courtesy of Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) and Statistisches Bundesamt, unless otherwise noted. Data is based on international student enrollment at German institutions during the winter semester of each year, spanning October to March. For example, the 2023/24 winter semester began October 1, 2023 and ended March 31, 2024.
4. Based on data from Pakistan’s 7th Population and Housing Census.
5. According to HESA data. HESA data is presented by academic years, with academic years spanning from August of the previous year to July of the given year. For example, the 2023/24 academic year spans August 2023 to July 2024.
6. Data courtesy of IIE Open Doors Report. US academic years run from June to July.
7. All Canadian study permit data courtesy of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The terms student visa and study permit are generally used interchangeably for Canadian international students. Rather than student visas, Canada provides accepted international students with study permits, which allow those students to enrol in classes at Canadian institutions. When a student is accepted for a study permit, they are also usually provided with a visitor visa, which allows that student to enter Canada for their studies.
8. Based on 2023 and 2024 IRCC data. Study permits issued to Pakistani students for bachelor’s programs (940 in 2023, 672 in 2024) were nearly identical to permits issued for master’s programs (976 in 2023, 669 in 2024)
9. According to the 2021 Canadian Census of Population.
10. All Australia student visa data courtesy of the Australian Department of Home Affairs (ADHA). The data used for this article includes visas granted to primary applicants outside Australia only. Australian fiscal years span July of a given year to June of the next year.
11.In the 2024 fiscal year, over 86% of all new student visas granted to Pakistani students were for higher education, compared to only 4% for VET studies.
12. Based on ADHA data for primary applicants applying from outside of Australia.
13. Based on data from Statistisches Bundesamt.
14. Based on UN World Population Prospects.
