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Rules for studying internationally change often. Follow every official update in one place.
Visas, money to show, tuition, work rights and degree recognition in 15 countries, taken straight from the immigration services and ministries that set them, adjusted to your passport and checked every day.
- Official sources onlyEvery figure links to the government body that decides it. No agents, no rumours.
- Checked every dayA monitor scans the official sources every 3 hours. Changes appear with the date they take effect, and upcoming ones are flagged in advance.
- For your passportRoutes, costs and work rights adjust to your nationality, across 28 countries of origin.
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Latest news
Real developments as they’re verified, beyond structured rule changes. Refreshed periodically, not live — each item links to its primary source.
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16 Oct 2026
Japan’s foreign residents reach a record 4.28 million, with 479,626 on student status
On 16 October 2026 Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (the government body that handles residence permits) reported 4,281,026 foreign nationals living in Japan at the end of June 2026, a record and 155,631 more (3.8%) than at the end of 2025. People holding the “Student” residence status numbered 479,626, up 14,842 in six months and the third largest group after permanent residents and skilled workers on the “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services” status. The count covers people with a residence card and leaves out short-stay visitors. This is a data release, not a rule change.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗ -
15 Oct 2026
Australia: new overseas university students fall 4.9% in the first half of 2026
Australia’s Department of Education released preliminary first-semester figures on 15 October 2026. Overseas students starting a course at a higher education provider numbered 123,968 up to 1 May 2026, down 4.9% from 130,415 a year earlier, while total overseas enrolments were almost flat at 472,245 (down 0.5%). Domestic commencements rose 5.3%, and the department links the overseas trend to policy settings and economic conditions affecting international students. The figures are preliminary, may be revised, and include students at overseas campuses of Australian universities.
Source: Australian Department of Education, preliminary higher education statistics ↗ · Reported by The PIE News ↗ -
14 Oct 2026
US proposal: work visa extensions would no longer rely on the earlier approval
On 14 October 2026 the Department of Homeland Security proposed removing the rule that tells USCIS, the agency that decides visa petitions inside the US, to defer to its own earlier approval when an employer asks to extend a worker’s stay on the same facts. If adopted, every extension filed on Form I-129 (the form used for H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and other work visas) would be reviewed in full; DHS expects about 6,000 more requests for evidence a year, and a petition that gets one takes about 64 days longer. This is a proposal only: nothing changes yet, and the public can comment until 13 November 2026. The eligibility rules and the fees stay the same.
Source: Federal Register ↗ -
9 Oct 2026
Denmark restarts permanent residence cases after a one-month pause
On 9 October 2026 the Danish Immigration Service said it is again processing applications for permanent residence and certain family reunification cases (applications to join a family member in Denmark). It had stopped work on them on 8 September 2026 because of an error in the Criminal Register, Denmark’s central register of criminal records, which is checked in these applications. The National Police now judge that the effect of the error on the register is very limited. No rule for these permits has changed, and the notice does not say how long the paused cases will now take.
Source: Danish Immigration Service ↗ -
8 Oct 2026
US Labor Department watchdog investigates nine universities over J-1 visas
On 8 October 2026 the Inspector General of the US Department of Labor (the department’s internal watchdog) announced a fraud investigation into the J-1 visa programs of nine universities: Pitt, Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Brown, UC Davis, Caltech, Arizona State and MIT. The J-1 is the exchange visitor visa used by many visiting researchers and postdocs. The office says subpoenas (legal orders to hand over records) have been served and that it will examine alleged misuse and misclassification of J-1 visas. These are allegations: no university has been found to have broken a rule, and the announcement does not change any J-1 visa rule.
Source: US Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General press release ↗ · Reported by Inside Higher Ed -
8 Oct 2026
UK student visa applications fall 19% in a year
The UK Home Office counted 352,500 applications for sponsored study visas (the visas international students need to study in the UK) from main applicants in the year to September 2026, 19% lower than in the year before. Applications from students’ family members fell 31%, to 15,700. The figures are provisional, cover applications made from outside the UK, and count applications, not visas granted. No visa rule changes with this release.
Source: UK Home Office, monthly visa application statistics ↗ · Reported by Times Higher Education -
8 Oct 2026
US proposal: schools would pay $70,000 before a student can work on OPT
OPT (Optional Practical Training) is the permission that lets F-1 students work in the US in their field, usually for 12 months after graduating, or up to 36 months in total with a STEM degree. Under a rule the Department of Homeland Security proposed on 8 October 2026, a school would have to pay the government $70,000 before it could recommend a student for a first period of OPT, and $30,000 for each later period, including the STEM extension. Schools would be allowed to pass that cost on to the student or the employer. Nothing changes yet: this is a proposal, not a final rule. The public can comment until 9 November 2026, and a final rule would take effect 60 days after it is published.
Source: Federal Register ↗ · Reported by Fortune ↗ -
6 Oct 2026
Australia’s opposition pledges to abolish Temporary Graduate visas
On 6 October 2026 Australia’s opposition, the Liberal and National parties, published a migration plan that would abolish the Temporary Graduate visa, which lets international students stay and work after their degree. Students completing a PhD, studying health or education, or studying at regional universities would still have access to a “post-study transitional visa”, and new international student starts would be cut to 240,000. This is a pledge from parties that are not in government, so nothing changes now and current visa rules stay in place.
Source: Liberal Party of Australia media release ↗ · Reported by The PIE News -
5 Oct 2026
Denmark plans to screen citizenship applicants for undemocratic views
On 5 October 2026 the Danish government said it wants to screen people who apply for Danish citizenship for undemocratic views, if this proves possible. An expert group is studying whether such a check can work and is expected to finish around the end of 2026; talks between political parties on new citizenship criteria would start after that. The government will also bring back L 98, a citizenship bill that lapsed when the election was called, after a full new review of whether applicants meet the conditions, so the bill is now expected in the first half of 2027. This is a plan, not a law: the new agreement would apply to applicants not yet included in L 98, and no citizenship requirement has changed yet.
Source: Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration ↗ -
5 Oct 2026
Universities sue to stop the new limits on CPT internships
CPT (Curricular Practical Training) is the permission that lets international students on F-1 student visas do an internship or job that is part of their study program. On 5 October 2026, four higher education groups, including NAFSA and the Association of American Universities, asked a federal court in Massachusetts to block two government messages from August 2026 that allow CPT only when the training is mandatory for every student in a program. As of 9 October 2026 no ruling has been announced, so the stricter reading still applies for now.
Source: NAFSA press statement ↗ · Reported by The PIE News ↗ -
5 Oct 2026
Netherlands moves to drop the planned test for English-taught programmes
On 5 October 2026, the Dutch government proposed changing its bill on international students (the “Internationalisation in Balance” bill) so that programmes taught in English or another foreign language no longer have to pass a special test. Dutch would remain the standard teaching language, but each institution would decide when another language adds value, and institutions could still limit places on a programme (a “numerus fixus”). This is only a proposal: it is open for public comment, and the government aims to send it to the Council of State, its legal adviser, by the end of 2026.
Source: Government of the Netherlands (Rijksoverheid) ↗ -
2 Oct 2026
“Duration of status” stays blocked as DHS appeal reaches the First Circuit
The nationwide injunction blocking DHS’s rule to replace “duration of status” with fixed F/J/I visa terms remains in force. The government filed its appeal with the First Circuit on 30 September 2026 and, at a 2 October status conference, said it will ask that court to expedite it. Both sides had until 9 October 2026 to file on next procedural steps. Duration of status remains the operative framework for now.
Source: NAFSA litigation tracker (court record) ↗ · Reported by ICEF Monitor ↗ -
2 Oct 2026
Five Caribbean nations get a joint regulator for citizenship-by-investment
All five Eastern Caribbean countries running citizenship-by-investment programs have enacted legislation creating a shared regulator, ECCIRA, headquartered in Grenada. The $200,000 minimum investment floor across all five programs has been in force since July 2024; per a July 2026 Eastern Caribbean Central Bank communiqué, ECCIRA was targeting a September 2026 operational launch with mandatory biometrics (including for existing passport holders at renewal), standardized interviews, and shared applicant registries across the five countries. Whether ECCIRA actually began operating in September as targeted hasn’t been independently confirmed.
Source: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank ↗ · Reported by Investment Migration Insider -
30 Sept 2026
UK suspends Buckinghamshire New University’s licence to sponsor international students
On 30 September 2026 the UK Home Office suspended Buckinghamshire New University’s Student sponsor licence, the permission a university needs to bring in students on a Student visa, and removed it from the register of licensed sponsors. The university has 20 working days to respond, and if it does not show that the licence should be reinstated, the licence will be revoked. Students it already sponsors can continue their studies during the suspension as long as their permission to stay remains valid. UK students and students whose immigration status does not depend on sponsorship are not affected.
Source: UK Home Office statement ↗ · Reported by The PIE News -
30 Sept 2026
France plans student residence cards that last the whole degree
On 30 September 2026, France’s interior and higher education ministers announced that foreign students should get multi-year residence cards (the permit that lets non-EU students live in France) covering their whole study cycle and valid until 31 December of the year they graduate. Prefectures, the local offices that issue the cards, would also be limited to a fixed list of documents when a student renews. No start date has been given yet: the ministers said instructions will be sent to prefectures.
Source: French Ministry of Higher Education and Research ↗ -
29 Sept 2026
The $70M international education cut we reported was part of an $810M “pocket rescission” GAO already calls unlawful
Follow-up to our Sept 25 item: the White House’s $70 million cut to grants and fellowships that bring foreign students and faculty to US institutions was executed as part of a larger $810 million package sent to Congress without warning. The administration used a “pocket rescission,” withholding the funds until it’s too late in the fiscal year for Congress to act. The independent Government Accountability Office has already concluded pocket rescissions are unlawful under the Impoundment Control Act. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) called it “a clear violation of the law” and said Congress was not consulted. The rest of the package includes $567 million in refugee and immigration services funding.
Source: OPB ↗ · Statement via ABC News ↗ -
28 Sept 2026
The US has the most foreign-trained doctors, but not the highest share
The US has more foreign-trained doctors than any other country in absolute numbers, but that’s a function of the size of its physician workforce, not an unusually high reliance on international recruitment. By share, Israel (57.8%), New Zealand and Norway (42.1% each), Ireland (40.5%) and the UK (~36%) all lean on foreign-trained doctors more heavily than the US (~31%). We broke down why: US physician pay, a standardized qualifying exam (USMLE), and a Medicare-funded residency cap frozen since 1997 that limits how many international medical graduates can enter US practice each year.
Source: Diplonaut analysis ↗ · Data from OECD ↗ and NRMP ↗ -
26 Sept 2026
ILAC’s former CEO speaks out: a $10,000 bank balance funded a 160,000-seat pathway that collapsed overnight
Jonathan Kolber, founder and CEO of ILAC (Canada’s largest private English school and international college) from 1997 to 2023, gave his first interview since ILAC’s bankruptcy this month, which stranded about 1,300 students and left hundreds of staff jobless. Kolber traces the collapse to Ontario’s public-private partnership model: public colleges could each enroll roughly 8,000 international students through private partners like ILAC, scaling to well over 100,000 seats concentrated in downtown Toronto, on a study-permit financial requirement of just $10,000 in the bank. When the federal government banned visas for public-private partnership programs in January 2024 to curb the model, it ended a nearly guaranteed 2-year-study, 3-year-work, permanent-residence pathway overnight and set off the chain that led to ILAC’s collapse. Kolber also pointed to the concentration of students from one source country as a factor; independent reporting instead points to the low, unadjusted financial bar and the PPP model’s unchecked scale as the structural cause.
Source: Ensign Media / Harrison Faulkner interview with Jonathan Kolber ↗ · Also reported by The Globe and Mail ↗ -
25 Sept 2026
Edinburgh cuts 90+ programmes, and international students get drawn into the debate
The University of Edinburgh is closing more than 90 programmes to new applicants from 2027, about half in language and literature, including Scottish literature, Celtic, and Scottish ethnology degrees. The university cites financial pressure and low enrollment (about a fifth of the closing courses had no students at all). A union representative argues international-student-heavy programmes are being favored over Scottish-focused ones, but an academic in the affected department points to enrollment data (6 students in the standalone Scottish literature degree versus 30+ in the joint programme that is staying) that tells a different story. Read as a disputed claim, not a confirmed one.
Source: Times Higher Education ↗ · Reported by The Scotsman ↗ -
25 Sept 2026
US rescinds $70 million in international education grants
As part of a nearly $1 billion “pocket rescission” of already-approved federal spending across several agencies, the administration cancelled $70 million in grants that funded bringing foreign students and faculty to US institutions. The White House said some funded projects were “divisive,” citing examples such as doctoral dissertations on LGBTQ community-building. The move was announced with five days left in the fiscal year, while Congress was out of session.
Source: The White House ↗ · Reported by STAT News ↗ -
21 Sept 2026
CPT work authorization just got harder to qualify for
SEVP now requires Curricular Practical Training to be strictly required for graduation, not just related to a student’s field, before it can be approved. Universities are already adjusting how they process applications under the new guidance.
Source: SEVP memo (ICE) ↗ · Reported by The Daily Campus ↗ -
10 Sept 2026
UK student visa applications fall to lowest level since 2022
UK student visa applications fell 16% in the year to August 2026, to 360,700 main applicants, according to Home Office data. Dependant applications fell even further, down 22% to 17,000. India was named among the hardest-hit nationalities, alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Nigeria. The decline follows the UK’s dependants ban, which restricts family visas to research postgraduates only, and a new compliance system requiring universities to keep visa refusal rates under 5% or risk sanctions.
Source: UK Home Office (migration statistics) ↗ -
9 Sept 2026
Houston immigration attorney charged in alleged mail fraud scheme, 100+ victims alleged
Federal prosecutors say Houston immigration attorney Alla Nowowiejski accepted payment from clients to file work-visa and status-adjustment applications, then never submitted them, or filed only part of them, while sending fabricated documents and case reference numbers taken from unrelated filings to make it look like applications were moving forward. The Harris County Constable’s Office says the scheme affected more than 100 people. She faces charges of mail fraud and false statements, with a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count if convicted.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice ↗ · Reported by ABC13 Houston ↗ -
8 Sept 2026
Denmark drafts a law to let universities turn away foreign students on security grounds
On 8 September 2026 Denmark’s Ministry of Research, Education and Digitalisation put a draft bill out for consultation (comments closed on 28 September). It would let universities refuse admission to, or expel, applicants and students from outside the EU and EEA when their access to critical research knowledge could threaten national security, even if they meet every academic requirement; exchange students are covered, EU and EEA citizens are not. The minister would define the risk countries and critical technologies later, the government’s legislative programme schedules the bill for parliament in November 2026, and it is meant to take effect on 1 February 2027. This is a proposal, not a rule in force; Times Higher Education reported on 16 October that Danish universities support it.
Source: Høringsportalen, the Danish government consultation portal ↗ · Reported by Times Higher Education ↗ -
20 Aug 2026
International applications to US colleges fall 10%, first drop after a decade of growth
International first-year applications through the Common App fell 10% in the 2025–26 cycle, about 16,000 fewer students, ending a run that took annual applications from roughly 90,000 to nearly 165,000 over the prior decade. Applications from Asia fell 11% and from Africa 17%. Common App did not attribute a cause; reporting has linked the drop to visa policy tightening and processing delays.
Source: Common App ↗ · Reported by Inside Higher Ed ↗ -
12 May 2026
ICE flags 10,000+ students in OPT fraud crackdown
ICE and Homeland Security Investigations identified over 10,000 international students claiming employment with ‘highly suspect’ employers under Optional Practical Training, drawn from a review of just the top 25 OPT employers by headcount. Site visits across eight states found empty buildings, shared addresses with no lease on file, and employers who could not answer basic questions about students they claimed to employ. One North Texas employer reported 3 OPT workers; government records showed over 500 students listed it as their employer. USCIS data shows detected OPT fraud cases are up 37% since 2023.
Source: ICE press conference, reported by ICEF Monitor ↗ -
15 Apr 2026
UK confirmed to rejoin Erasmus+ from 2027
The UK will formally rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ exchange programme from January 2027, after leaving in 2020 post-Brexit. The UK will contribute about £570 million, a 30% discount versus default Trade and Cooperation Agreement terms, with over 100,000 people in the UK expected to benefit in the first year. This restores structured exchange access between UK and EU institutions for students, apprentices and staff.
Source: UK Parliament, Cabinet Office written answer ↗ -
13 Mar 2026
Canada plans 155,000 new international students in 2026, then 150,000 a year from 2027
IRCC, the Canadian immigration department, published its 2026 to 2027 Departmental Plan on 13 March 2026. It repeats the targets of the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan: 155,000 new international students in 2026 and 150,000 in each of 2027 and 2028, as part of cutting all new temporary residents (workers and students) from 673,650 in 2025 to 385,000 in 2026, so that temporary residents fall below 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2027. The plan also commits IRCC to process doctoral and Global Skills Strategy study permits with a target of 14 days, to verify letters of acceptance from designated learning institutions, and to review the outcomes of the tightened post-graduation work permit (PGWP, the open work permit for graduates) rules. These are targets and plans, not new rules for applicants.
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ↗
Studying internationally in 2026: key rules at a glance
The comparator above adjusts every figure to your passport. For a quick overview, here are the main rules for students from outside the EU at public universities, each linked to the government body that sets it.
| Destination | Tuition per year (master's) | Money to show for the visa | Time to work after graduating | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Near €0 (semester fee only; €1,500 per semester in Baden-Württemberg) | €11,904 a year (blocked account) | 18 months | Federal Foreign Office |
| France | €3,950 a year for a public master's (non-EU rate, 2026–27) | €877.50 a month | 12 months | Ministry of Higher Education |
| Netherlands | About €13,000 to €22,000 (estimate, set by each university) | €1,130.77 a month | 12 months (orientation year) | IND |
| Ireland | About €12,000 to €20,000 (estimate, set by each university) | €10,000 a year | Up to 24 months | Irish Immigration Service |
| Belgium | €5,369 a year at French-speaking universities (non-EU, 2026–27) | €1,062 a month (2026–27) | 12 months | Belgian Foreign Affairs |
| United Kingdom | About £16,000 to £24,000 (estimate) | £1,171 a month outside London, £1,529 in London (rising to £1,203 and £1,570 on 30 November 2026) | 24 months (18 months from 1 January 2027) | Home Office |
| Canada | About CA$22,000 to 32,000 (estimate, outside Quebec) | CA$23,448 a year plus first-year tuition | Up to 36 months | IRCC |
| United States | About $25,000 to $40,000 at public universities (estimate) | Your full first-year cost, as shown on your I-20 | 12 months (up to 36 in STEM) | DHS |
| Australia | About A$34,000 to 45,000 (estimate) | A$29,710 a year plus tuition and travel | Up to 24 months | Australian Government |
| Japan | ¥535,800 a year at national universities (standard rate; some now charge international students more) | No fixed amount: proof you can pay tuition and living costs | Up to 12 months (job-hunting status) | Immigration Services Agency |
| South Korea | About ₩5M to ₩8M a year at national universities (estimate) | ₩20 million (₩16 million outside the Seoul region) | Up to 3 years (job-seeker visa) | Korean government |
How this comparator works
Every figure comes from the official decision-makers: immigration services, ministries and government publications. A monitor scans them every 3 hours, every change is verified on the official page before it is published, and each one appears with the date it takes effect. Estimates are clearly labeled where universities set their own fees. Where no official source exists yet, the comparator says so.
This is information, not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm with the official source or embassy before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Which country is cheapest for a master's degree in another country in 2026?
Germany, in most cases: public universities charge only a semester fee (except in Baden-Württemberg), though you must show €11,904 a year in a blocked account. France is also low-cost at public universities, at €3,950 a year for students from outside the EU in 2026–27.
Which countries let you work longest after graduating?
Canada offers up to three years after a master's, and South Korea now lets graduates of its universities stay up to three years to look for work. Ireland offers up to 24 months, and the UK offers 24 months until the end of 2026, falling to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027. Germany offers 18 months to look for work.
How much money do I need to show for a student visa?
It depends on the country: for example CA$23,448 a year for Canada (outside Quebec), €11,904 a year for Germany, €877.50 a month for France and £1,171 a month for the UK outside London. Tuition usually comes on top. The comparator shows the amount that applies to you.
Do I need a visa before I travel?
It depends on your passport. EU citizens need no visa to study elsewhere in the EU. Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia can enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit after arrival, and do not need an entry visa for the Netherlands. Most other nationalities apply for a student visa before travelling. Select your nationality above to see your route.
Will my degree be recognized when I come back home?
Only if it is officially recognized in the country that issues it, which matters most at private schools. The comparator shows what to check in each country, and our guides explain credential evaluations, such as the evaluation of foreign degrees for Canada's Express Entry. Evaluation services start from that same question, whether the degree is on the official register at home, but their report is a recommendation, not a final decision: services can disagree or make mistakes, and the school, employer or licensing board you apply to decides.