International student enrolments continue upward surge

“Enrolments are steadily rising to pre-pandemic levels, with 2024 enrolments (83,425) now at 72 percent of 2019 totals (115,705).  

“New Zealand reaps a broad range of economic, social and cultural benefits from having international students in our midst. International education boosts our economy, creates business opportunities, fuels innovation, and delivers essential cross-cultural skills for a more connected world.  

“This sustained growth highlights the international education sector’s progress towards achieving the Government’s Going for Growth Plan goal of doubling the export revenue from international education by 2034.  

“Universities and government-funded private training establishments (PTEs) are close to matching 2019 enrolment numbers. We are seeing enrolments grow across universities, schools, Te Pūkenga/NZIST, government-funded PTEs, and English language schools subsectors. In 2024, the strongest year-on-year growth was seen at government-funded PTEs (+59%) along with primary (+53%) and intermediate (+32%) schools.  

“Universities saw 33,485 total enrolments, schools had 18,350 enrolments, while Te Pūkenga/NZIST and government-funded PTEs each had 10,270 and 10,185 enrolments, respectively.  

“More international students are now enrolled for master’s study programmes in New Zealand. Between 2023 and 2024, there has been a 68% increase in master’s enrolments, with 14,695 international students in 2024, up from 8,740 in 2023. This is an 85% increase compared to 2019 when we had 7,945 enrolments for master’s study.  

“The overall rise in enrolments at the national level is underscored by a diversity of regions leading strong growth from 2023, including Waikato (+50%), Hawke’s Bay (+44%), West Coast (+185%) and Gisborne (+156%). The Waikato region is notable in that it has seen significant growth across multiple subsectors: universities, Te Pūkenga/NZIST, government-funded PTEs and schools.  

“China and India remain the top two source markets for international student enrolments with 34% and 14% enrolments respectively, followed by Japan (9%), South Korea (4%), Thailand (3%), United States of America (3%), Germany (3%), the Philippines (3%) and Sri Lanka (3%),” Malu says.  

More information on enrolment numbers can be found here.  

Note: All numbers are current as at 1 April 2025. Full numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. One individual may enrol more than once.  

Government-funded PTEs are PTEs that receive government student funding for learners who are defined as domestic students under the Education and Training Act 2020 (note that PhD and exchange students are defined as domestic students under the Act).  

For further information:  

Sai Raje | Senior Communications Advisor, Education New Zealand 

sai.raje@enz.govt.nz   

+64 21 479 649  

About Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ)

Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is the government agency dedicated to helping New Zealand realise the social, cultural, and economic benefits of international education. Our role is to promote New Zealand as a high-quality education destination offering excellent education and student experiences.  

With approximately 82 staff in 14 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector which includes schools, English language providers, Wānanga, private training establishments, New Zealand Institute of Technology/Te Pūkenga, and universities. Internationally, we work with a range of education stakeholders, including government agencies and education providers to identify and encourage sustainable growth opportunities for New Zealand’s education sector.