Demand for junior programmes abroad rising in Türkiye, experts say
The number of Turkish students abroad grew by 32% between 2019 and 2023, according to data presented in the latest webinar by BONARD Education
October 2024 - The popularity of junior programmes abroad is surging among Turkish students and their families, and experts think the junior sector is set to see significant growth.
This is what emerged during a BONARD Education webinar dedicated to unpacking statistics and trends in the Turkish international education sector.
“From conversations with key stakeholders in the sector, we expect the junior segment to expand significantly thanks to Türkiye’s large young population and its strong appetite for studying abroad,” Tanya Todorova, International Education Consultant at BONARD, said.
The growing interest in junior programmes is boosting student numbers for high school programmes abroad and junior English language courses.
“Every year, there’s a 20% increase in junior ELT programmes, while the adult programmes are not growing as fast,” commented Andaç Baran Cezayirlioglu, Managing Director of Ovygo Institute and one of the panellists on the webinar.
According to figures shared by another panellist, Engin Cosar, Managing Director and Owner of Academix Study Abroad Services, 88% of young people in Türkiye would like to study abroad.
“This shows that despite the financial challenges caused by inflation and the depreciation of the Turkish lira, many Turkish families are willing to invest in their children's education as a pathway to better career opportunities and potential immigration options,” he explained.
Cosar added that rising private school fees in Türkiye are also pushing more families to consider education programmes abroad for their children.
“In the next couple of years, there will be growing interest for K-12 programmes,” he said.
The traditionally strong demand for higher education programmes also continues to rise, making Türkiye a particularly significant country for international student recruitment.
Sarah Verkinova, Senior Research Manager at BONARD, said: "Recent trends highlight a growing interest in K-12 education, but Türkiye also remains a key market for the international higher education sector.
“Over 58,000 Turkish students were studying abroad in 2023, 57% of whom pursued higher education.”
While the demand for studying abroad grows, two factors are influencing students’ decisions: the current economic situation in Türkiye and challenging visa policies in certain destination countries.
“Countries that provide post-study work opportunities and career options, such as the UK, US, Canada and Germany, will definitely continue to be popular among Turkish students,” said Cosar.
“But at the same time, we are also seeing some shifts towards the more affordable or visa-friendly options such as Germany, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary.”
A poll of webinar attendees confirmed that visa difficulties were the most significant challenge when recruiting Turkish students. This can affect primarily the higher education and English language teaching sectors, panellists commented.
Another panellist, Selçuk Atmaca, Vice General Manager of EğitimAL Education Counselling Services, explained how visa difficulties can impact students’ decisions.
“For English language courses, Malta lost its edge a bit because it has started to be one of the hardest countries to get visas for,” he said.
“Canada and Australia were some of the top destinations, but now it’s harder to get visas even for ELT programmes. Ireland has started to replace Australia for long-term ELT programmes.”
A closer look at student mobility statistics
During the presentation, Todorova covered the latest data on international student mobility from Türkiye to five main destinations: Germany, the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia.
Here are some of the key points she highlighted:
Demand for studying abroad is soaring.
The number of Turkish students abroad in 2023 was 32% higher than in 2019.
The number of students enrolled in higher education programmes abroad grew by almost 40% between 2019 and 2023.
“Growth in the higher education sector is driven by several factors, for example, an increasing need for highly skilled graduates. Capacity constraints within Türkiye's higher education system are also pushing students to seek better-quality education and career prospects abroad,” Todorova explained.
Germany remains - and is expected to remain - the most popular country for university students from Türkiye, followed by the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia.
“Behind Germany’s enduring popularity with Turkish students are not only its geographical proximity and affordable programmes, but also the added benefit of the opportunity to work while studying,” Todorova explained.
“Affordability, scholarship opportunities and work rights remain crucial factors for Turkish students.”
Demand for junior programmes abroad is gathering pace.
The most popular country for K-12 students from Türkiye is Canada.
Over 16,000 new beds are expected
in the market in the next few years,of which 33% will come from private investors.
As for English language programmes abroad, alternative destinations such as Dubai are emerging as popular options.
Atmaca defined Dubai as a “rising star” for English language teaching programmes. Demand for English for Academic Purposes is increasing, driven by the strong interest in higher education programmes.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
BONARD Education is an independent market research and strategic development firm specialising in international education. Our team of specialists has been tracking student mobility data for the past 15 years. We advise and empower sector associations, governments and individual institutions with timely data and market intelligence. Find more information at www.bonardeducation.com or contact Terezia Sufliarska, BONARD’s Marketing Manager, atterezia.sufliarska@bonard.com.
SOURCE MARKET WEBINAR: TÜRKİYE
Webinar Recording
After a presentation of the latest statistics by Tanya Todorova (International Education Consultant at BONARD), Sarah Verkinova (Senior Research Manager at BONARD) lead a panel discussion featuring Andaç Baran Cezayirlioğlu (Managing Director at Ovygo Institute), Selçuk Atmaca (Vice General Manager at EğitimAL Education), and Engin Cosar (Managing Director and Owner of Academix Study Abroad Services).
SOURCE MARKET WEBINAR: TÜRKIYE
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