The most recent data puts the sector at 80 %of its pre-pandemic peak, with universities and schools driving development as the country enhances its appeal in an increasingly competitive worldwide market.
ENZ acting chief executive Linda Sissons said the outcomes reflected consistent progress throughout the sector, supported by continual efforts from companies and ENZ’s global marketing activity.
A current ENZ Global Brand name Health and Awareness Survey discovered that 22% of potential students now position New Zealand amongst their top three research study locations and according to ENZ, “this enhancing preference follows the development we are seeing in international student enrolments”.
“In a highly competitive international market, New Zealand’s premium education companies, terrific trainee experience and strong graduate results are the aspects that most affect trainee option,” included Sissons.
Universities recorded some of the greatest gains, with enrolments rising 14% to 38,025 trainees, while school enrolments increased 10% to 20,155.
ENZ said global enrolments across primary, intermediate and secondary schools stay a distinguishing characteristic of New Zealand’s offering, helping produce early paths into the country’s education system.
Recovery across other subsectors has actually been less constant, with institutes of technology and polytechnics rebounding at various rates depending upon market conditions.
China and India stay Brand-new Zealand’s 2 biggest source markets, accounting for 34% and 14% of enrolments respectively. They are followed by Japan (9%), South Korea (4%), Sri Lanka (4%), Germany (3%), the US (3%), Nepal and the Philippines (3% each).
Sissons pointed to particularly strong growth from emerging markets including Sri Lanka and Nepal, which she said would play a higher function in ENZ’s market strategy for 2026/27.
International students continue to study across all areas of New Zealand, although Auckland stays the dominant hub, hosting around 55% of students. Canterbury, Auckland and Waikato published the fastest regional growth, increasing by 10%, 14% and 19% respectively.
“Development throughout areas shows a sector that is restoring at rate and adding to our regional communities and economy,” Sissons included.
In 2025, New Zealand’s International Education Going for Growth strategy laid out an enthusiastic vision of development, planning to lift worldwide enrolments by 35,000 and nearly double the sector’s worth to NZD $7.2 billion by 2034.
As part of its aspiration to significantly broaden the global education sector, the New Zealand government is presenting new pathways to post-study work, announcing a brand-new short-term graduate work visa– accepting applications later on this year– and an extension to existing post-study work visa eligibility.
The current enrolment figures follow restored focus on New Zealand’s recruitment pipeline, with The PIE just recently exploring the nation’s top-performing trainee recruitment agents.
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