Study abroad 2026: What every parent must know before their teen leaves home

Studying overseas is no longer “one-size-fits-all” and as we head into 2026, global student mobility is bigger, more mobile, more cost-conscious and more tied to skills, mental-health supports and policy shifts than ever before. The total number of students studying outside their home country reached record highs recently and continues to grow but destination and origin patterns are shifting. The demand is broadening beyond the traditional “big four” - US, UK, Australia and Canada - toward more affordable European and Asian options. A recent 2025 study by UNESCO reports a global rise to about 6.9 million mobile tertiary students, triple the figure since 2000. Academic mobility is also on the rise, with 6.9 million students studying away from their home country. The OECD’s 2025 policy