The Rise, Fall, and Future of the Study-Abroad Exam-Prep Market

Where to apply when Canada and Australia tighten? Our 2025 analysis maps risk and affordable, visa-friendly routes across Europe and Asia.
August 25, 2025 Study Abroad

TL;DR

  • Demand didn’t vanish—rules changed. Canada’s caps/PAL–TAL, tighter PGWP, Australia’s A$2,000 visa fee, and wobbly U.S. new F-1s redirected flows.
  • The biggest hits are Indian students (due to uncertainty and higher costs) and high-volume prep/placement providers (with longer, riskier funnels).
  • Market now: Canada is selective; Australia is cooling but stabilizing; the U.S. totals are propped up by continuing students; Germany/EU and Hong Kong are gaining share due to cost clarity and work pathways.

       Read to know your options



When Yuno Learning entered the study-abroad prep arena in 2018, the category was in overdrive. Even the English-proficiency segment (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo) was pegged at US$3.65B in 2024, projected to reach US$7.49B by 2032 (9.4% CAGR)—a proxy for wider demand in visa-linked testing and coaching.

2018–2023: The Boom Years

Two forces converged. 

First, employers shifted toward “skills-first” signals, pushing learners into short, outcomes-oriented prep. Second, destination countries loosened post-pandemic travel and reopened campuses. The result: weekly live classes, AI-driven mock tests, and personalized coaching scaled quickly—particularly across India and Southeast Asia.

2024–2025: Policy Shock—and a Sector Reset

The cycle turned on policy, not demand.

These moves flowed from domestic politics—housing, labour-market pressure, and migration optics—not from a sudden loss of student interest. For providers, the effect was immediate: bookings softened, conversion cycles lengthened, and major intermediaries signalled a tougher FY-2025 tied to policy curbs across Canada, Australia, and the U.K.

On the ground: Who took the most heat?

Indian students—the largest single cohort in many destinations—saw timelines stretch, fees rise, and eligibility rules shift mid-journey. We’ve tracked these frictions (SDS changes, work-permit/attestation shifts, and “visa-friendly” alternatives) on the Yuno blog.

Prep companies and colleges dependent on high-volume intakes faced utilisation whiplash; in Canada, sector-wide pain showed up in headlines and payrolls as the fall-2024 shortfall hit.

Where we are now (mid-2025): a More Fragmented Map

  • Canada: Caps and PAL/TAL remain the gating factor; provinces are rationing letters, and PGWP rules are tighter for certain partnerships. Expect a slower, more selective cycle through 2025/26.
  • Australia: The fee hike and integrity settings cooled ELICOS/VET intakes, but planning levels for 2026 nudged up to 295k—an attempt to stabilise supply while enforcing quality screens.
  • United States: Continuing-student counts are propping up totals, but new-student issuance dipped, pushing agents and universities to strengthen earlier funnel stages in India, Vietnam, and Nigeria.
  • Rising contenders: Germany continues a measured climb, projecting ~405,000 international students in 2024/25 and reporting strong interest from Indian applicants—helped by minimal tuition at public universities and clear work pathways. Hong Kong is also seeing double-digit growth in non-local applications as institutions raise caps and court global STEM talent.

What this means for exam-prep providers (and students)

Destinations are rotating; demand isn’t dying.

The English-proficiency market’s medium-term growth thesis remains intact—even as Canada and Australia add friction. Since 2018, the pattern is clear: when one corridor tightens, students seek another (and bring their prep needs with them).

“Visa-linked” prep must adapt to attestation/planning regimes.

In Canada and Australia, the bottleneck is administrative (PAL/TAL, planning levels), not just scores. Providers that sequence foundation English → test prep → document readiness (SOPs, financials, credibility interviews) convert better under quota systems.

Students need Plan-B routes—and faster pivots.

With U.S. new F-1 issuance softer, Canada under caps, and Australia pricier, students should short-list Germany/Ireland/Hong Kong and start language or documentation prep earlier to preserve intake options.

What next: Visa-friendly Alternatives and How to pivot

If permit caps, fee increases, or visa backlogs have disrupted Plan A, the prudent response is to prepare a Plan B/C grounded in current policy. The resources below—curated Yuno Learning explainers and destination guides—help applicants and counsellors compare entry rules, costs, timelines, and post-study pathways, and sort essentials like housing. Use this shortlist to stress-test options, then verify specifics on official portals (policies can shift mid-cycle).

Cross-destination primers

Indian students turn to affordable, visa-friendly countries (2025 trends). A fast sweep of where Indian applicants are redirecting—costs, post-study work, timelines—and why backup destinations matter in a caps-and-fees era. Best for: budget-focused, deadline-sensitive families. For more: 2025 Study Abroad Trends: Indian Students Turn to Affordable, Visa-Friendly Countries

Study abroad in Europe: Affordable alternatives to the U.K./U.S./Canada/Australia. Clear rundown of Austria, Malta, Portugal, Spain, and more—tuition, living costs, English-taught programs, work rights. Best for: undergrads and master’s seekers weighing multiple EU options. For more: Study Abroad in Europe: Affordable Alternatives to the UK, US, Canada & Australia

Study abroad in 2025: Germany, Ireland, and Japan—what they offer. Visa timelines, work-while-study rules, language expectations, and career pathways in three different systems. Best for: students who want an apples-to-apples snapshot across regions. For more: Study Abroad in 2025: What Germany, Ireland, and Japan Really Offer International Students

Europe (High acceptance + Clearer work pathways)

  1. Germany’s new laws and visas. Why Germany keeps absorbing demand: low/zero tuition at public universities, predictable residence/work options, and deep STEM seats. Actionable steps for documentation and timing. Best for: STEM master’s, price-sensitive undergrads. For more: Germany’s New Laws and Visas: Opening Doors for Indian Students and Skilled Professionals
     
  2. Is Spain the next big study-abroad hub? Scholarships, English-taught programs, visa details, and sectors that hire (hospitality, data, design). Best for: business/creative/STEM undergrads and master’s. Is Spain the Next Big Study Abroad Hub? What Indian Students Should Know
     
  3. Italy’s new visa rules and scholarships. Scholarship landscape, application flow, recognition, and where Italy makes most sense vs. Spain/Portugal. Best for: design, arts, business, and architecture. For more: Italy’s New Visa Rules & Scholarships: A Golden Opportunity for Indian Students
     
  4. Why Indian students should consider Portugal (2025). Lower fees, EU mobility (Erasmus), and rising tech roles. Best for: CS/analytics, business, humanities, with EU mobility in mind. For more: Why Indian Students Should Consider Studying in Portugal in 2025
     
  5. Poland’s visa reforms: What they mean for Indian students. What changed in financial proofs, rejection risks, and who should (or shouldn’t) pick Poland now? Best for: cost-first applicants balancing speed vs. stability. For more: Poland’s Visa Reforms: What It Means for Indian Students
     
  6. Study in Finland (2024–25). English-taught programs, student-friendly policies, solid outcomes—especially in tech, design, and education. Best for: research-minded, innovation-oriented students. For more: Study in Finland: 2024’s Top Destination for International Students 

Asia (Proximate, Stable, Skills-centric)

  1. Study in Singapore: Relaxed PR rules and opportunities. High ROI for finance/tech—if you can manage higher living costs. Clear view of EP/PR shifts and campus-to-career routes. Best for: tech/finance master’s, internships while studying. For more: Study Abroad in Singapore: Relaxed PR Rules and Opportunities for International Students
     
  2. New Zealand streamlines skilled migration (2025). What the streamlined skilled-migration and student-visa tweaks mean, especially for top Indian engineering/science grads. Best for: STEM grads eyeing PR-linked pathways.For more: New Zealand Streamlines Skilled Migration: What Indian Students Should Know in 2025 

Medical and sector-specific

Uzbekistan opens doors to Indian medical students. Tripled enrolments, recognition/licensing, real cost calculus, and who MBBS-in-Uzbekistan suits (and who it doesn’t). Best for: MBBS aspirants priced out of traditional hubs. For more: Uzbekistan Opens Doors to Indian Medical Students: Growth, Costs & Recognition 

If you’re still applying to Canada/Australia/U.S.

  1. Canada ends SDS: Alternatives and Timelines. Practical pivots after SDS—how to sequence documents, manage PAL/TAL uncertainty, and keep options open without losing the intake. Best for: Canada-first applicants who need Plan B ready. Canada Ends SDS Visa Program: Alternatives and Tips for Indian Students
     
  2. Australia 2025: Outlook + New student-visa rules (CoE mandatory). The true cost with the A$2,000 VAC, integrity settings, and how to avoid paperwork pitfalls; when to bundle English + pathway + micro-credentials. Best for: ELICOS/pathway candidates and price planners. For more: Australia’s New Student Visa Rules: CoE Now Mandatory from 2025
     
  3. U.S. visa changes: Denials at record highs + The 2025 process. What shifted (social-media checks, fees, waivers), how to prep interviews, and why a multi-country application portfolio reduces risk. Best for: U.S. aspirants seeking a data-driven prep plan. For more: New US Student Visa Process in 2025: Social Media, Higher Fees & Limited Waivers

Logistics, you’ll thank yourself for sorting early!

Top Resources for Finding Study-Abroad Accommodation. PBSA vs HMO, platforms by country, and budgeting traps. For more: Choosing the Best Student Accommodation Abroad: PBSA vs. HMO Explained

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