As BONARD release their Global ELT Annual Report for 2024, we take a peek at the key highlights…
Eight leading ELT destinations are the focus of this year’s report, with a look at aggregate trends in the UK, Australia, Canada, the US, Ireland, New Zealand, Malta and South Africa.
The total volume of student weeks increased +34% year-over-year, meaning the sector has recovered to 84% in 2023, compared to 2019.
In terms of student numbers, 2023 saw total ELT enrolments surpass one million students for the first time since the pandemic. Overall, student numbers recovered to 78% of their 2019 volume.
Student age was a big factor in this year’s report, with BONARD reporting growth in the amount of under-18s studying abroad.
Ireland and Malta saw their students split evenly between adults (49%) and juniors (51%). Meanwhile, the UK saw their junior numbers jump from 54% in 2019, to 61% in 2023.
However, Australia welcomed predominantly adults, with 94% of students over-18. Canada and the US also saw high amounts of adult students, at 88% and 75% respectively.
But where are students coming from? Well, in 2023, Colombia was the biggest sending market for the first time, followed by Brazil and Japan, and pushing China to fourth place.
Additionally, the biggest growth was seen in LATAM countries, with Colombia rising by 72%, Mexico 47% and Chile 23%.
Despite these promising numbers for 2023, Ivana Bartosik of BONARD says they are already ‘seeing some declines’ for 2024:
‘Major ELT destinations are currently facing difficulties due to visa restrictions and added government regulation,’ said Ivana.
‘There are also some opportunities and those lie in the junior market. There is stable growth predicted for the junior market globally in 2024.’
