What is most important to international students when choosing a university?

In March 2026, we ran a student survey across the international schools that Unifrog works with in 138 countries. Based on over 5,500 responses, here are the factors shaping how young people are deciding their next step after school.

Safety and stability are at the forefront of students’ minds when choosing a university. A secure campus, application acceptance rates, and graduate employability are the top three factors, above other considerations such as league table rankings and closeness to home.

Since security is so important, counselors should encourage students to consider campus crime statistics and support services (including mental health and wellbeing) from the beginning of their university research. In-person visits or virtual tours can also help put students’ minds at ease.

To help students gain a well-rounded understanding of where to study, Unifrog’s powerful search tools provide impartial, accurate data on each university, giving them the confidence to make informed decisions. In each university’s profile, students can easily find information including on-campus accommodation, entry requirements, and ‘quality of life’ rank.

How far do students want to move after school?

When asked where they hope to study or work immediately after finishing school, 77% of students at international schools want to move to a different country.

Every year, we host virtual university fairs and webinars to broaden students’ horizons, encourage them to find their best-fit destinations and prepare them for life away from home.

We also offer accredited professional development courses for counselors and teachers to learn about international pathways and admissions processes, helping you to develop expertise on global higher education landscapes to help every student find the best destination for them.

What motivation is driving students to choose their next step?

On the journey to finding their best next step, we should encourage students to let their individual values, interests, and strengths lead their decision-making.

The top motivation when choosing post-school options among our surveyed international students was “doing something I enjoy”. As counselors and teachers, we are in a strong position to help our students understand themselves better to make this possible.

Unifrog’s tools inspire students with personalised opportunities, tailored to their psychometric quiz results and made-to-measure questionnaires, empowering them to find courses they will enjoy and do well in. We give students chances to make meaningful connections with universities all around the world. For example, universities can message students identified as a best-fit about specific courses through our Talent pool. Students can also apply to Unifrog’s virtual summer school for a realistic taster of subject lectures and coursework hosted by a range of universities.

Get in touch if you’d like to learn more about how we can work together to help all your students find their best-fit next step after school.