Canada is the top study destination for international students by weighted average, according to a recent survey.

Of the future international students surveyed, 94% showed some degree of interest in studying in Canada—the highest of all countries garnering interest.

In fact, 65% reported that they were only considering one or more of the select six countries expanded on further below as their study destination, Canada included. This reflects an increase of eight percentage points compared with the previous year’s Spring Survey.

ApplyBoard published the results of their Spring 2025 edition of their Student Pulse Survey on March 26, 2025.

Canada continues to be among the four most desirable countries in the eyes of international students—the others being the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. These together are referred to as the “Big Four.”

With the following options presented to them, more students indicated they were “very interested” and “moderately interested” in studying in Canada than in any the other country in the Big Four.

While the U.S. outperformed Canada in the Spring 2025 survey by three percentage points when it came to those “extremely interested” in a study destination, Canada came out on top overall when interest was averaged across all levels.

Compared to the Spring 2024 Student Pulse Survey, those “very interested” in Canada as a study destination went up two percentage points, while moderate interest went from 8% in the Spring 2024 survey to 12% this year—a 4% jump.

Canada also stood out with the lowest share of students indicating no interest in studying there (6%), whereas other countries saw higher levels of disinterest.

In addition to the other top three study destinations mentioned above, Germany and Ireland secured fifth and sixth place.

Below is a snapshot detailing how Canada ranked among the top countries future students indicated interested in.

Canada is the top study destination for international sThe top factors driving student interest

When considering which study program to choose, and which country to pursue it in, the top five factors influencing future students’ decisions included the following:

1. Affordable tuition fees (77%);

2. High graduate employment rate (57%);

3. A program leading into one’s chosen career (49%);

4. High-quality teaching (47%); and

5. The program’s reputation (45%).

Affordability was particularly important to participants when selecting a study program and study destination.

Due to financial concerns, just over one in four international students were rethinking their original study destinations and considering alternatives.

Making up seven of the top 10 write-ins, European countries—such as Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands—stood out as alternatives to the top six destinations mentioned earlier, with participants highlighting their lower tuition costs as a major draw.