The latest results of the 2025 AUIDF Benchmark of Learning Abroad (BLA) are now available, providing a comprehensive picture of how Learning Abroad is evolving across the Australian university sector.
Commissioned by the Australian Universities International Directors Forum (AUIDF) and developed by Studymove, the BLA provides universities with a valuable opportunity to benchmark their Learning Abroad activity against their peers and better understand the factors influencing student participation in outbound mobility programs.
At Studymove, it is an honour to support the Australian Learning Abroad sector through this work. We strongly believe that Learning Abroad is a fundamental part of Australia's international education ecosystem and an important component of the university experience for Australian students.
Learning Abroad is more than international mobility
Learning Abroad gives students opportunities to study, work, volunteer, undertake internships, and engage in other forms of international engagement as part of their university experience.
These experiences have a lasting impact on students. They can broaden perspectives, build intercultural understanding, develop independence and confidence, and provide students with the opportunity to engage with different cultures, communities and ways of thinking.
Importantly, these experiences can also contribute to graduate employability. In an increasingly globalised workforce, the ability to work across cultures, adapt to unfamiliar environments and communicate with people from different backgrounds are valuable skills for graduates entering the workforce.
The 2025 BLA Analysis
The 2025 Benchmark of Learning Abroad reflects a sector operating in a particularly challenging environment.
The results point to limited and uneven growth in student participation, occurring alongside significant financial pressures across Australian universities and important changes to the New Colombo Plan (NCP) guidelines.
The 2025 results also highlight the different approaches universities are taking in response to these challenges. Institutions are continuing to review their Learning Abroad strategies, looking at how they can support participation, make opportunities accessible to a broader range of students and ensure that mobility remains a meaningful component of the university experience.
The benchmark provides an important opportunity to look beyond individual institutional results and understand these developments in the context of the broader sector.
Thank you for your support
The report would not be possible without the contribution of universities and the leadership of AUIDF.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the AUIDF Executive and Secretary, and to every university that contributed data to the 2025 analysis.
We would also like to acknowledge the AUIDF BLA Steering Group. Their expertise, insights and deep understanding of Learning Abroad have been invaluable in shaping the development of the benchmark and ensuring that it remains relevant to the needs of the sector.