Asian Tigers see 19% jump in student interest, with growth surpassing traditional international hubs

Oslo, Norway, July 3 - Keystone Education Group data shows the ‘Asian Tigers’ are attracting unprecedented levels of international student interest in 2025. Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are attracting a surge of global student interest, as these ‘Asian Tigers’ establish themselves as major players in international higher education. 

Malaysia stands out as the frontrunner among the Asian Tigers across Keystone’s student search platforms – with 64 per cent more students searching for study options there in April to May this year, compared to March.  

Singapore closely follows with a 51 per cent increase in student searches, demonstrating the country's successful efforts to brand itself as an affordable yet high-quality education destination. 

While, South Korea’s popularity was highlighted in Keystone’s 2025 State of Student Recruitment Report, entering the top 10 study destinations for the first time. 

Mark Bennett, VP of Research and Insight, at Keystone Education Group, said: “When combined, the four Asian Tigers are currently more popular study destinations than Japan and China, and have grown overall by 19 per cent from March to June.  

“This reflects their positioning as a global education hub, bolstered by world-class universities and strong government support for international education.” 

Data shows that the Asian Tigers are attracting students from across the Asia-Pacific region, with students from India most interested, followed by Indonesia - indicating strong intra-regional mobility. 

Mark added: “Several factors contribute to the rising prominence of Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Investment in higher education and initiatives to boost intra-Asian mobility will be a key driver of this success and, as our data shows, they’re clearly having a global impact.  

“Their location also offers easy access for Asia’s growing middle-class population seeking quality international education closer to home and avoiding some of the cultural and logistical challenges involved in studying abroad. These kinds of shifts could become more important as international education becomes more region 

“The success story of the Asian Tigers demonstrates how investment in education, combined with favorable policies and cultural advantages, can rapidly transform a nation's reputation in international education.” 

About Keystone Education Group 

More than 100 million students trust Keystone to help them pursue higher education every year. In turn, Keystone helps over 5,500 education institutions reach, recruit, and enroll prospective students in more than 190 countries. Keystone also operates a range of global student recruitment services including UniQuest, Asia Exchange, Blueberry, SONOR, Edunation, and Keystone Sports. 

Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Keystone is backed by Viking Venture and Verdane, two leading Nordic venture firms. Keystone has more than 850+ employees worldwide, with offices across the Nordics, Germany, Spain, and the UK.