As geopolitical tensions shift traditional student inflows, diverse student bodies help to mitigate against enrolment shocks caused by single policy changes. Additionally, different perspectives in the classroom creates a stronger study experience for everyone.

The question for destination markets becomes, then, what is the next major student population?

Enter Brazil. With more than 110,000 students studying abroad in 2024, Brazil is the world’s largest Latin American international student population.¹ Also, with nearly 30 million people between the ages of 15 and 24, Brazil has the eighth largest youth population in the world.² This combined demographic scale represents a generation of students with growing aspirations for international education, meaning the destinations that build stronger study corridors with Brazil will be set up to benefit over the long term.

Below, we’re diving into the state of the Brazilian student population in the first of a two-part series. Today we’re examining what drives Brazilian student mobility at the macro level. Next week, we’ll see how Brazilian demand has responded to recent policy shifts in the major Anglophone destinations.

Tracking Brazilian Demand for an International Study Experience

Nearly 90,000 Brazilian tertiary-level students pursued an international education in 2023, according to UNESCO’s latest data:

The number of outbound Brazilian students pursuing tertiary education began to climb rapidly after 2015. Indeed, by 2023, the data shows nearly double the number of Brazilians choosing to study internationally. And it’s important to note that UNESCO tracks tertiary education only.

And Brazilian Educational & Language Travel Association (BELTA) surveys which captured findings from spring 2026 suggest that this upward momentum has carried into more recent years. BELTA surveyed 74 education agencies operating nearly 600 locations nationwide. 53% of respondents said they sent more students abroad in 2025 than in 2024, with another 17% indicating placements remained stable. The average growth rate among respondents was 9.4% year-over-year.

Moreover, these agencies forecast an even stronger year demand-wise in 2026. 73% of respondents expect to see their placements grow while another 17% anticipate their business to be stable year-over-year. Respondents predicted an average growth rate of 16.6% for 2026.

English Learning a Top Driver of Demand Among Brazilian Students

English language proficiency is one of the largest barriers for Brazilian students hoping to study in a major Anglophone destination. EF Education First’s most recent English Proficiency Index (EPI) placed Brazil 75th in the world, with a score of 482 in 2025. While this was only slightly below the global average EPI score of 488, it still falls in EF’s “low” range. For comparison, 14 LATAM countries scored in the “moderate” or “high” range, while only 5 others fell in the “low” or “very low” range.

Further amplifying this challenge is that, since the pandemic, Brazilians between the ages of 18 and 20 have had a much lower EPI score than those between 21 and 30:

Brazilians between 18 and 20 have had an EPI score below 500—EF’s “moderate” proficiency threshold—in each of the past four years. This means Brazilians fresh out of secondary schools are likely to require additional English learning support to meet the entry requirements of their Anglophone destination of choice.

It’s not surprising to see, then, that when BELTA surveyed nearly 2,300 Brazilian students who either had or wanted to study internationally, 46% responded that they were interested in a language learning program. Moreover, interest in English-language studies are high: Of the 85% of respondents who indicated they had at least one international education-related experience already, 68% had studied in English.

English proficiency levels also vary across the country:

Brazilian states in the south and southeast score well above the national EPI average, with Distrito Federal at 541, Rio Grande do Sul at 539, Santa Catarina at 534, and the city of São Paulo at 518. Northern and interior states lag considerably, particularly in Tocantins (424) and Rondônia (434).

Institutions and international education advisors working with Brazilian students need to account for this regional variation. A student from Florianópolis and a student from Belém may arrive with very different English preparation and require different program pathways.

All told, the EPI gap—whether by age group or region—means English Language Training (ELT) programs serve as a high demand entry point for the Brazilian enrolment journey. The ELT-to-higher-education pathway is arguably the dominant model for Brazilian students, and institutions that design flexible study pathways with built-in ELT options, including preparatory semesters or language-to-degree progression routes, will be better positioned to build demand among Brazilian students.

Brazilian Choices Further Shaped by Cost Sensitivities

Brazilians between the ages 21 and 29 scored much higher on EF’s EPI scale than their younger counterparts. While this means older Brazilian students may be more ready to study abroad from an English proficiency perspective, applications from mature students typically face higher levels of scrutiny, particularly around proof of funding.

It tracks, then, that BELTA’s education agency survey found that currency exchange rates were the single most cited factor in whether a student placement succeeded.

While the war in West Asia recently weakened the real, Trading Economics data shows the Brazilian real still up by nearly 5% against the US dollar year-over-year as of June 29, 2026, and it remains in a more favourable position than it was during its sharp depreciation in late 2024. The real’s stronger position compared to a year ago means some reduced pressure on Brazilian families budgeting for tuition, rent, flights, insurance, and daily expenses abroad.

Note: the axis in the chart below captures the exchange rate of R$ to US$

The broader economic outlook also points to Brazil’s significant long-term potential. The IMF projects that Brazil’s economy will grow by 1.9% in 2026, and while the OECD forecasts slower growth of 1.6% in 2026, it also expects a modest rebound of 2.1% in 2027. Brazil’s central bank offers a similar near-term view, projecting moderate economic expansion in 2026.

Together, these indicators support a more nuanced view of Brazil’s future. It’s a country with a large prospective student population, where macroeconomic conditions are strong enough to sustain outbound interest, but not strong enough to make cost a secondary concern.

For institutions in popular study destinations, this means that converting demand into enrolments can be improved through cost certainty. Institutions that offer competitive scholarships, work-integrated learning options, and language-to-degree pathways will be better positioned to attract top talent from Brazil.

Unlocking the Potential of the Brazilian Student Population

With nearly 30 million people between the ages of 15 and 24, Brazil’s sizable student-aged population means that the destination countries that reduce barriers to education the fastest stand to potentially gain decades-long benefits. Indeed, the Brazilian student population will likely be important in the years ahead for institutions building student diversity on their campuses.

Providing more language pathway resources is crucial to meeting the needs of these students. Likewise, cost certainty always matters, but especially so when geopolitical tensions put pressure on the global economy.

At ApplyBoard, our teams work every day with governments and sector institutions to address these barriers. In fact, 97% of Brazilian students who applied to a Canadian academic institution for the 2025 intake year were approved for their student visa. Reach out to our commercial partnerships team to take your student recruitment to the next level, and stay tuned for the second part of this series next week.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. The latest UNESCO data shows 89,500 Brazilian students pursued tertiary studies abroad in 2023, with ICEF’s findings showing more than 110,000 Brazilian students abroad across all study levels in 2023/24..

2. MeasuredWorld, Population aged 15-24 years (youth) (2026).