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Market Growth: Counselling Services Surge Worldwide
The Global Study Abroad Agency Market—which includes consultation services and visa support—reached a staggering USD 17.88 billion in 2024, with projections to touch USD 25 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.28%.
Meanwhile, career and education counselling services are expected to expand from approximately USD 2.14 billion in 2021 to USD 2.91 billion in 2025, driven by an 8% annual growth rate.
What’s Driving the Counselors’ Comeback?
1. Surging Global Student Mobility
India alone saw 1.8 million students studying abroad in 2025, a jump from 1.3 million just two years ago. As traditional destinations like the U.S. face uncertainty due to visa restrictions, students increasingly rely on trusted counsellors to help them navigate alternative destinations like Europe and Asia.
2. Policy Volatility & Immigration Hurdles
Heightened visa screening and scrutiny—especially in markets like the U.S.—have made the application process more complex. This fuels the demand for professional guidance to ensure a smooth admissions and visa journey.
3. Tech-Enabled Personalized Counselling
Education consultancies in 2025 are leveraging AI-driven tools to personalize student guidance, predict university fit, and optimize visa success probabilities. Hybrid and virtual counselling models are increasingly popular and accessible.
4. Student Preference Shift and Destination Diversity
Countries like Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, and Germany are rising as preferred education destinations, valued for affordability, work prospects, and liberal visa rules. Counsellors are instrumental in helping students explore these emerging options.
Counselors at the Forefront: What’s Changing?
| Trend | Insighter |
|---|---|
| Digital-first Approach | Virtual sessions, chatbots, and AI tools now streamline guidance. |
| Career-Aligned Guidance | Students now prioritize employability, internships, and post-study work options. |
| Global Reach Expansion | Surveys show increasing student interest in non-traditional markets—counsellors help manage transitions. |
| Hybrid Education Support | Handling applications for both online and campus-based programs is a growing trend. |
Voices from the Ground
On Reddit, an ex-student studying abroad reflected on how travel influencers and post-pandemic optimism fueled massive growth in overseas education demand:
“Millions of people flock abroad with hopes of their ‘American’, ‘Canadian’ or ‘British Dream’… 2021–Huge, 2022–Huger, 2023–Hugest.”
Meanwhile, another user noted:
“About 70–80% of students use consultants when applying abroad… but more are attempting the process independently and questioning the ROI.”
FAQs: Global Rise of Study Abroad Counsellors
Yes—it’s projected to grow from USD 2.14 billion in 2021 to USD 2.91 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 8%—with Asia-Pacific and North America leading demand.
Absolutely. AI chatbots, real-time CRMs, and predictive analytics for university matching are now commonplace in modern consultancy services.
Many do—some manage on their own using online tutorials and resources. However, a large portion still prefer counsellors for convenience and assurance.
