Countries that are better prepared for climate change are becoming more attractive to international students while more vulnerable nations are losing their appeal, according to a major new global study involving researchers from The University of Manchester.
The research analysed 1.15 million international student flows, and found that climate resilience is now an increasingly important factor in where students choose to study abroad.
The findings suggest that alongside university rankings, jobs and living standards, students are also paying attention to whether countries appear ready for a warmer, more uncertain future.
Key findings
– Countries with higher climate vulnerability attract fewer international students
– Strong climate adaptation readiness significantly boosts student inflows
– Major climate summits such as COP15 and COP21 marked a turning point in student decision-making
– Economic factors still matter, but students increasingly weigh climate risk and resilience
– China, India and other emerging hubs could gain market share through stronger climate action and growing academic strength
What did the study find?
The study examined global student mobility patterns over two decades. Researchers found that a destination country’s climate vulnerability significantly reduced its attractiveness to prospective international students.
By contrast, countries with stronger climate adaptation readiness – meaning they are better prepared to respond to climate risks such as extreme weather, heat and infrastructure disruption – saw significantly higher student inflows.
Why climate now matters to students
Traditionally, international students have been drawn by factors such as prestigious universities, stronger economies, language links and career opportunities – but the study found this picture has changed.
Major global climate summits, including the Copenhagen Accord (COP15) in 2009 and the Paris Agreement (COP21) in 2015, acted as key turning points. After these moments, student choices increasingly reflected a country’s climate readiness and vulnerability, not just its economic strength.
A new competition for global talent
The findings suggest countries are now competing for students not only on education quality, but also on resilience, liveability and long-term stability. This could reshape the global higher education market in the years ahead.
Researchers found that proactive climate adaptation, combined with rising university capacity, could help emerging destinations such as China and India capture a larger share of international students.
Who could lose out?
The study suggests some traditional destinations could face growing pressure if climate vulnerability worsens or if progress on adaptation stalls.
Researchers say climate preparedness may increasingly influence how students judge future safety, quality of life and opportunity in a host country.
What the researchers said
“International students are making one of the biggest decisions of their lives when choosing where to study,” said Dr Haoyu Hu.
“Our findings suggest they are not only thinking about degrees and careers, but also about what kind of future a country offers – whether it feels safe, stable and prepared for climate change.”
Dr Hu is based at The University of Manchester, which has been recognised globally for its social and environmental impact and is the only university in the world to rank in the top ten of both the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
The rankings recognise universities’ contributions towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including research, teaching, public engagement and campus operations aimed at creating a healthier, fairer and more sustainable future.
“The University of Manchester is a public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester City Centre on Oxford Road.”
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