Market Intelligence Brief - Mexico 2023

With a large and youthful population, a rich cultural history and abundant natural resources, Mexico is the second largest economy in Latin America and the UK’s top student recruitment market in the region. Mexico has a large and diverse domestic education system which has seen rapid growth over recent decades; however, the quality of education provision remains a significant issue.

Most outbound students from Mexico study in the US, due to geographical proximity, trade and education partnerships and large Mexican diaspora. Spain is also a popular destination given cultural and linguistic ties, and Canada has grown its market share to become the clear second choice English speaking destination.

Mexico is primarily a postgraduate market for UK higher education institutions, with around 80 per cent of enrolments being at that level. After several consecutive years of growth until 2016/17 - when there were just over 2,600 Mexican students in the UK - recruitment trends over recent years have been less encouraging. UK recruitment made a modest recovery in the 2021/22 academic year, but study visa statistics suggest that this momentum was not maintained for the 2022/23 academic year.

With a total of 945 students enrolled on TNE and distance learning courses in the 2020/21 academic year, Mexico is currently the UK’s largest TNE market in the region but remains a small TNE market for the UK by international standards. Mutual recognition of qualifications remains a work in progress between the UK and Mexican governments.

This 25-page report gives an overview of the Mexican education system and the country's wider demographic, economic and political context, with a focus on international education trends in the country - including both student mobility and transnational education. It aims to provide useful information to UK education institutions and other UK stakeholders considering partnerships with Mexican counterparts and to support further cooperation and engagement between the UK and Mexico.