What does the 2025 data show?

• The overall number of students enrolled in formal study at tertiary providers decreased by 1.1% (4,590), from 399,685 in 2024 to 395,095 in 2025.
• Domestic student numbers decreased in 2025. There were 3.5% (or 12,335) fewer students enrolled in 2025 than in 2024. International student numbers increased this year by 15% (7,745), from 52,145 in 2024 to 59,890 in 2025. This represents continued recovery in the number of international students which was disrupted between 2020 and 2022 due to the pandemic and subsequent border closures but is still lower in 2025 than in the pre-COVID years (61,040 in 2019).
• Student numbers in the European ethnic group fell by 4.2% and Māori student numbers decreased by 1.3%. All other groups increased: Pacific Peoples by 2.2% and Asian students increased by 2.7%.
• Enrolments in Universities increased most in 2025, by 3.7%. Student numbers in Universities increased by 1.5% for domestic students but by 14% for international students. Polytechnic enrolments decreased by 4.3% - the 5.4% increase in international students was outweighed by the 5.1% decrease in domestic students. In Private Training Establishments, domestic students decreased by 14%, but international student enrolments increased by 28% and overall enrolments fell by 8.5%. Wānanga enrolments fell by 1.3%, while enrolments by international students increased by 78% (35 students), this was from a low base as Wānanga generally enrol very few international students.
• Students’ study load, measured in EFTS, increased even while student numbers decreased. There were fewer students overall but those enrolled did more study. EFTS increased by 3.7%, while student enrolments decreased by 1.1%. Domestic student EFTS increased more slowly (by 0.9%) than international student EFTS (20%).

Total participation

The overall number of students enrolled in formal study at tertiary education providers in 2025 decreased by 1.1% (4,590 fewer students), from 399,685 in 2024 to 395,095 in 2025. Domestic student numbers decreased by 3.5% in 2025 (12,335) and international student numbers increased by 15% (7,745), from 52,145 in 2024 to 59,890 in 2025 (see Table 1). This represents continued recovery in the number of international students which was disrupted between 2020 and 2022 due to the pandemic and subsequent border closures.

Enrolments for male students decreased, as did EFTS. For female students, and students of another gender, both enrolments and EFTS increased. Figure 1 shows that participation rates in 2025 dipped for males but showed only a slight decline for female students.

Figure 1: Domestic student enrolments, EFTS and participation rates, 2016-2025

Participation by ethnic group

Table 2 compares domestic enrolments and EFTS for the main ethnic groups for 2024 and 2025. All ethnic groups other than the European and Māori groups saw an increase in enrolments for domestic students. The Māori ethnic group decreased by 1.3% and the European group decreased by 4.2%. Enrolments by Pacific Peoples increased by 2.2% and the Asian ethnic group increased by 2.7%.

Percentage increases in domestic EFTS numbers were larger than in headcounts for all ethnic groups, and the only group that showed a decrease was the European group, which decreased by a slight 0.1%.

Figure 2 shows participation rates in provider-based tertiary education by ethnicity for 2020 to 2025. Māori and Pacific rates are consistently higher than other groups. Participation rates increased sharply in 2021, corresponding to the rise in enrolment numbers seen in that year. Participation rates decreased for all ethnic groups in 2025.

Figure 2: Domestic participation rates in provider-based tertiary education by ethnic group 2020-2025

Participation by subsector

Total student enrolments decreased in 2025 but varied by subsector. There was a moderate increase in domestic students at universities (1.5% or 2,165 students). Domestic enrolments decreased in polytechnics (down 5.1% or 5,590 students) and in private training establishments (down 14% or 8,905 students) and in wānanga (down 1.4% or 490 students).

All subsectors had increases in international enrolments, the largest being in universities (14% or 4,210 students), followed by private training establishments (28% or 2,675 students). The increase of 35 international students at Wānanga was a 78% change from a low base in 2024.  International EFTS increased by higher rates overall than student enrolments (5.6 percentage points higher), with the difference in universities being 4.2 percentage points. At private training establishments and in polytechnics, EFTS increases for international students were significantly higher than for enrolments (by 14 and 5.1 percentage points respectively).

Participation by qualification level/type

Enrolments changes varied across qualification types / levels between 2024 and 2025. Enrolments in Level 3 and Level 4 certificates decreased (down 1.0% or 465 students, and 20%, or 14,290 students respectively). Enrolments in diplomas and certificates levels 5-7 increased (by 4.8% or 2,095 students). Bachelors enrolments increased by 2.9% (4,135 students), as did Masters level enrolments (by 17% or 5,590 students) and doctoral level enrolments (by 3.9% or 400 students). Enrolments in certificates Levels 1 and 2 decreased (down 0.1% or 20 students and 4.4% or 1,020 students respectively).

EFTS changes were generally higher than for enrolments, most notably in Graduate Diplomas or Certificates Level 7 (9.2 percentage points), Masters (7.9 percentage points) and Certificates Level 4 (7.8 percentage points). For Level 3 certificates EFTS increased while student numbers decreased.