This Week in Study Abroad (TWISA) is a weekly read on what current and prospective international students should be paying attention to, powered by Radius.

Vol. 02 · April 21 to 27, 2026

TL;DR

Five stories shaped the international student journey this week.

• New Zealand hit its 2034 destination-preference target a decade early.

• The UK and EU formally signed Britain back into Erasmus+ from 2027.

• S. Korea passed 314,000 students. Japan lifted caps at three top universities. Malaysia is on track for 260,000 by 2030.

• Nine UK universities are opening India campuses for 2026 to 2027.

• A new US House bill, if passed, would pause H-1B visas for three years and end OPT. 

If you would rather swipe than read, the carousel version is on Instagram.

Now lets start with the juicy stuff!

The 22 Percent

New Zealand hit its 2034 destination-preference target a decade early. The country also expanded in-study work rights from 20 to 25 hours in November 2025, extended them to exchange students, and is rolling out a Short Term Graduate Work Visa later this year. New Zealand's new post-study work visa is valid for up to 3 years.

Source: Education New Zealand via The PIE News

The Erasmus+ Reset

The UK and EU signed the legal text on April 15. Britain rejoins Erasmus+ from 2027, run by the British Council.

Over 100,000 participants expected in year one. The UK secured a 30 percent discount, paying £570 million for 2027. UK students get funded study, traineeships, and exchanges across Europe. EU students return to UK institutions on the same basis.

Sources: GOV.UK, The PIE News

The Asia Pivot

South Korea passed 314,000 international students in February. The country hit its 300K target two years early. Vietnam, China, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia lead the source markets.

Japan lifted enrolment caps at Tohoku, Tsukuba, and Hiroshima universities. From April 2026, 11 certified faculties can exceed standard caps by 5 percent. Japan already passed its 400,000 target eight years early. Note: Tohoku and Tsukuba are raising international tuition from 2027.

Malaysia is forecast to grow 8.5 percent annually, reaching 260,000 by 2030. Tuition ranges from USD 1,350 to USD 9,500 per year, depending on the institution.

This is a regional repositioning for Asia.

Sources: The PIE News, The Japan Times, QS

The India Pivot

Nine UK universities are opening campuses across India: Southampton (Gurugram, operational), Liverpool (Bengaluru), York (Mumbai), Aberdeen (Mumbai), Bristol (Mumbai, summer 2026), Surrey (GIFT City), Queen's Belfast (GIFT City), Coventry (GIFT City), Lancaster (Bengaluru).

Bristol Mumbai runs ₹15-₹17 lakh per year. Liverpool Bengaluru is ₹11.5 to ₹13 lakh. Same degree, same institution, 40-50% of the all-in UK cost. The trade: no cultural immersion, no global cohort, no UK post-study work visa.

Sources: The PIE News, University World News

Now to the harder Stuff >>>

The H-1B Bill

On April 22, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 with seven Republican cosponsors. It is a proposal, not a law.

If passed, there'll be a three-year pause on new H-1B visas; the cap will drop from 65,000 to 25,000; a $200,000 minimum salary; a lottery replaced by wage-based selection; OPT ends; no H-4 dependents; and no green card adjustments from H-1B.

The bill has not passed committee, has no Senate companion, and would require 60 votes in the Senate. Three similar bills (End H-1B Now, PAUSE Act, EXILE Act) have stalled this year.

Sources: Office of Rep. Crane, VisaVerge

What to do this week

• Heading to the US this fall: pay your SEVIS fee this week. Book a complimentary mock visa interview with us to ground yourself. 

• Pay application and tuition deposits before deadlines creep up on you. Late cross-border tuition and fee payments are the most common way students lose admission and visa offers.

• Apply across two or three countries to avoid single-country risk exposure. 

The bottom line

Cross-border education opportunities shifted more toward international students, so plan to apply across multiple countries and move quickly to meet deadlines.

Plus, you've got Radius in your corner, ensuring you don't miss out on these opportunities because of a delayed payment or missed deposit.

We'll be back with the deets next Tuesday. Until then, your only job is to act.

Regards,

The Radius Team