IDP to Consolidate 15 Student Placement Offices Across India Amid Falling Demand

IDP Education is set to consolidate 15 student placement locations across India, moving their operations into larger nearby offices as the international education company responds to declining student volumes and changing visa policies across major study destinations. Around 200 employees are understood to be affected by the restructuring, although IDP has not publicly confirmed the number of roles impacted, the locations involved or the timeline for implementation.

The decision follows a review of IDP's student placement network in India and comes during a challenging period for the global international education sector. Tighter immigration policies in major destinations including Australia, Canada, the UK and the US have reduced student mobility, forcing education companies to reassess their physical networks, operating costs and recruitment strategies. Despite the consolidation, IDP has stressed that India remains a key source market and an important part of its long-term growth plans.

IDP to Merge 15 Locations Into Larger Offices

IDP confirmed that 15 student placement locations in India will be consolidated into larger nearby offices that it believes are better positioned to continue serving students and education partners. The company said the decision followed an assessment of changing demand in specific locations and forms part of its broader focus on high-quality student recruitment, student outcomes and operational efficiency.

While the company has not disclosed the specific offices that will be affected, IDP is expected to retain 52 offices across India following the changes. The organisation has maintained a presence in the country for more than three decades, making India one of its longest-established and most strategically important markets.

IDP said students affected by the changes have been proactively informed and will continue to receive counselling and other services through their nearest office and the company's wider network. The organisation has also said it is supporting employees through the transition, although it has not provided details on possible redundancies or redeployment arrangements.

Restructuring Comes Amid Global Student Mobility Slowdown

The consolidation reflects broader pressures facing companies that depend on international student mobility. IDP has experienced two consecutive difficult financial years as governments in major study destinations have introduced stricter immigration measures, reduced international student targets and tightened eligibility requirements.

In FY26, IDP reported a 9% decline in revenue to AUD 795.4 million, while student placement volumes fell by 27% and English language testing volumes declined by 8%. Language teaching volumes, meanwhile, increased by 1%.

The financial pressure has already resulted in significant workforce and operational changes. During FY26, IDP cut around 1,250 positions, representing approximately 20% of its workforce, while its global IELTS testing network was reduced from around 1,500 venues to fewer than 600.

The company achieved AUD 32 million in cost reductions during FY26, exceeding its AUD 25 million target, and plans to deliver another AUD 15 million in savings during FY27. Its current outlook assumes international education market volumes could remain 20% to 30% below FY26 levels, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing the business.

India Remains a Critical Market for IDP

The restructuring in India comes despite the country's continued importance to IDP. India has traditionally been one of the world's largest sources of international students and remains a major market for both English-language testing and overseas student placement.

However, the Indian market has also experienced a substantial decline in recent years. IELTS volumes in India fell by 50% in FY25, following a 42% decline in the previous year. IDP's earnings across Asia also dropped significantly, with the company identifying its Indian operations as one of the factors contributing to the weaker financial performance.

The decline illustrates how closely India's study-abroad market is linked to immigration policies in destination countries. When governments tighten visa requirements, reduce international student numbers or alter post-study work opportunities, the effects can quickly move through the recruitment chain, influencing student decisions, university applications, English-language testing and the operations of education agencies.

IDP Faces Pressure Across Major Study Destinations

IDP's difficulties are not limited to India. During FY25, global university placement volumes declined by 29%, with particularly sharp reductions in Canada, Australia, the UK and the US. Placement volumes in those markets fell by 56%, 22%, 18% and 25%, respectively.

At the same time, demand increased in some alternative destinations. Placements rose by 40% in New Zealand and 37% in Ireland, highlighting how quickly student preferences can shift when visa regulations, costs and post-study opportunities change.

These developments are encouraging education companies to diversify their destination portfolios. IDP expanded its student placement offering into Malaysia and the UAE in 2026, citing changing student preferences and growing demand for alternatives to traditional English-speaking study destinations.

The shift suggests that the international education market is becoming more geographically diverse. Students are increasingly considering factors such as affordability, immigration certainty, employment opportunities and quality of education together rather than automatically selecting long-established destinations.

IDP Accelerates Cost-Cutting and Digital Transformation

The latest office consolidation is part of a wider multi-year transformation programme at IDP. The company has been working to simplify its operating structure, lower costs and develop a more agile, technology-driven business model.

IDP has also been investing in technology and AI-supported counselling, reflecting the changing way prospective students research universities, compare destinations and seek advice. The company's restructuring therefore goes beyond reducing its physical footprint; it is also an attempt to redesign how student recruitment and support services are delivered.

Operational changes have also taken place outside India. In July 2026, IDP outsourced its onshore visa-support services in Australia to Bravo Migration, replacing its internal registered migration agents. The move further demonstrates the company's efforts to reassess which services should remain in-house as it looks to improve efficiency.

What the Consolidation Means for Indian Students

For students, the immediate impact is expected to be limited because IDP has said counselling and other services will continue through nearby offices and its wider network. However, the consolidation reflects a deeper transformation in the study-abroad market that students and universities will need to monitor closely.

The traditional model of international recruitment, in which students from major source countries are channelled towards a small number of popular destinations, is becoming less predictable. Visa restrictions, changing immigration priorities and rising costs are prompting students to consider a broader range of countries and institutions.

For Indian students, this could mean greater visibility for emerging destinations such as Malaysia and the UAE, alongside established alternatives such as Ireland and New Zealand. It could also encourage students to assess study destinations based on the complete student journey, including visa rules, affordability, employment prospects and post-study pathways.

India Still Central to IDP’s Long-Term Strategy

Despite the office consolidation, IDP has made clear that it remains committed to India. The company said it intends to work closely with universities and institutional partners to navigate changing market conditions, maintain recruitment standards and build sustainable growth.

That commitment is significant because India remains a major source of internationally mobile students. The challenge for IDP is therefore not simply whether demand will return, but how the company can adapt its services to a market where students are becoming more selective and destination choices are changing rapidly.

The consolidation of 15 locations can be viewed as part of that adaptation: a move towards a smaller but potentially more efficient physical network while maintaining access to counselling and student services.

Editor’s Note

IDP's decision to consolidate 15 student placement locations in India is more than a cost-cutting exercise; it offers a useful snapshot of how dramatically the international education market has changed. For years, India was a high-growth market for overseas education, supported by strong demand for destinations such as Australia, Canada, the UK and the US. The recent decline in placement volumes demonstrates that student mobility is highly sensitive to government policy, and that even strong source markets can be affected when visa rules, financial requirements and post-study opportunities become less predictable.

The most important development is the changing relationship between students and destinations. Students are no longer simply choosing where they want to study and then navigating immigration rules afterwards. Visa accessibility, affordability and the possibility of working after graduation are increasingly influencing the initial choice of destination. This is creating opportunities for countries such as Malaysia and the UAE while placing established markets under pressure to remain competitive.

For IDP, maintaining its presence in India while reducing the size of its physical network reflects this new reality. A more streamlined office structure, combined with technology and AI-supported counselling, could allow the company to serve students more efficiently while responding faster to changes in demand. However, the success of this strategy will ultimately depend on whether IDP can maintain personalised support and trust as physical access points are reduced.

For students and universities, the wider lesson is equally important. The global education market is entering a period where flexibility matters as much as scale. Recruitment organisations, institutions and governments will need to respond to rapidly changing student preferences rather than assume that established destinations will continue to dominate. IDP's restructuring in India is therefore not simply about fewer offices—it is another indication that the next phase of international student mobility will be shaped by diversification, policy uncertainty, affordability and adaptability.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is IDP consolidating student placement offices in India?

IDP is consolidating 15 locations after reviewing its Indian student placement network. The company cited changing student demand and evolving visa and market conditions across major international study destinations.

2. How many IDP offices will remain in India?

Following the consolidation, IDP is expected to retain 52 offices across India, although the company has not disclosed which specific locations will be merged.

3. How many employees could be affected?

Around 200 employees are understood to be affected by the changes. IDP has not officially confirmed the number of employees impacted or provided details about potential redundancies or redeployment.

4. Will students continue to receive counselling after the office consolidation?

Yes. IDP has said affected students will continue receiving counselling and other support through their nearest office and its wider service network.

5. Why has IDP's student placement business declined?

IDP has faced declining student mobility as Australia, Canada, the UK and the US have introduced tighter immigration and international student policies. These changes have affected student placement volumes and demand for overseas education services.

6. How much did IDP's revenue decline in FY26?

IDP reported a 9% decline in revenue to AUD 795.4 million in FY26. Student placement volumes fell by 27%, while English-language testing volumes declined by 8%.

7. Is India still an important market for IDP?

Yes. Despite the restructuring, IDP has described India as one of its most important source markets and said the country remains central to its long-term growth strategy.