5 Ways to Attract International Applicants with Enrolment Management Systems

International students bring diversity, global perspective and long-term value to university communities — academically, culturally and financially. But applying from abroad can be daunting. Unfamiliar systems, limited access to information and uncertainty about the support on offer can make even the most motivated student hesitate.

With competition growing across international markets, universities need to provide a personalised, seamless experience that makes students feel confident, welcomed and well-informed — before they even apply.

Here are five effective ways to attract international applicants, powered by insight and supported by the right enrolment management system.

1. Use Social Media to Build Early Connections

Social media is often the first touchpoint for international students researching where to study — and it’s where early impressions are formed.

To build trust and visibility:

• Share student-led content (vlogs, day-in-the-life reels, cultural stories).
• Use inclusive hashtags like #WeAreInternational to show your values.
• Highlight international student voices and experiences.
• Create language-friendly captions and use subtitles where relevant.

Example: The University of Nottingham’s student vlogs explore everyday topics like budgeting, introversion and student life — making the experience relatable and reassuring.

The right enrolment platform can support this by tracking engagement across channels and connecting campaign data to your CRM — giving you visibility on what’s working.

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2. Offer Open Day Alternatives That Feel Personal

Not every international applicant can attend your open day in person — but that doesn’t mean they should miss out on the experience.

Consider:

• Virtual tours and online open days.
• Live Q&As or webinars hosted by admissions staff and current students.
• Regional meet-ups or “Coffee Chats” when staff travel abroad.

Example: Imperial College Business School offers informal, one-on-one events abroad — helping students ask questions, bring a CV or simply have a conversation.

Your enrolment system should make it easy to manage events, track attendance and follow up with personalised communication based on participation.

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3. Champion International Voices on Campus

Prospective students want to know that they’ll feel welcome — and that there’s a community waiting for them.

Here’s how to show that:

• Feature international student societies and networks.
• Share testimonials, blogs or welcome videos from current international students.
• Highlight events that celebrate cultural diversity and inclusion.

Example: Bristol SU’s International Students Network runs welcome mingles and supports new arrivals through events and peer engagement.

With the right system, you can gather testimonials, embed them into email campaigns or landing pages, and segment content based on country or interest.

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4. Make Your Website Multilingual and Student-Friendly

Your website is your global front door. If students can’t find information in their language, they may go elsewhere.

Quick wins:

• Offer language switchers or integrate translation tools.
• Create pages tailored to international students (visa guidance, tuition, housing).
• Make your application portal accessible, mobile-friendly and intuitive.

Your CRM should support dynamic content that adjusts based on region, language or applicant type — ensuring relevance from the first click.

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5. Use Data to Inform Your Strategy

Are you reaching the right markets? Are your communications resonating? A strong international recruitment strategy is rooted in data.

What to track:

• Where your applicants are coming from — and where they’re dropping off.
• Event attendance, engagement rates and conversion by region.
• What channels (social, email, referrals) are driving enquiries.

With a robust enrolment management system, your team can visualise these trends, spot opportunities and adapt outreach accordingly — all while maintaining compliance and consistency.

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Final Thoughts

Attracting international students isn’t about casting a wider net — it’s about creating a more personalised, welcoming and supportive journey from the start.

With the right technology in place, your university can build global relationships, nurture applicants with care, and ensure every student — no matter where they’re from — feels confident choosing your institution.