Morocco emerges as a leader in international student mobility

Friday 15 August 2025 - 14:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco emerges as a leader in international student mobility

Morocco has solidified its position as a key player in international student mobility, serving both as a top origin country and a growing destination for foreign students, according to a recent Campus France report.

A hub for international students in MENA

The report highlights Morocco's role as a regional hub in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for hosting international students. In 2022, Morocco welcomed 22,000 foreign students, placing it among the top host countries in the region. It ranked behind Saudi Arabia (64,000), Jordan (39,000), Egypt (24,000), and Iran (23,000).

These figures, based on UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) data, exclude approximately 220,000 students in the United Arab Emirates, as the UAE did not provide data for the report.

Morocco leads foreign student enrollment in France

The Campus France report also sheds light on Moroccan students abroad, particularly in France. For the academic year 2023-2024, Morocco remained the leading country of origin for foreign students in French universities, with 43,354 nationals making up 10% of the total. Algeria followed with 34,269 students (8%), China with 27,123 (6%), Italy with 21,037 (5%), and Senegal with 16,955 (4%).

Despite a 4% decline in Moroccan student numbers in France for the second consecutive year, Morocco retained its top position. In contrast, Algeria experienced a sharper decline in study visas issued in 2024, with a 23% drop compared to 2023, marking a notable decrease in Algerian student enrollment in French institutions.

Moroccan students excel in business and engineering schools

Moroccan students hold a strong presence in specialized fields in France. In business schools, where 15% of foreign students enrolled in 2023-2024, Morocco ranked as the second most represented country with 8,403 students, making up 13% of the total, just behind China with 9,130 students (15%).

In engineering schools, Moroccan students dominated, accounting for 19% (6,035 students) of the 32,000 foreign enrollees. This representation far surpassed that of China (2,630 students, 8%) and Cameroon (2,059 students, 6%).

Global ranking and increasing mobility

Morocco continues to rise in global student mobility rankings. In 2022, 74,289 Moroccan students studied abroad, elevating the country to the 18th position globally, up from 21st in 2017. On the African continent, Morocco ranks second after Nigeria (8th globally, 112,416 students) and ahead of Egypt (19th globally, 69,371 students).

Even in doctoral fields, Morocco's presence is notable, ranking 4th among foreign doctoral students in France with 1,229 enrollees in 2023-2024. This places Moroccan doctoral students behind China (1,806), Italy (1,622), and Lebanon (1,534), but ahead of Algeria (1,090).

As Morocco continues to strengthen its educational infrastructure and attract international students, its influence in global academic mobility is poised to grow further.