EDU Holdings sets new enrolment record as Ikon Institute student numbers surge

EDU Holdings’ (ASX: EDU) higher-learning Ikon Institute has set a record for student enrolments for its latest reporting period.

The leading tertiary education group has continued to achieve strong growth in new and total student enrolments for trimester 2, 2025.

The 3,725 student enrolments for the trimester were a 118% increase on the previous corresponding period (pcp).

Sustained demand

Chief executive officer Adam Davis told shareholders that the significant growth highlighted sustained demand for the Ikon Institute’s programs.

“Total enrolments continue to benefit from the stacking of strong recent intakes and a low rate of completions (i.e. graduations) due to Ikon’s two- to four-year course durations.”

There was a 33% increase in new student enrolments to 711; however that number was 20% lower than the 889 recorded in Trimester 1, 2025.

Increasing competition

“The board notes increasing competition for new student enrolments, with more providers entering Ikon’s core program areas,” Mr Davis said.

“This includes both established institutions expanding their offerings and new entrants targeting the same student segments.”

“Ikon has launched several new courses this year to broaden its target market, including its first postgraduate offering.”

Overseas student caps

EDU also commented on the controversial proposed Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (ESOS) Bill, which the government did not enact as planned from 1 January 2025.

The company noted that a new ministerial direction introduced in late 2024, which established a two-speed system for the processing of student visa applications submitted offshore, had adopted the same indicative provider caps proposed in the ESOS Bill.

Applications for up to 80% of a provider’s cap are processed as high priority and at standard priority after that.

“The board notes that the majority of Ikon’s new international students are currently recruited onshore [international students already in Australia] and that domestic students remain unaffected by the cap.”