This guide will help you analyze student movement data in the QS Global Student Flows dataset to identify trends in growth or decline for source and destination locations.
1. Using the Index report for Trend Analysis
Navigate to the Index report:
Go to Flows Data & Reports within your Global Student Flows dataset .
Open one of the Index reports (e.g. Source Location, Source City, or Destination Location).
Select Parameters:
Choose the Source and Destination you are interested in. Note: Available selections may vary depending on your data license.
Select the Time period. 4 pre-set options range from 2014 up to projections into 2030.
Understanding the Data Table
When viewing the Index table, you’ll see:
Column | Description |
Name of Location/ City | The source or destination location or city |
Number of Students | Student counts for the selected time period (to the left of the Location) |
% (CAGR) | Compound Annual Growth Rate over the chosen period (to the right of the Location) |
Sorting and Filtering to Find Trends
By default, data is sorted descending by Number of Students.
You can use the Group By control to reorder the data by CAGR.
Sorting by CAGR helps you quickly pinpoint:
Fastest-growing locations (Highest positive % CAGR)
Most significant declines (Lowest or negative CAGR)
2. Using the Scatter plot for Trend Analysis
Accessing the Scatter plot:
Navigate to the Analytics > Scatter menu.
Configuring the Scatter plot:
The scatter plot displays:
One axis: Number of Students
Other axis: Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
You may swap which variable appears on each axis.
The Bubbles can display the values for Source City, Source Location, and Destination Location.
Interpreting the Scatter plot:
Zero Line (CAGR=0% on the Y-Axis):
Any points above this line represent growing trends.
Any points below this line represent declining trends.
The scatter plot enables you to see:
Which locations have high student numbers and whether their trend is rising or falling.
Whether major source or destination locations are starting to decline.
