IDP Education will consolidate 15 student placement locations across India into larger nearby offices, with around 200 employees understood to be affected by the changes.
The company confirmed the consolidation to The PIE News following a review of its Indian network, citing changing student demand and evolving visa and market conditions across key destination countries.
“Following a review of our student placement network in India, IDP has made the decision to consolidate 15 locations into nearby, larger IDP offices that are well positioned to continue supporting students and partners in those markets,” an IDP spokesperson said.
“The changes reflect evolving student placement demand in certain locations, as well as our continued focus on high-quality student recruitment, strong student outcomes and an effective service model.”
IDP did not confirm the number of affected employees or disclose which locations would be consolidated or when the changes would take effect.
Following the changes, IDP will retain 52 offices across India, where it established its first office more than 30 years ago.
IDP said affected students had been proactively informed and would continue to receive counselling and other support through their nearest office and its wider service network.
“Our priority throughout the transition is to maintain continuity of service and the high standards expected by students and partner institutions,” the spokesperson said.
The company provided no details about potential redundancies or redeployment.
“We are also supporting our people through this transition and thank impacted colleagues for their professionalism, contribution and commitment to IDP,” the spokesperson said.
The announcement follows two difficult financial years for IDP, as tighter immigration policies across Australia, Canada, the UK and the US have weighed on global student mobility.
IDP reported a 9% fall in revenue to AUD $795.4 million in FY26, while student placement volumes declined by 27% and English language testing volumes fell by 8%. Language teaching volumes increased by 1%.
The company cut around 1,250 roles, equivalent to 20% of its workforce, during the year and reduced its global IELTS testing network from approximately 1,500 venues to fewer than 600.
IDP achieved AUD $32m in cost reductions during FY26, exceeding its AUD $25m target, and plans to reduce costs by a further AUD $15m in FY27. Its outlook for the current financial year assumes market volumes will be 20%–30% lower than in FY26.
“Our focus this year has been to manage financial performance whilst progressing the multi-year transformation program to reduce cost, simplify the business and position for future growth,” IDP chief executive and managing director Tennealle O’Shannessy said when the results were released in August.
We remain deeply committed to India and to working closely with our university and institution partners to navigate changing market conditions, maintain high standards of student recruitment and build sustainable growth together
IDP spokesperson
The FY26 decline followed an already challenging year for the company. Revenue fell by 15% to AUD $882.2m in FY25, while gross profit dropped by 21% to AUD $525.8m and global university placement volumes decreased by 29%.
Placement volumes fell in Canada, Australia, the UK and the US that year, declining by 56%, 22%, 18% and 25%, respectively. By contrast, placements increased by 40% in New Zealand and 37% in Ireland.
The downturn was particularly pronounced in India, where IELTS volumes fell by 50% in FY25 after declining by 42% the previous year. IDP’s earnings across Asia also dropped by 40%, with the company citing its Indian operations among several factors affecting the result.
IDP is one of the three co-owners of IELTS and has delivered all IELTS tests in India since acquiring the British Council’s local testing operations for £130m in 2021. Its Indian business includes both English language testing and student placement services.
The company began implementing cost reductions in 2024 after forecasting that the international education market would contract by 20%–25% amid tighter policies in leading destination countries. At the time, IDP said the programme was not expected to affect its operating footprint.
It has since launched what it describes as a multi-year transformation aimed at simplifying the business, reducing costs and adopting a more agile, AI-enabled operating model. IDP has also said it is investing in technology and AI-supported counselling.
The company’s operational changes have extended beyond India. In July 2026, IDP outsourced its onshore visa-support services in Australia to Bravo Migration, replacing its in-house registered migration agents.
Separately, IDP expanded its placement portfolio into Malaysia and the UAE in 2026, citing changing student preferences and demand for alternatives to major English-speaking destinations.
Despite the consolidation, IDP said India remained one of its most important source markets and was central to its long-term growth ambitions.
“We remain deeply committed to India and to working closely with our university and institution partners to navigate changing market conditions, maintain high standards of student recruitment and build sustainable growth together,” the spokesperson said.
