54% study abroad prospective students plan to use ChatGPT & Gemini to choose university: Report

The survey, which was conducted in July and August 2025 with nearly 8,000 current and prospective students worldwide, found that 54 per cent plan to use AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini to choose their university, while 53 per cent will use them to select academic programmes.

These numbers show a sharp rise from last year’s figures of 35 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively. This report is in contrast to insights from the 2025 Student Communication Preferences survey by US education consultancy EAB, reveals that students still place strong trust in human guidance and traditional sources of information.

Trust more human advice

Despite AI becoming a popular starting point for study abroad research, students continue to place strong trust in human interactions and traditional sources when making final decisions. According to the EAB survey, 34 per cent of students consider in-person experiences—like campus tours and college fairs—the most valuable, while 30 per cent still depend heavily on official university websites for reliable information.

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While AI tools are gaining traction in the early stages of study abroad planning, they still lag when it comes to trust. According to the EAB survey, 26 per cent of students place their confidence in high-school teachers, counsellors, and coaches — highlighting the enduring influence of personal guidance — while only 3 per cent trust AI chatbots.