Global Study Partners
Global Study Partners (upGrad GSP) operates a cloud-based, AI-powered two-sided marketplace connecting international students with educational institutions through 1,000+ universities and recruitment partners across 53 nationalities, monetising via marketplace commissions on student placements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Global Study Partners does
Global Study Partners, operating under the brand upGrad GSP, is a cloud-based two-sided marketplace that connects international students with educational institutions through a global network of recruitment partners. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Sydney, Australia, the company operates as a subsidiary of the upGrad education technology group following a 2021 rebranding. The platform serves three stakeholder groups: recruitment partners (education agents) who advise students, institution partners (universities, colleges, and schools) seeking international enrolments, and international students accessing over 50,000 courses across 1,000+ institutions spanning 53 nationalities. The company holds AIRC, ICEF, and PIER accreditations and claims 12+ internationally recognised awards.
The core product is a cloud-based, AI and machine learning-powered marketplace with a recommendation engine that matches student profiles to educational programmes. Distribution is digital-first through a self-serve web application, supplemented by direct enterprise sales for university partners and a channel-based model for mid-market recruitment agents. The technology stack is described as cloud-native but no proprietary patents, APIs, or model architectures are disclosed. The company also produces content marketing, webinars, and partner events to drive demand.
GSP generates revenue through marketplace commissions or transaction fees on student placements facilitated between recruitment partners and institution partners. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and operates on a quote-based model negotiated directly with both sides. Named partners include Australian universities (Griffith, University of Canberra, University of Wollongong, UQ, UTS, Deakin, Charles Sturt, University of Western Australia), international institutions (University of Glasgow, London Metropolitan University, Vancouver Community College, UC Riverside, University of Louisville), and recruitment agencies such as IMFS Hyderabad. A documented outcome shows one recruitment partner (IMFS Hyderabad) generated over AU$120,000 in additional gross revenue within six months of joining the platform, placing 46 students with 100+ applications in process.
Global Study Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Global Study Partners
- Legal name
- Global Study Partners
- Website
- https://globalstudypartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Global Study Partners (upGrad GSP) operates a cloud-based, AI-powered two-sided marketplace connecting international students with educational institutions through 1,000+ universities and recruitment partners across 53 nationalities, monetising via marketplace commissions on student placements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Global Study Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Education Marketplace
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Direct Enrollment & Third-Party University Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Virtual Recruitment Events, Fairs & Webinar Platforms (EDAIACAF)
Keywords
Where Global Study Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Global Study Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Marketplace Commission/Transaction Fees: Revenue generated through a marketplace model connecting recruitment partners, institution partners, and international students. Platform facilitates student placements and applications with institutional partners generating commission or transaction-based revenue.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Global Study Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Global Study Partners (upGrad GSP) operates a cloud-based, AI-powered two-sided marketplace that connects international students, recruitment partners (education agents) and institution partners (universities, colleges and schools). The platform provides access to over 50,000 courses across 1,000+ institutions spanning 53 nationalities, enabling student placements through commission-based transactions and digital engagement tools.
Product overview
Global Study Partners operates upGrad GSP as a unified cloud-based platform—a two-sided marketplace powered by AI and machine learning that connects three key stakeholders: recruitment partners (education agents), institution partners (universities and colleges), and international students. The platform consists of the core GSP marketplace technology plus two service modules: Recruitment Partner Services providing tools and support for education agents, and Institution Partner Services enabling universities to access global student markets. The platform covers over 50,000 courses across 1,000+ partnered institutions worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- upGrad GSP Platform Cloud-based, AI-powered two-sided marketplace platform connecting international students with recruitment partners and educational institutions, providing access to 50,000+ courses across 1,000+ universities worldwide.
- Recruitment Partner Services Tools, resources and support services for education agents and recruitment agencies to assist students in making informed decisions about studying abroad through a sustainable student-centric recruitment approach.
- Institution Partner Services Global brand presence and outreach services helping universities, colleges and schools find best-fit students from leading source markets through the student-centric platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- AU$120,000 revenue growth for single agent partner (IMFS Hyderabad) in 6 months with 46 students placed
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Global Study Partners
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Global Study Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature1 record
Global Study Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The University of Western AustraliacoreUniversity partner on the GSP platform providing courses to international students recruited through the marketplace network of education agents.
- University of QueenslandcoreMajor research university partner providing programmes to international students through the GSP marketplace platform.
- UTS (University of Technology Sydney)coreTechnology-focused university partner accessing international student markets through the GSP platform.
- Griffith UniversitycoreActive partnership in digital engagement and recruitment. Works closely with GSP for international student recruitment with focus on diversity and quality enrolments.
- University of CanberracorePartnership delivering quality enrolments and diversity through GSP's digital platform. Long-term collaboration in digital transformation of international education.
- University of WollongongcoreRegional partnership for South Asia student recruitment division. GSP's technology platform noted for offering choice, transparency, diversity and access.
- University of GlasgowcorePartner institution on GSP platform providing programmes to international students through the marketplace.
- Deakin UniversitycoreAustralian university partner on the GSP marketplace platform.
- Charles Sturt UniversitycorePartnership focused on recruitment and marketing, delivering quality enrolments through the GSP platform.
- IMFS Hyderabad (The Institute of Foreign Studies)coreRecruitment partner that joined GSP platform in January 2018. Achieved placement of 46 students and 100+ applications in process, growing gross revenue by AU$120,000 in 6 months.
- Vancouver Community CollegeminorCanadian college partner on the GSP platform providing vocational programmes to international students.
- London Metropolitan UniversityminorUK university partner on the GSP platform.
- AIRC (American International Recruitment Council)coreAccreditation body for education agents; GSP is AIRC accredited demonstrating commitment to industry standards.
- ICEFcoreInternational education networking organisation; GSP is ICEF accredited demonstrating industry credibility and network access.
- PIER (Professional International Education Resources)coreProfessional body for international education; GSP is PIER accredited demonstrating industry standards compliance.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Global Study Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Adventus.io: Adventus.io (acquired by IDP) is a digital recruitment platform connecting education agents with institutions worldwide. It operates a similar two-sided marketplace model targeting international student placements across multiple destination countries.
- Studyportals: Studyportals is a global study-choice platform aggregating programmes from thousands of institutions across 175,000+ courses. It directly overlaps with GSP's course-discovery and international student information layer, though it focuses more on student-facing discovery than agent-institution matchmaking.
- ApplyBoard: ApplyBoard operates a two-sided recruitment marketplace connecting education agents with universities and colleges across multiple destination countries. It is the closest direct competitor to Global Study Partners in the international student recruitment marketplace category.
Broad incumbents
- Navitas: Navitas runs university pathway and college programmes that recruit international students into partner institutions. While more of a pathway provider than a recruitment marketplace, Navitas is a relevant adjacent player because it competes for the same international student placement volumes.
- IDP Education: IDP Education is a publicly listed global leader in international student placement, combining recruitment services, IELTS testing, and a digital platform. It overlaps directly with GSP on agent-university matchmaking but at materially greater scale and brand recognition.
- QS (Quacquarelli Symonds): QS runs international student fairs, rankings, and digital recruitment platforms (e.g., QS GradSchool, QS Apply). While broader in scope than GSP, QS directly competes in the agent-and-institution matchmaking segment, especially through its virtual events and lead-generation offerings.
Emerging players
- Leverage Edu: Leverage Edu is an emerging study-abroad platform offering personalised counselling, admissions support, and a marketplace connecting students with universities. Its narrower geographic focus and bundled services make it a partial competitor, particularly for South Asian outbound students.
- Hotcourses Abroad: Hotcourses Abroad is an international study search platform helping students compare programmes at overseas institutions. It competes with the course-discovery portion of GSP's offering, particularly at the top of the international-student funnel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Global Study Partners social profiles
Digital presenceGlobal Study Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Global Study Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Global Study Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Global Study Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Global Study Partners
What does Global Study Partners do?
Global Study Partners (upGrad GSP) operates a cloud-based, AI-powered two-sided marketplace that connects international students, recruitment partners (education agents) and institution partners (universities, colleges and schools). The platform provides access to over 50,000 courses across 1,000+ institutions spanning 53 nationalities, enabling student placements through commission-based transactions and digital engagement tools.
Is Global Study Partners a public or private company?
Global Study Partners is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Global Study Partners founded?
Global Study Partners was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Global Study Partners based?
Global Study Partners is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Global Study Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: marketplace Commission/Transaction Fees.
Who are Global Study Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Adventus.io, Studyportals and ApplyBoard. Broad incumbents are Navitas, IDP Education and QS (Quacquarelli Symonds). Emerging players are Leverage Edu and Hotcourses Abroad.
Does Global Study Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Global Study Partners.
What industry is Global Study Partners in?
Global Study Partners's product category is International Education Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAAAB, Direct Enrollment & Third-Party University Study Abroad Programs, with a secondary code of EDAIACAF, Virtual Recruitment Events, Fairs & Webinar Platforms. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.