Prior　to　the　current　global　health　crisis,　the　value,　and　benefits　of　international　education　for　different　social　groups　have　been　questioned.　Critics　of　the　internationalisation　of　education　emphasise　that　international　student　mobility　only　favours　the　elites　in　society　but　has　disadvantaged　for　those　groups　with　less　fortunate　socioeconomic　status.　In　view　of　the　COVID-19　pandemic,　leading　scholars　in　the　field　of　international　higher　education　believe　that　a　broad-based　global　crisis　for　higher　education　has　emerged,　of　which　one　major　consequence　is　intensifying　inequality　in　education　during　and　after　the　pandemic　crisis.　This　article　sets　out　against　the　COVID-19　pandemic　crisis　context　to　critically　examine　whether　and　how　Asian　students　would　continue　going　abroad　for　studies.　Special　attention　is　given　to　those　major　factors　that　shape　the　destination　choices　of　students　and　their　desire　for　international　education.　Based　on　a　survey　on　Asian　students＇　overseas　learning　preferences,　this　article　reflects　upon　the　future　of　international　higher　education　from　the　geo-political　and　socio-psychological　perspectives.　This　article　also　highlights　the　major　challenges　that　hinder　international　higher　education　development　and　draws　crucial　lessons　from　the　impact　of　the　COVID-19　crisis　on　such　a　development.　©　2021　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.