Purpose: With the emergence of the knowledge economy, different countries are responding with changes within their tertiary education systems. Education is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone to the continued growth of a country but with the globalization of business is education becoming a commodity? Design/methodology/approach: This paper examines educational policies and their implementation within the UK and Canada. Findings: This paper finds that education in the UK has become a commercial product within the international arena, unlike Canada where tertiary education has remained a domestic pursuit. Originality/value: This paper engages in a controversy that questions whether the economic value to a nation of education is found only in the numbers of students or can be enlarged to include the results of the education for the students. (Contains 1 table and 1 note.)