Business and Geographic Segment Information - Schedule of Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,261,223	$ 983,394	$ 1,277,439	$ 855,933	$ 1,175,893	$ 929,855	$ 1,231,910	$ 906,534	$ 4,377,989	$ 4,244,192	$ 4,291,659
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments									1,019,435	901,991	818,803
Loss on impairment of assets									40,597	23,465	0
Reconciling items:
Loss on impairment of assets									(40,597)	(23,465)	0
Share-based compensation expense									(64,788)	(38,071)	(34,120)
Operating income	181,499	$ (5,696)	$ 243,850	$ (62,866)	170,980	$ 12,502	$ 210,568	$ (11,157)	356,787	382,893	336,957
Interest income									19,669	18,670	13,328
Interest expense									(362,904)	(421,936)	(398,042)
Loss on debt extinguishment									(8,392)	(17,363)	(1,263)
Gain (loss) on derivatives									28,656	(6,084)	(2,607)
Other (expense) income, net									(2,193)	910	195
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss), net									5,838	67,450	(149,178)
(Loss) gain on sales of subsidiaries, net									(10,662)	406,557	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates									26,799	431,097	(200,610)
Total assets	7,391,723				7,062,470				7,391,723	7,062,470
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									4,377,989	4,244,192	4,291,659
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments									831,740	765,601	703,408
Depreciation and amortization expense									264,742	264,879	282,946
Loss on impairment of assets									40,597	23,465	0
Reconciling items:
Depreciation and amortization expense									(264,742)	(264,879)	(282,946)
Loss on impairment of assets									(40,597)	(23,465)	0
Total assets	7,391,723				7,062,470				7,391,723	7,062,470	7,403,445
Expenditures for long-lived assets									293,780	256,694	366,858
Corporate and eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(27,278)	(29,741)	(33,804)
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments									(187,695)	(136,390)	(115,395)
Depreciation and amortization expense									16,672	9,574	7,808
Loss on impairment of assets									1,014	0	0
Reconciling items:
Corporate									187,695	136,390	115,395
Depreciation and amortization expense									(16,672)	(9,574)	(7,808)
Loss on impairment of assets									(1,014)	0	0
Total assets	355,856				291,252				355,856	291,252	338,450
Expenditures for long-lived assets									24,001	33,622	21,879
Reconciling items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization expense									264,742	264,879	282,946
Loss on impairment of assets									40,597	23,465	0
Reconciling items:
Depreciation and amortization expense									(264,742)	(264,879)	(282,946)
Loss on impairment of assets									(40,597)	(23,465)	0
Share-based compensation expense									(64,788)	(38,809)	(39,021)
EiP expenses									(104,826)	(55,555)	(44,484)
Operating income									356,787	382,893	336,957
Interest income									19,669	18,670	13,328
Interest expense									(362,904)	(421,936)	(398,042)
Loss on debt extinguishment									(8,392)	(17,363)	(1,263)
Gain (loss) on derivatives									28,656	(6,084)	(2,607)
Other (expense) income, net									(2,193)	910	195
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss), net									5,838	67,450	(149,178)
(Loss) gain on sales of subsidiaries, net									(10,662)	406,557	0
Brazil | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									765,746	690,804	672,917
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments									134,205	95,442	81,322
Depreciation and amortization expense									35,715	35,695	34,261
Loss on impairment of assets									3,320	0	0
Reconciling items:
Depreciation and amortization expense									(35,715)	(35,695)	(34,261)
Loss on impairment of assets									(3,320)	0	0
Total assets	1,256,364				1,245,264				1,256,364	1,245,264	1,054,870
Expenditures for long-lived assets									50,244	29,332	36,730
Mexico | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									646,154	626,011	678,193
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments									147,171	143,741	150,136
Depreciation and amortization expense									27,990	26,273	35,156
Loss on impairment of assets									0	0	0
Reconciling items:
Depreciation and amortization expense									(27,990)	(26,273)	(35,156)
Loss on impairment of assets									0	0	0
Total assets	969,400				972,171				969,400	972,171	1,157,814
Expenditures for long-lived assets									38,615	28,081	34,715
Andean & Iberian | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,313,872	1,188,599	1,121,408
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments									360,135	283,397	255,115
Depreciation and amortization expense									81,644	82,982	80,556
Loss on impairment of assets									2,530	0	0
Reconciling items:
Depreciation and amortization expense									(81,644)	(82,982)	(80,556)
Loss on impairment of assets									(2,530)	0	0
Total assets	2,117,317				1,951,864				2,117,317	1,951,864	1,841,239
Expenditures for long-lived assets									80,435	86,961	138,367
Central America & U.S. Campuses | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									291,877	274,860	263,283
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments									48,298	43,464	31,637
Depreciation and amortization expense									15,723	17,360	22,935
Loss on impairment of assets									17,499	0	0
Reconciling items:
Depreciation and amortization expense									(15,723)	(17,360)	(22,935)
Loss on impairment of assets									(17,499)	0	0
Total assets	376,070				345,238				376,070	345,238	378,023
Expenditures for long-lived assets									35,997	12,749	31,803
EMEAA | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									697,244	788,683	881,664
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments									125,083	127,710	109,574
Depreciation and amortization expense									51,558	54,543	65,069
Loss on impairment of assets									15,977	23,465	0
Reconciling items:
Depreciation and amortization expense									(51,558)	(54,543)	(65,069)
Loss on impairment of assets									(15,977)	(23,465)	0
Total assets	1,022,569				958,883				1,022,569	958,883	1,407,909
Expenditures for long-lived assets									40,758	36,674	69,522
Online & Partnerships | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									690,374	704,976	707,998
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments									204,543	208,237	191,019
Depreciation and amortization expense									35,440	38,452	37,161
Loss on impairment of assets									257	0	0
Reconciling items:
Depreciation and amortization expense									(35,440)	(38,452)	(37,161)
Loss on impairment of assets									(257)	0	0
Total assets	$ 1,294,147				$ 1,297,798				1,294,147	1,297,798	1,225,140
Expenditures for long-lived assets									$ 23,730	$ 29,275	$ 33,842