Business and Geographic Segment Information - Schedule of Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues
Revenues	$ 983,394	$ 929,855	$ 3,116,766	$ 3,068,299
Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments	129,545	134,967	618,551	581,017
Reconciling items:
Share-based compensation expense	(8,632)	(7,813)	(43,969)	(28,424)
Operating (loss) income	(5,696)	12,502	175,288	211,913
Interest income	5,840	3,437	14,994	13,305
Interest expense	(76,454)	(104,781)	(278,049)	(314,383)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(15,682)	(8,425)	(17,363)
(Loss) gain on derivatives	(19,930)	516	19,187	(8,235)
Other (expense) income, net	(718)	353	(667)	(964)
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain, net	7,327	26,329	(109)	80,263
Gain (loss) on sales of subsidiaries, net	0	155,151	(172)	398,412
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	(89,631)	77,825	(77,953)	362,948
Assets
Assets	7,782,564		7,782,564		$ 7,062,470
Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues	983,394	929,855	3,116,766	3,068,299
Corporate
Revenues
Revenues	(7,392)	(8,367)	(21,935)	(25,120)
Reconciling items:
Reconciling items:
Corporate	(42,976)	(36,379)	(141,556)	(100,255)
Depreciation and amortization expense	(67,930)	(66,824)	(199,394)	(202,735)
Loss on impairment of assets	0	0	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	(8,632)	(8,030)	(43,969)	(28,939)
EiP expenses	(15,703)	(11,232)	(58,344)	(37,175)
Operating (loss) income	(5,696)	12,502	175,288	211,913
Interest income	5,840	3,437	14,994	13,305
Interest expense	(76,454)	(104,781)	(278,049)	(314,383)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(15,682)	(8,425)	(17,363)
(Loss) gain on derivatives	(19,930)	516	19,187	(8,235)
Other (expense) income, net	(718)	353	(667)	(964)
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain, net	7,327	26,329	(109)	80,263
Gain (loss) on sales of subsidiaries, net	0	155,151	(172)	398,412
Corporate
Assets
Assets	440,261		440,261		291,252
Brazil | Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues	170,497	152,768	547,971	479,628
Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments	9,138	11,856	61,289	63,174
Assets
Assets	1,288,014		1,288,014		1,245,264
Mexico | Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues	141,175	140,400	451,993	455,130
Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments	6,465	24,775	78,590	89,292
Assets
Assets	1,087,323		1,087,323		972,171
Andean & Iberian | Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues	314,788	289,182	930,335	835,477
Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments	74,983	63,979	240,273	179,846
Assets
Assets	2,264,689		2,264,689		1,951,864
Central America & U.S. Campuses | Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues	69,598	65,602	219,081	207,142
Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments	9,731	7,472	38,480	31,657
Assets
Assets	339,816		339,816		345,238
EMEAA | Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues	126,353	116,967	468,339	584,979
Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments	(13,655)	(24,365)	54,166	67,951
Assets
Assets	1,147,354		1,147,354		958,883
Online & Partnerships | Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues	168,375	173,303	520,982	531,063
Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments
Total Adjusted EBITDA of reportable segments	42,883	$ 51,250	145,753	$ 149,097
Assets
Assets	$ 1,215,107		$ 1,215,107		$ 1,297,798