Revenue (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 885,288
Percent of net revenues	100.00%
Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,005,542
Percent of net revenues	114.00%
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 88,880
Percent of net revenues	10.00%
Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,094,422
Percent of net revenues	124.00%
Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ (209,134)
Percent of net revenues	(24.00%)
Operating Segments | Brazil
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 122,792
Operating Segments | Brazil | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	202,103
Operating Segments | Brazil | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	2,859
Operating Segments | Brazil | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	204,962
Operating Segments | Brazil | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(82,170)
Operating Segments | Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	155,899
Operating Segments | Mexico | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	166,310
Operating Segments | Mexico | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	25,279
Operating Segments | Mexico | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	191,589
Operating Segments | Mexico | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(35,690)
Operating Segments | Andean & Iberian
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	216,230
Operating Segments | Andean & Iberian | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	208,769
Operating Segments | Andean & Iberian | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	23,913
Operating Segments | Andean & Iberian | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	232,682
Operating Segments | Andean & Iberian | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(16,452)
Operating Segments | Central America & U.S. Campuses
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	79,027
Operating Segments | Central America & U.S. Campuses | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	76,057
Operating Segments | Central America & U.S. Campuses | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	13,456
Operating Segments | Central America & U.S. Campuses | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	89,513
Operating Segments | Central America & U.S. Campuses | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(10,486)
Operating Segments | EMEAA
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	147,034
Operating Segments | EMEAA | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	171,058
Operating Segments | EMEAA | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	12,916
Operating Segments | EMEAA | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	183,974
Operating Segments | EMEAA | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(36,940)
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	168,031
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	181,245
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	14,182
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	195,427
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(27,396)
Corporate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(3,725)
Corporate | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0
Corporate | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(3,725)
Corporate | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(3,725)
Corporate | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 0