Goodwill and Intangibles (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	$ 257,520	$ 187,732
Accumulated amortization	(29,229)	(20,504)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(27,535)	(23,984)
Intangible assets, net	200,756	143,244
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	82,996	71,625
Accumulated amortization	(29,229)	(20,504)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(10,809)	(11,265)
Intangible assets, net	42,958	39,856
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Accreditations and designations [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	21,628	21,628
Accumulated amortization	(9,648)	(6,972)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(3,024)	(3,153)
Intangible assets, net	8,956	11,503
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	21,019	21,019
Accumulated amortization	(4,274)	(2,942)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(2,910)	(3,034)
Intangible assets, net	13,835	15,043
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Curriculum [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	22,238	19,715
Accumulated amortization	(9,645)	(7,361)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(2,349)	(2,470)
Intangible assets, net	10,244	9,884
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Student and customer relationships [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	14,534	5,517
Accumulated amortization	(4,910)	(2,632)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(1,864)	(1,975)
Intangible assets, net	7,760	910
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Other [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	3,577	3,746
Accumulated amortization	(752)	(597)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(662)	(633)
Intangible assets, net	2,163	2,516
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	174,524	116,107
Accumulated amortization	0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation	(16,726)	(12,719)
Intangible assets, net	157,798	103,388
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Accreditations and designations [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	42,418	14,470
Accumulated amortization	0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation	(2,659)	(2,813)
Intangible assets, net	39,759	11,657
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	132,106	101,637
Accumulated amortization	0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation	(14,067)	(9,906)
Intangible assets, net	$ 118,039	$ 91,731