This paper focuses on the leading trends that digital technologies represented by the Internet and communication technologies (ICT) and e-learning pose for the higher education nowadays. Education, especially higher education, has always been and will likely to remain a leading sphere of human economic and social development, a place whether the future leaders are handpicked, trained and prepared. We discuss the emerging new trends (such as the Internet of Things, Big Data, or mobile learning technologies) and contemplate over the rapidly changing educational space. Moreover, we select and analyse possible threats and opportunities for higher education in the 21 st century. Our results and analysis show that higher education has undergone unprecedented changes and is embracing the advancements in novel technologies. In the same time, the old methods and routines are still important, and it might take some time before they can be completely altered or replaced altogether.