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International students in UK higher education: key statistics

List of tables

  1. International student totals and percentages
  2. International students by domicile, level and mode, EU and non-EU
  3. International student numbers by UK nation and English region
  4. Top non-EU sending countries
  5. Top EU sending countries
  6. International student numbers by subject area
  7. Top 20 largest recruiters of international students
  8. Students studying outside the UK for a UK degree

The tables below are derived from data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (see statistical sources).

Note: totals differ due to rounding within the HESA data.

1. International student totals and percentages

International (non-UK) students in UK HE in 2011-12 :
  • totalled 435,230 compared with 428,225 in 2010-11 (an increase of 2% ), with full-time undergraduate study up 8%, full-time research postgraduates up 5% and full-time 'other' postgraduates up 2%. However, full-time taught postgraduate courses, the second largest category of non-UK students, were down 2% and all other categories were static or fell.
  • made up 14% of full-time first degree students and 13% of all first degree students
  • made up 69% of full-time taught postgraduates and 46% of all taught postgraduates
  • made up 48% of full-time research degree students and 41% of all research postgraduates

2. International students in UK HE by domicile, level and mode,
European Union (EU) (excluding UK) and non-EU, 2011-12

Level of Study/Domicile Full-time Part-time Total
EU students (non-UK domicile) in HE    
Postgraduate research 10,770 3,105 13,875
Postgraduate taught 24,475 6,870 31,345
Postgraduate other 1,840 2,400 4,240
First degree 70,825 3,145 73,970
Other undergraduate 2835 6285 9,120
Total non-UK EU 110,745 21,805 132,550
Non-EU students in HE    
Postgraduate research 26,900 3,375 30,275
Postgraduate taught 110,155 13,365 123,520
Postgraduate other 2,495 3,955 6,450
First degree 118,680 6,025 124,705
Other undergraduate 7,610 10,120 17,730
Total non-EU          265,840          36,840     302,680
All non-UK domicile in HE    
Postgraduate research         37,670         6,480         44,150
Postgraduate taught        134,630       20,235        154,865
Postgraduate other           4,335         6,355         10,690
First degree        189,505         9,170        198,675
Other undergraduate         10,445       16,405         26,850
Total non-UK        376,585       58,645        435,230
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3. International students numbers by UK nation and English regions 2011-12

Country Total international students % of student population who are international
England 357,165 17%
Scotland 45,980 21%
Wales 25,270 19%
Northern Ireland 6,820 13%
UK 435,240 17%

Breakdown of international students by English region:

English region Total international students % of student population who are international
London 102,965 26%
South East England 48,670 11%
West Midlands 36,135 18%
North West England 34,250 13%
Yorkshire & Humberside 33,635 16%
East of England 32,720 24%
East Midlands 25,940 16%
South West England 23,910 15%
North East England 18,855 17%

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4. Top non-EU sending countries

Top 10 non-EU senders 2011-12 2010-11
China (PRC) 78,715 67,325
India 29,900 39,090
Nigeria 17,620 17,585
United States of America 16,335 15,555
Malaysia 14,545 13,900
Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region) 11,335 10,440
Saudi Arabia 9,860 10,270
Pakistan 8,820 10,185
Thailand 6,235 5,945
Canada 6,115 5,905

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5. Top EU sending countries

Top 10 EU senders 2011-12 2010-11
Germany 15,985 16,265
Republic of Ireland 15,075 16,855
France 12,835 13,325
Greece 11,790 11,630
Cyprus 11,620 11,320
Poland 6,295 7,330
Italy 8,010 7,100
Spain 5,935 5,795
Romania 5,915 4,625
Bulgaria 5,705 4,615

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6. International student numbers by subject area 2011-12

Ssubject of study No of international students % in subject who are international
Business & administrative studies 130,505 36%
Engineering & technology 51,775 32%
Social studies 38,790 17%
Creative arts & design 25,250 14%
Languages 23,270 17%
Subjects allied to medicine 23,035 8%
Computer science 21,300 22%
Law 20,810 22%
Biological sciences 19,570 10%
Physical sciences 13,025 14%
Education 11,725 6%
Architecture, building & planning 11,415 20%
Medicine & dentistry 10,605 16%
Mass communications & documentation 10,400 19%
Historical & philosophical studies 9,250 9%
Mathematical sciences 8,160 19%
Combined 2,890 3%
Agriculture & related subjects 2,415 11%
Veterinary sciences 1,025 18%
Total 435,235 17%
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7. Top 20 largest recruiters of international students 2011-12

Institution Non-UK student nos % students at institution who are international
The University of Manchester 11,235 28%
University College London 10,075 39%
The University of Nottingham 8,985 25%
The University of Edinburgh 8,785 32%
The University of Warwick 8,785 32%
The City University 7,510 39%
University of the Arts, London 7,105 41%
The University of Oxford 7,055 28%
King's College London 6,655 25%
Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine 6,630 41%
The University of Birmingham 6,625 41%
University of Bedfordshire 6,555 29%
London School of Economics and Political Science 6,545 67%
The University of Sheffield 6,525 25%
The University of Coventry 6,420 21%
The University of Cambridge 6,100 31%
The University of Southampton 5,955 25%
The University of Leeds 5,795 18%
Middlesex University 5,780 25%
The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 5,500 26%
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8. Students studying wholly overseas for a UK qualification

Type of provision Total number of students 2011-12 Total number of students 2010-11
Overseas campus of reporting HEI 14,870 12,315
Distance, flexible or distributed learning 116,535 113,060
Other arrangement including collaborative provision 96,075 86,670
Subtotal - students registered at a UK HEI 227,480 212,045
Overseas partner organisation 342,845 291,595
Other arrangement 340 155
Subtotal - students studying for an award of a UK HEI 343,190 291,745
Total 570,665 503,795
Level and location of study of students studying wholly overseas 2011-12 EU Non-EU
Postgraduate research 1,170 2,665
Postgraduate taught 21,810 70,410
First degree 49,040 410,615
Other undergraduate 4,340 10,615
Total 76,360 494,650

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