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International student statistics: UK higher education

UPDATED:17:17 09 September 2015 by amy

·         International (non-U K) students in UK HE in 2013-14
·         International students in UK HE by domicile, level and mode,European Union (EU) (excluding UK) and non-EU, 2013-14
·         Higher Education qualifications obtained in 2013-14
·         International student numbers by UK nation and English regions 2013-14
·         Sex of international students  2013-14
·         Top non-EU sending countries
·         Top EU sending countries
·         International student numbers by subject area 2013-14
·         Top 20 largest recruiters of international students 2013-14
·         Students studying wholly overseas for a UK qualification
·         Level and location of study of students studying wholly overseas 2013-14 (top 10 co untries)
Data below was updated in 2015 from the Higher Education Statistics Age ncy [^] (HESA) First Statistical Release and the publication Students in Higher Education 2013-14.  
Note: totals differ in the tables below due to rounding within the HESA data.



International (non-UK) students in UK HE in 2013-14

The First Statistical Release from HESA (2013-14) shows that the number of students from outside the UK coming to study in the UK increased slightly by 3% to 435,500.  The number of Chinese students far exceeds any other nationality at 87,895.  Indian students are the next largest cohort with 19,750 although this represents a drop of 2,635 on the previous year.
University College London hosted the largest number of international (EU and non-EU) students in the UK with a total of 11,850.
Business and administrative studies are the most popular subjects (38.7% of students in this subject are international) with Engineering and technology second (32.7%) and Law third (25%).
There is no significant difference in the sex of non-UK students coming to the UK with 50.9% female and 49% male.



International students in UK HE by domicile, level and mode,
European Union (EU) (excluding UK) and non-EU, 2013-14

Level of Study/Domicile Full-time Part-time Total
EU students (non-UK domicile) in HE    
Higher degree (research) 11,420 2,920 14,340
Higher degree (taught) 21,845 6,385 28,230
Postgraduate other 1,610 2,280 3,885
First degree 70,555 2,545 73,100
Other undergraduate 1,485 4,265 5,745
Total non-UK EU 106,915 18,395 125,300
 
Non-EU students in HE    
Higher degree (research) 29,530 3,120 32,650
Higher degree (taught) 109,575 10,200 119,770
Postgraduate other 2,130 3,285 5,415
First degree 132,950 4,505 137,450
Other undergraduate 7,165 7,740 14,905
Total non-EU 281,350 28,850 310,190
 
All non-UK domicile in HE    
Higher degree (research) 40,950 6,040 46,990
Higher degree (taught) 131,415 16,585 148,000
Postgraduate other 3,740  5,565 9,305 
First degree 203,500 7,050  210,550 
Other undergraduate 8,645 12,005  20,650 
Total non-UK 388,250 47,245 435,495
Source: HESA 'Students in Higher Education 2013-14' [^] Table C (postgraduate numbers) and Table D (undergraduate numbers)
Note that 'non-EU' stats include EEA.
For definitions of categories, see HESA website [^]



Higher Education qualifications obtained in 2013-14

 
Full time study Higher Degrees (research and taught) Other postgraduate First degree Other undergraduate
UK domicile 30.5% 82% 83.2% 87%
EU students (not incl UK) 13.5% 3.9% 7% 5.5% 
non-EU 56% 14% 11.3% 10%
Part time study        
UK domicile 81.2% 92% 91.3% 94%
EU students (not incl UK) 6% 2.8% 2%  1.8% 
non-EU 12% 5.4%  6.7%  4%
Source: HESA 'Students in Higher Education 2013-14'  [^] Table 17



International student numbers by UK nation and English regions 2013-14

Country Total international students % of student population who are international
England 355,580 19%
Scotland 48,360 21%
Wales 25,610 19%
Northern Ireland 5,950 11%
UK 435,500 18%
Source: HESA First Statistical Release (2013-14)  [^]Table 1a and Chart 4.
Note that Total = full time, part time non-UK students (EU and non-EU)



Sex of international students  2013-14

Full time study EU students Total non-UK students
Female 57,755 198,950
Male 49,135 189,265
Part time study    
Female 9,470 22,910
Male 8,920 24,325
All students    
Female 67,225 221,860
Male 58,055 213,590
Total 125,300 435,495
Source: HESA 'Students in Higher Education 2013-14' [^] Table B



Top non-EU sending countries

Country 2013-14 2012-13
China (PRC) 87,895 83,790
India 19,750 22,385
Nigeria 18,020 17,395
Malaysia 16,635 15,015
United States of America 16,485 16,235
Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region) 14,725 13,065
Saudi Arabia 9,060 9,440
Singapore 6,790 6,020
Pakistan 6,665 7,185
Canada 6,350 6,190
Source: HESA First Statistical Release (2013-14) [^] Table 9



Top EU sending countries

Country 2013-14 2012-13
Germany 14,060 14,520
France 11,500 11,725
Republic of Ireland 11,490 12,620
Greece 10,670 10,910
Cyprus 10,295 10,840
Italy 9,550 8,320
Spain 6,585 5,995
Romania 6,515 6,460
Bulgaria 6,355 6,060
Poland 5,200 5,280
Source: HESA First Statistical Release (2013-14) [^] Table 8



International student numbers by subject area 2013-14

Subject of study % in subject who are international
Business & administrative studies 38.7%
Engineering and technology 32.7%
Law 25.0%
Architecture, building and planning 24.4%
Mass communications & documentation 21.9%
Mathematical sciences 20.9%
Computer science 20.5%
Veterinary sciences 19.2%
Social studies 19.0%
Languages 17.7%
Medicine & dentistry 15.7%
Creative arts and design 15.6%
Physical sciences 15.1%
Agriculture and related subjects 12.7%
Biological sciences 10.3%
Historical and philosophical studies 10.2%
Subjects allied to medicine 7.8%
Education 6%
Combined 5.2%
Total 18.9%
Source: HESA 'Students in Higher Education 2013-14' [^] Table F




Top 20 largest recruiters of international students 2013-14

Institution postgraduate students undergraduate students  Total number of international students
University College London 5,910 5,940 11,850
The University of Manchester 5,225 6,380 11,605
The University of Edinburgh 4,305 5,155 9,460
The University of Warwick 4,970 3,625  8,595
The University of Sheffield 4,240 3,665 7,905
University of the Arts, London 1,960 5,775 7,735
The University of Birmingham 5,465 2,250 7,715
Kings College London 3,900 3,795  7,695
University of Nottingham 3,210 4,305 7,515
Coventry University 3,055 4,425 7,480
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 3,955 3,525 7,480
The City University 4,420 2,915 7,335
The University of Oxford 5,225 2,045 7,270
The University of Glasgow 3,650 3,315 6,965
The University of Southampton 4,170 2,725  6,895
London School of Economics and Political Science 4,960 1,835 6,795
Cardiff University 3,555 3,050 6,605
The University of Cambridge 4,075 2,340 6,415
University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne 3,305 3,065 6,370
The University of Liverpool 1,920 4,250 6,170
Source: HESA First Statistical Release (2013-14) [^]Table 3.
Note that totals include EU and non-EU students, full-time and part-time study.



Students studying wholly overseas for a UK qualification

Type of provision Total number of students 2013-14 Total number of students 2012-13 Total number of students 2011-12
Overseas campus of reporting HEI 19,230 17,525 14,870
Distance, flexible or distributed learning 119,700 123,635 116,535
Other arrangement including collaborative provision 116,035 103,795 96,075
Subtotal - students registered at a UK HEI 254,965 244,955 227,480
Overseas partner organisation 374,430 353,375 342,845
Other arrangement 7,280 600 340
Subtotal - students studying for an award of a UK HEI (not registered) 381,710 353,975 343,190
Total 636,675 707,350 570,665
Source: HESA 'Students in Higher Education 2013-14' [^] Table O




Level and location of study of students studying wholly overseas 2013-14 (top 10 countries)

  postgraduate research postgraduate taught  first degree  other undergraduate Total 
Malaysia 370 4,595 68,315 3,320 76,600
Singapore 110 4,770 43,940 1,245 50,070 
China 340 3,810 44,935 595 49,680
Pakistan 25 410 42,290  675 43,400
Nigeria 185 4,585 23,630 55  28,455
Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) 280 3,745 24,065  290 28,385
Ghana 25 2,605 14,315 185 17,130
Oman 35 1,600 13,740 115 15,490
United Arab Emirates 205 5,865 8,655  130  14,885
Egypt 65  1,245 13,365  35 14,710
Source: HESA 'Students in Higher Education 2013-2014' [^] Table P

 

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