According to statistics by the Migration Advisory Committee, there are over 750,000 international students who are studying in the UK each year. As well as bachelor degrees, a number come to study English language courses and others for PhDs in various fields of research. The UK has a relative advantage in offering education to international students because of the importance of English in the global economy and the quality of the courses offered in the universities.

1. International Students
in the UK: Figures and
Statistics
LHA London Ltd

2. According to statistics by the Migration Advisory Committee, there are over 750,000
international students who are studying in the UK each year. As well as bachelor degrees, a
number come to study English language courses and others for PhDs in various fields of
research. The UK has a relative advantage in offering education to international students
because of the importance of English in the global economy and the quality of the courses
offered in the universities.
Important statistics of international students in the UK
The Office for National Statistics stated that three nationalities (China, US and India)
counted for over half (53 per cent) of 223,536 student visas granted in 2017, with Chinese
students taking up 40 per cent (88,456) of the total number. European students counted up
to 78,405 enrollments, with Germany, France and Italy sending the highest number of
enrollees.
English universities are the most popular choice, as they accepted 363,585 applicants out
of 442,375 international students. Scotland counted for 52,290 students while Wales had
21,206 enrollees. Northern Ireland welcomed only 5,290 students. British business schools
remain the most in-demand faculties with 121,675 international scholars studying business
degrees. The next most popular subjects are engineering and technology, while veterinary
science is the least desired field.

3. Impact on domestic students and the wider community
Universities are one of the largest sectors in the economy and play an essential role in the
country's research and innovation. International students offer positive economic benefits,
including cross-subsiding the education of domestic students and research. International
students have a direct impact on the economy by spending money in the UK on tuition fees
and living expenses, and indirectly by attracting friends and family visiting them. Based on
a report by Oxford Economics in 2017, an estimated £11.3 billion of gross output was
generated from the expenditure of foreign scholars.
The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) ran a survey into UK students' views on their
international peers. It looked into factors concerning opportunities to practice foreign
language skills, improving worldviews and developing a global network. The results from
the survey suggest that the impact of international students is more positive than negative,
and that their foreign peers provide a wide range of benefits to the community.
Currently, the UK is the second most popular destination globally for international higher
education students. The UK government recognises that foreign scholars enhance their
educational institutions both financially and culturally, and enrich the experiences of
domestic students. As higher education becomes increasingly competitive, the UK aims to
keep this advantage.

4. References:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-
2017/why-do-people-come-to-the-uk-3-to-study
https://lhalondon.com/
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_
data/file/739089/Impact_intl_students_report_published_v1.1.pdf
https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2018/06/07/2018-student-academic-experience-survey/