International Students at UK Universities: Key Stats
- Andy Porter
- Feb 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 12
International students play a significant role in the UK's higher education landscape. Here are some key statistics:
Total International Student Population: In the 2022/23 academic year, the UK hosted 758,855 international students, accounting for 26% of the total student population. Of these, 95,505 were from the EU, while 663,355 hailed from non-EU countries.
Top Countries of Origin: China and India are the leading countries of origin for international students in the UK. In 2021/22, there were 151,690 Chinese students and 126,535 Indian students enrolled in UK higher education institutions.
Economic Contribution: The 2018/19 cohort of international students contributed an estimated £28.8 billion to the UK economy. On average, this equates to a net economic benefit of £40 million per parliamentary constituency.
Postgraduate Representation: International students constitute a significant portion of the postgraduate community. In 2019/20, they made up 40.3% of all postgraduate students in the UK.
Recent Trends: The UK has experienced a decline in new EU student enrolments, with a 50% drop observed in recent years. To counterbalance this, universities have intensified recruitment efforts in regions such as Asia and Africa.
Age Distribution: In 2021, 56.7% of international students in England and Wales were aged between 18 and 25, while 43.3% were aged 26 and over.
Gender Distribution: Among EU-born international students, a higher proportion were women compared to non-EU-born students.
Regional Concentration: A third of the international student population in England and Wales resided in London (33.9%), followed by the South East (12.0%) and the West Midlands (9.4%).
Top Local Authorities: In England, Manchester (13,000), Birmingham (12,600), and Coventry (9,700) had the highest numbers of international students. In Wales, Cardiff hosted nearly half of the international student population with 6,150 students.
Country of Birth Variations: The proportion of China-born students varied by region; for instance, 22.3% of international students in Yorkshire and The Humber were from China, compared to 7.1% in the East of England.
Enrollment Trends: The UK achieved its target of hosting 600,000 international students by 2030, a decade early, with numbers continuing to rise since 2020.
University Representation: Certain institutions have a high percentage of international students. For example, University College London has 52.6% international students, while the London School of Economics has 51.3%
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