The OECD's latest Education at a Glance report provides data on how many internationally mobile students come to the UK, where they come from and what they choose to study
The United Kingdom is among the most attractive destinations in the world for internationally mobile students, with recently released data revealing that it accounts for 9% of such students across OECD and partner countries.1
That equates to 601,000 international students in total. Only the USA entices a greater proportion of all international students (13%). The UK's strength in this area is encouraging for those who see the positive impact that international students have on the country.
As well as the economic benefits associated with hosting international students, the interactions that occur between them and domestic students can help to facilitate the cultural understanding and dialogue that many argue is essential for navigating an increasingly globalised world.2
Which students come to the UK?
Origins of international students in the UK,Percentage Asia ,60 Europe ,26 Africa,7 North America ,4 Latin America,1
Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators Report, OECD, 2023.
Asia (60%) and Europe (26%) account for the largest proportion of international students studying in the UK by quite a large margin. Africa (7%), North America (4%) and Latin America (1%) provide considerably less.3,4
The large number of European students in the UK is unsurprising given the importance of geographic proximity to the decision-making of internationally mobile students. To illustrate, the two European countries contributing the most first-year international students to the UK in 2021/22 were Ireland, Germany, and France – three of the closest in terms of proximity.5,6
However, there is evidence to suggest that the proportion of EU domiciled students coming to the UK has declined dramatically since 2018/19. For instance, HESA data indicates that 92% of international first-year students in 2021/22 were domiciled outside the EU, representing a 68% increase since 2018/19. On the other hand, only 8% were domiciled within the EU, representing a 52% decline since 2018/19 – illustrating the impact that exiting the EU has had on tertiary education in the UK.7
Furthermore, the even larger portion of internationally mobile students entering the UK from Asian countries tells a completely different story.
The main driver of student migration is the perceived differential in educational capacity between host and home nations (i.e. 'a lack of educational facilities in the country of origin or the prestige of educational institutions in the country of destination').8 The fact that the UK is one of only four countries that two-thirds of all internationally mobile Asian and Indian students converge on illustrates just how attractive British higher education institutions are.9
The popularity of league tables serves to reinforce perceived differences in quality across institutions, and British universities make up 14% of the top 150 higher education institutions worldwide.10 Only the USA has more top universities. This helps to explain the phenomenon by which the USA and UK account for a fifth (22%) of all internationally mobile students across OECD and partner countries.
What do they study?
According to the OECD data, students appear to be more likely to travel abroad for more advanced academic programmes. This is borne out by findings showing that, on average across OECD countries, enrolment in tertiary education programmes increases with education level.11
Proportion of international students by level of study OECD,Percentage of students by level of study Bachelors,5 Masters,14 Doctoral,24
Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators Report, OECD, 2023.
This trend is also evident within the UK. However, the UK figures are well above both OECD and EU25 averages at every level. At Bachelors level, only two countries (Luxembourg and Austria) saw a greater proportion of international student enrolments than the UK in 2021. One country (Luxembourg) had a greater proportion at Masters level, and four (Switzerland, New Zealand, Netherlands and Luxembourg) at Doctoral level.
Proportion of international students in the UK by level of study,Percentage of students by level of study Bachelors,16 Masters,39 Doctoral,41
Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators Report, OECD, 2023.
Meanwhile, OECD data reveals that business, administration and law (34%), STEM (29%), and the social sciences, journalism, and information (13%) are responsible for attracting the largest volume of international students to the UK.
Share of international students enrolled in selected broad fields of study,Percentage Education ,2 Arts and humanities ,12 Social sciences journalism and information ,13 Business administration and law ,34 STEM,29 Agriculture forestry fisheries and veterinary,1 Health and welfare,9
Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators Report, OECD, 2023.
How do they contribute?
While there are costs that come with hosting international students, mobile students have proven to be an important source of income for host countries, where they have repeatedly been shown to have a huge positive impact on economic systems.12
The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has found that while the aggregate cost to the UK exchequer associated with international students in 2021/22 was £0.7bn, this was eclipsed by the economic benefit. The same cohort was estimated to contribute £41.9bn over the entire duration of their studies (EU students: £4.3bn, non-EU students: £37.6bn).13
Therefore, the net economic benefit to the UK economy per non-EU student in this cohort will be an estimated £96,000, rising to £125,000 per EU student. In other words, every 9 EU students and every 11 non-EU students generate £1m worth of net economic impact for the UK economy over the duration of their studies.14
Students who enter into the UK also play a key role in mitigating a number of key skills gaps in the labour market - assuming that they enter employment in industries broadly related to their field of study. This is particularly the case in industries such as information and communication, engineering and technology, and human health and social work.15
Given the size and importance of this group, it's important that universities are ready to help them prepare for the workplace. Find out how to better understand and advise international students.
Notes
- Education at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators Report, OECD, 2023.
- Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators Report, OECD, 2022.
- The top supplier of first-year international students from the African continent is Nigeria, which contributed a total of 32,945 first-year students in 2021/22.
- Education at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators Report, OECD, 2023.
- The benefits and costs of international higher education students to the UK economy, HEPI, 2023.
- This is also supported by the fact that in Austria, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Slovak Republic and Switzerland, upwards of 50% of all internationally mobile students derive from neighbouring countries.
- Ibid.
- The benefits and costs of international higher education students to the UK economy, HEPI, 2023.
- Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators Report, OECD, 2022.
- World University Rankings 2023, Times Higher Education, 2023.
- Education at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators Report, OECD, 2023.
- Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators Report, OECD, 2022.
- The benefits and costs of international higher education students to the UK economy, HEPI, 2023.
- Ibid.
- The UK’s tax revenues from international students post-graduation, HEPI, 2019.
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