About the United Kingdom
With an international student enrollment of over 488,000 students in the 2011/2012 academic year, the United Kingdom is the second largest host of international students after the United States. The UK attracts large numbers of students from Asia, the United States, and other places of origin within Europe.
Fast Facts: United Kingdom
- There were over 488,000 international students in public post-secondary institutions in the UK in 2011/12.
- The top five places of origin in 2011/12 were China, India, U.S., Germany and Nigeria.
- According to UNESCO, nearly 23,000 students from the UK studied abroad in other countries in 2010.
Sources: British Council, UNESCO
Places of Origin of International Students in the United Kingdom, 2011-12
Source: HESA data provided by British Council
International Student in the United Kingdom: For purposes of collection, students are defined by their country of domicile i.e. "the students' permanent or home address prior to entry to the programme of study." International students are those who are not UK-domiciled.
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