UK International Student Statistics

Historical International Student Statistics in UK

• The latest data by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) shows that the total number of international students in the UK is 679,970.
• The number of international students in undergraduate enrollment has increased by 2.4% from 2019/20, while it has decreased by 2.3% from 2020/21.
• In the academic year 2017/18, a total of 206,370 international students were enrolled in postgraduate studies in the UK.
• A 80.5% increase in international student enrolment at the postgraduate level occurred between 2017/18 and 2021/22

EU International Students in UK

• As of 2021/22, the total number of enrollments from EU countries is 120,140, which has decreased by 21.4% from the previous year.
• There are currently 86,430 EU students enrolled in UK universities at the undergraduate level.
• There are 33,715 EU students enrolled at the postgraduate level.

Non-EU International Students in the UK

• The total number of Non-EU students enrolled in all higher education levels in the UK is 559,825, which has increased by 23.7% from the previous year.
• The total number of Non-EU undergraduate students is 221,040.
• There are currently 338,790 students enrolled at the postgraduate level.

Top Universities for International Students in the UK

• University College London has the highest number of international students, both from EU and Non-EU countries, with a total of 24,145 students.
• University College London is also the top university with the highest number of EU students in the UK, with 4,400 students in total.
• The University of Glasgow has the highest number of Non-EU postgraduate students (11,675).
• The highest number of postgraduate EU students are enrolled in the University of Oxford (1,570).
• On the other hand, the University College London has the highest number of EU undergraduates (3,015).
• The Open University holds the highest number of students from England (107,965), followed by students from Scotland (21,200) and Wales with 14,875 students.

Here are some of the universities with the highest number of international students:

International Student Statistics in England

• There are currently 555,165 non-UK students enrolled in higher education in England.
• The top first university with the highest number of Non-UK students in England is University College London, with 24,145 students. In second place comes the University of Manchester, with 18,170 students.

EU International Students in England

• The total number of EU students studying in England is 96,240.
• Currently, the highest number of international students in England are from France, with 9,910 students.
• The second country that brings the most students to England is Italy, with 9,580 students, followed by Spain, with 8,495 students.
• University College London has the highest number of EU students in England (4,400), King's College London is a close second with 3,840 students, and Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine with 2,720 students.
• There are currently 26,325 EU students studying in England at the postgraduate level and 69,915 EU students at the undergraduate level.

Non-EU International Students in England

• The total number of non-EU students in England is 458,925.
• Currently, the highest number of non-EU students in England comes from China (124,370). India comes close second with 107,270 students, and Nigeria ranks third with 34,010 students.
• The university with the highest number of non-EU students in England is University College London, with 9,785 students, and The University of Manchester is the second, with 15,725 students.
• There are 271,620 non-EU students enrolled in postgraduate studies in England, whereas 187,305 non-EU students are enrolled in undergraduate studies.

International Student Statistics in Scotland

• There are currently 82,440 non-UK students enrolled in higher education in Scotland.
• The University of Edinburgh has the most international students from non-UK countries (18,050); the University of Glasgow is the second (17,390).

EU International Students in Scotland

• The total number of EU students in Scotland is 17,140.
• As an EU country, Ireland brings the highest number of international students in Scotland, with 2,275 students. Germany comes close second with 1,925 students.
• The University of Edinburgh has the highest number of international students from EU countries, with 3,570 students; the University of Glasgow comes second with 2,595 students
• The Open University currently has no EU international students enrolled.
• In Scotland, 5,185 international EU students study at the postgraduate level, and 11,955 EU students study at the undergraduate level.

Non-EU International Students in Scotland

• There are 65,300 non-EU students currently enrolled in higher education in Scotland.
• A total of 20,830 non-EU students in Scotland come from China.
• India is the second non-EU country sending the most students in Scotland, with 10,165 students.
• The third non-EU country that sends the most students is the US, with 6,320 students.
• The University of Glasgow is the top university with the most non-EU students (14,795).
• The University of Edinburgh comes second on the list, with 14,480 students.
• A total of 45,605 non-EU students are enrolled in the postgraduate level in Scotland.
• In comparison, there are 19,695 non-EU students enrolled at the undergraduate level.

International Student Statistics in Wales

• The total number of international students (non-UK) in Wales is 25,090.
• Cardiff University is the top university for international students in Wales, with 7,530 total Non-UK students.
• In second place comes the University of South Wales, with 4,425 students.

EU International Students in Wales

• There are currently 4,170 EU students studying in Wales.
• Poland has brought the most international students in Wales, a total of 605. Germany comes second with 505 students, and France has brought 360 students to Wales.
• Cardiff University has the highest number of EU international students (910), and Swansea University is the second with 825 students.
• There are currently 1,180 students enrolled at the postgraduate level in Wales, and 2,995 EU students are enrolled at the undergraduate level.

Non-EU International Students in Wales

• There are 20,920 non-EU students currently studying at Wales universities.
• The majority of international students coming to Wales from non-EU countries are from China (4,745). After China, India comes second with a total of 4,595 students currently studying in Wales.
• The majority of international students in Wales study at Cardiff University (6,620). The second from the top is the University of South Wales, with 3,765 students. Swansea University stands third with 3,450 students.
• There are currently 14,040 non-EU students enrolled at the postgraduate level in Wales.
• In comparison, there are 6,880 non-EU students enrolled at the undergraduate level.

International Student Statistics in Northern Ireland

• There are currently 17,275 non-UK students enrolled in higher education in Northern Ireland.
• Ulster University has the highest number of international students (12,045).
• With a total of 5,175 non-UK students, Queen's University Belfast comes second.

EU International Students in Northern Ireland

• There are currently 2,590 international students from EU countries in Northern Ireland.
• Ireland is the top country that has brought the most international students to Northern Ireland (2,305).
• France is second with 40 international students from EU countries.
• Ulster University holds the highest number of EU international students in Northern Ireland (1,300).
• The second university with the most international students from the EU is Queen's University Belfast, with 1,235 students.
• There are currently 1,025 students from EU countries enrolled at the postgraduate level in Northern Ireland;1,565 are enrolled at the undergraduate level.

Non-EU International Students in Northern Ireland

• Non-EU countries have brought 14,685 international students to Northern Ireland.
• The majority of Non-EU international students (4,505) are from India.
• Nigeria is the second from the top, with 2,230 students in Northern Ireland.
• A total of 10,745 Non-EU students are currently studying at Ulster University.
• Queen's University Belfast is the second university with the most international students from Non-EU countries. (3,940).
• Currently, there are 7,525 non-EU students enrolled in postgraduate studies, whereas 7,160 are studying at the undergraduate level.

Top International Student Countries of Origin

• The (non-EU) country with the most international students in the UK is China, with 151,690 students, followed by India, with 126,535 students.
• The third country with the most international students in the UK is Nigeria, with 44,195 students; after Nigeria, Pakistan is fourth, with 23,075 students.
• United States ranks fifth among non-EU with 22,990 students, followed by Hong Kong (17,630), Bangladesh (12,700), and Malaysia with 12,135 students.
• Other non-EU countries bringing the most international students are Saudi Arabia, with 8,750 students, and the United Arab Emirates, with 8,085 students.
• France is the top country with the most international students in the UK from the EU, with 11,870 students, followed by Italy, with 11,320 students.
• Other EU countries with the most international students in the UK include Spain (10,330), Germany (9,915), Ireland (9,855), Romania (8,915), Poland (7,910), Greece (7,100), Cyprus with 6,330 students, and Portugal with 6,170 students.

International Students in UK by Region

• Asia has the highest number of international students in the UK, totaling 390,615 students.
• The lowest number of international students in the UK are from South America (5,235).
• There are currently 120,140 international students from the European Union studying in the UK.
• From Africa, there are 68,320 international students enrolled in higher education studies.
• There are currently 37,655 international students coming from the Middle East.
• The total number of international students from North America in the UK is 35,330.
• There are 20,000 international students from Other Europe studying in the UK.
• The total number of international students coming from South America is 5,235.
• There are 2,675 international students from Australasia in the UK.

International Students in the UK by Level of Study

• Of all international student enrollments in the UK, 20% or 559,825 are non-EU students, and 4% pr 120,140 are from EU countries.
• 25,275 EU students study full-time at the postgraduate level in the UK, and 320,160 or 59% of all international students are from non-EU countries.
• In comparison, there are 8,440 EU students enrolled in part-time postgraduate studies, whereas 18,630 students are from non-EU countries.
• At the undergraduate level, there are 83,045 EU students enrolled in full-time studies and 207,580 non-EU students.
• There are currently 3,380 students from EU countries enrolled in part-time undergraduate studies and 13,460 from non-EU countries.

Top Subjects of Study for International Students in the UK

• The largest number of international students in the UK study Business and Management (217,610).
• Engineering and Technology is the second most chosen subject of study for international students in the UK (with a total of 67,870 students).
• Computing ranks third and fourth by the number of international students enrolled in such disciplines.

International Students in UK by Sex or Gender

• The total number of non-UK female students that have gained a postgraduate degree in the UK in the 2021/2022 academic year is 103,495.
• On the other hand, a total of 88,180 non-UK male students have received a postgraduate degree in the UK during the same academic year.
• The number of international female students who have received an undergraduate degree in the UK is 51,125.
• In comparison, a total of 46,035 international male students received an undergraduate degree in the UK in 2021/2022.
• A total of 320 non-UK students in the “other” category have received a postgraduate degree in the UK, followed by 320 students in the same sex category who received an undergraduate degree during 2021/2022.