By NewsBits
The number of international students applying for a place on a higher education course in the United Kingdom (UK) has risen this year, UCAS figures have shown.
A total of 115,730 overseas students applied for undergraduate places in UK institutions by the January deadline – up 0.7% on the same point last year, according to data by the university admissions service.
The number of overseas applicants from non-EU countries has reached a record high, with 95,840 applying to study on UK higher education courses. The marginal increase in international student applications demonstrates the continued draw of UK higher education.
The number of applicants from China has increased by 3.3% to 28,620 since January last year, while applicants from Turkey have risen by 37%.
But the number of applicants from Nigeria has fallen by 45.7% to 1,590, while applicants from India have dropped by 3.9% to 8,770, the UCAS figures show. The data comes after Universities UK (UUK) announced this month that it would review international student admissions processes following allegations of “bad practice” by agents recruiting overseas students for UK universities.
A recent Sunday Times article alleged that international students – who pay higher tuition fees – were being offered places with lower grades at British universities than domestic applicants. Overall, the total number of applicants – of all ages and domiciles – to undergraduate courses in the UK has fallen this year by 0.3% to 594,940.
Across the UK, there has been a 1% decline in applicants from England and Wales, a 2% decline in applicants from Northern Ireland and a 2% rise in applicants from Scotland, the university admissions service said.
But the data shows the number of 18-year-olds in the UK applying to undergraduate courses has risen – up 0.7% on the same point last year. A total of 316,850 18-year-olds from the UK have applied to courses this year – and UCAS said the figure was the “second highest on record”.
This puts the application rate for UK 18-year-olds at 41.3%, down from 41.5% in 2023. International students drive over £40 billion in education export income for the UK every year, approximately £560 per citizen
