International Student Statistics in UK 2023 - Study in UK (2024)

The UK is consistently increasing in popularity among international students, with thousands of ambitious students choosing to pursue their qualifications in one of the many top-notch UK universities. With its world-recognized universities, culturally diverse environment, and highly skilled academic staff, the UK is truly the epitome of academic success.

Recently, the UK hit its 600,000 international student target a decade earlier than hoped!

Below you will find the latest international student numbers in the UK:

International Students in UK Growth Trend Over the Years

• According to 2021/2022 statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), there are currently 679,970 international students pursuing their degrees in the UK.
• The total international student number has experienced an increase from the previous year’s statistics, which encompassed 605,130 international students.
• Compared to the previous year (2020/2021), the number of international students in the UK has experienced significant growth. Specifically, an increase of 12.3%.
• The total number of students enrolled in Higher Education institutions in the UK currently stands at 2,862,620across all institutions. This is an increase of 4.02% compared to the total number of students in the 2020/2021 academic year (2,751,865).
• The Higher Education Statistics Agency reported 556,985 international students pursuing their degrees in the UK in 2019/2020. The number has experienced an increase from the previous year’s statistics which encompassed a total of 496,110 students (2018/2019)
• The UK Government has announced that the number of students who were granted a Sponsored Study (Tier 4) visa in the year ending in September 2019 was 276,889.
• This has shown to be a 16% increase from the previous year and was noted to be the highest level of Tier 4 granted visas since the year 2011.
• The total number of students enrolled in Higher Education institutions as of 2018/2019is 2,456,545, including both international as well as students whose home country is the UK. This has shown a 1.7% increase from 2017/18 with 2,414,745 students.
• In 2022, the majority, or 22.3% of international students in the UK, come from China, meaning that there are roughly 151,690 students from China studying in the UK.
• 26.1% of first-year non-UK students, a total of 99,965, are international students arriving from China.

Top Countries of Origin of International Students in the UK

• Statistics show that the total number of international students in the UK is 679,970 as of 2021/2022.
• As of 2021/22, a total of 559,825 students are currently in the UK to pursue their qualifications from countries outside of the European Union.
• As of 2021/22, a total of 120,140 students in UK higher education institutions are from countries of the European Union, excluding the UK.
• In the 2020/21 academic year, there were a total of 605,130 international students in the UK. Specifically, 452,225 of them were from Non-EU countries, while 152,905 students were from countries within the EU.
• In 2019/20, a total of 409,065 students arrived in the UK to pursue their qualifications from countries outside of the European Union.
• In the same academic year of 2019/20, a total of 147,925 students enrolled in UK higher education institutions from other countries of the European Union, excluding the UK.

Non-EU International Students in the UK Statistics

• The total number of Non-EU international students in the UK is 559,825.
• This is a 23.7% increase from the previous year’s statistics, when the total number of non-EU international students in the UK was 452,225.
• The majority of Non-EU students in the UK come from China, a total of 151,690 students.
• India is the second non-EU country with the most students studying abroad in the UK currently, with a total of 126,535 students.
• After India, the third non-EU country sending the most students to the UK is Nigeria, with a total of 44,195 students currently enrolled in UK institutions.
• United States is fourth, with a total of 22,990 students currently enrolled in UK higher education institutions.
• Fifth on the list is Hong Kong, with a total of 17,630 students currently enrolled in UK universities.
• The five other non-EU countries (in the top 10) sending the most students to the UK are Bangladesh (12,700), Malaysia (12,135), Saudi Arabia (8,750), United Arab Emirates (8,085), and Canada (7,485).

EU International Students in the UK Statistics

• The total number of EU international students in the UK is 120,140.
• This is a 21.4% decrease from the previous year statistics, when the number of EU international students in the UK was 152,905.
• The majority of UK international students coming from EU countries are from France, a total of 11,870 students currently in the UK.
• Second on the list is Italy, with a total of 11,320 students currently studying in the UK.
• After Italy, Spain stands third as the EU country with the most students in the UK, a total of 10,330 students.
• Germany is the fourth EU country with the highest number of students in the UK, a total of 9,915 students.
• Ireland follows Germany rather closely, with a total of 9,855 students currently studying in the UK.
• The other five EU countries (in the top 10) sending the most students to study abroad in the UK are Romania (8,915), Poland (7,910), Greece (7,100), Cyprus (6,330), and Portugal (6,170).

Top UK Universities by Number of International Students

• University College London is the top university by the number of international students, with a total of 24,145.
• The University of Manchester (18,170), The University of Edinburgh (18,050), and The University of Glasgow (17,390) follow right behind.
• As of 2021/22, next on the list are King’s College London with 17,155 students, Coventry University (15,565), University of Hertfordshire (13,230), University of the Arts, London (12,060), Ulster University (12,045), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (11,320), and The University of Leeds (11,125).
• The current top three universities have ranked the top three universities for international students in the UK for the last three years.

Here’s a list of UK universities with the most international students:

Most Popular Subjects for International Students in the UK

• The most popular subjects for international students in the UK include Business & Management Studies, Engineering and Technology, Computing, and Social Sciences.
• According to the 2021/22 statistics, around 217,610 international students are pursuing a degree in Business and Management.
• A total of 67,870 international students are enrolled in Engineering and Technology studies in the UK, while 56,855 international students study Computing programs.
• 54,815 international students are enrolled in Social Sciences degree programs, according to the 2021/22 statistics in the UK.

International Students in the UK by Level of Study And Domicile

• The majority of international students in the UK are full-time postgraduate students from non-EU countries of origin.
• In other words, full-time postgraduate students coming from non-EU countries of origin have the highest percentage in international student statistics, a total of 59% (or 320,160 students across higher education institutions in the UK).
• 12% or 207,580 of international students in the UK are undergraduate students enrolled in part-time studies.
• 7% or 18,630 of international students in the UK are enrolled in postgraduate part-time studies.
• The remaining 4% or 13,460 of international students in the UK study part-time at the undergraduate level.

[updated: February, 2023]