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Last year, the UK Government had set itself the goal of 600,000 international students enrolled in the UK universities by 2030. As the new enrolment reports are revealed, however, it seems that the goal is just another cakewalk for the UK Government.
As per the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for the academic year of 2020-2021, the UK Higher Education providers enrolled 605,130 students already.
According to the Pie News, the 452,225 international students were recorded as the Non-EU students during the 2020-21 academic year while the remaining 152,905 students were recorded as the EU students. This overall figure, totalled as 2,751,865, has increased 9% compared to the 2019-20 record. Simultaneously, the increased 48,505 number of international students is an 8.7% increase against the 2019-20 record. The non-UK students totalled 556,625.
Latest statistics from the HESA showed a 27% increase in the enrolment of the Indian students while there was a 5% decrease in the enrolment of the Chinese students for the first time. Overall, the increase in the domestic first year student enrolment was 13% out of which 4% were non-UK first year students. HESA also reported an increase in the enrolment to the PG degree courses among both the international and domestic students.
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Lucy Van Essen Fishman, HESA’s Lead Policy and Research Analyst stated that despite the issues with the pandemic, the collected data showed an overall increase in the student enrolment in the first year.
According to her, even if the increased 8% rate of the EU student first year enrolment was slightly less compared to the other times, the “EU domiciled” postgraduate student number was also increased.
Fishman further pointed out that the number of international non EU students was on the lower side, 73455 in AY 2020-21, compared to the 74975 in AY 2019-20. This, however, became counterbalanced with the 7% increase among the non-EU PG Research Students and 8% among the non-EU taught PG enrolments. According to the report, a total of 212.515 non-EU PG students enrolled in the academic year 2020-21 along with an additional 34015 non-EU students enrolling in the PG Research Programmes.
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HESA further reported that even if the enrolment number is not as good as China (32% of all the non-EU students), there was a significant rise of 67,660 students, over a span of 5 years.
Stephani Harries, the Acting Head of Policy and Global Engagement, at the Universities UK International, commented that this was primarily a result of the dedication and perseverance shown by both the students and the Government members working effortlessly to make the situation better and more welcoming for the international students.
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As per the report, Indian students made up 19% of the non-EU student enrolment for the year 2020-21 making the numbers 84,555. Nigeria obtained the third position with 21,305 students enrolling from Nigeria and 19,220 enrolling from the UK. Hong Kong obtained the 5th position with its 16,665 students enrolling to the UK courses.
While representing the EU, Italian Students took the top spot, consisting of 14,605 students and then France and Romania, consisting 14090 students and 12,860 students respectively.
As per HESA, in Scotland, Ireland secured the top position with 2376 students followed by Germany with 2360 students in AY 2020-21.
Institutes with Highest Enrolled Students as per HESA:
| Coventry University | 13,760 International Students |
| King’s College London | 15,550 International Students |
| The University of Edinburgh | 15,590 International Students |
| The University of Manchester | 17625 International Students |
| University College London | 23360 International Students |
The numbers in the increased students act as a testimonial for UK’s constant efforts to maintain its position as one of the top destinations for international students even during the pandemic time.
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