Number of foreign students in UK doubles in a decade

THERE are almost twice as many international students studying in the UK now as there were 10 years ago, says an annual report on university trends.

The number of non-European students has virtually doubled, according to today's report, published by Universities UK.

International students provided a bigger source of income for UK universities in 2007-08 than government grants for research, the report adds.

One in 10 enrolments in 2007-08 (229,640 students) were from outside the EU. In 1998-99, the figure was 117,290, which makes the increase 96 per cent. Students from outside the EU pay more for courses at UK universities than their European counterparts.

In 2007-08, £1.88 billion ($4.26b) of UK universities' income came from non-EU students, while £1.76b ($3.99b) came from government research grants.

China provides the most students to UK universities, with 19,385 enrolments for first degrees, and 21,990 enrolments for post-graduate degrees.

The report also reveals a 3.7 per cent drop in the number of part-time undergraduate students between 2006-07 and 2007-08.

It says, "This may be a cause for concern, as part-time study plays an increasingly important role in meeting the higher level skills agenda and in lifelong learning."

The Patterns of Higher Education Institutions in the UK report reveals that in some UK universities as many as three quarters (79 per cent) of degrees are awarded at least an upper second, while in others as few as 48 per cent are given a first or 2:1.

It also shows that between 1998-99 and 2007-08, there have been "above average" increases in the numbers of students signing up to study subjects allied to medicine, such as nursing, as well as a growth in biological sciences (including psychology), mathematical sciences, law, mass communication and documentation (including media studies), historical and philosophical studies, education, social studies, and creative arts and design (including drama and music). Observer