New data shows 83% rise in international students choosing to study at universities in Wales
New data published today by the team behind the Enroly international student recruitment and admissions platform reveals an 83% uplift in overseas students choosing Welsh universities for the January 2023 intake compared to last year.
In London and the South East, the figures showed the rate of growth in international students was lower at 32 percentage points.
Jeff Williams, CEO and co-founder of Enroly said: “Overseas students not only generate significant funding and jobs for Welsh universities, they also contribute to local economies through spending on items such as accommodation and in shops, cafes and bars.
“The international student success story in Wales has not happened by chance. Many Welsh institutions have launched a major push to attract more overseas students in recent years and our data suggests these efforts have paid off.”
Students come to the UK from across the world seeking the highest standards of education and the figures indicate that Wales is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for overseas students.
According to Enroly’s data on fees, Welsh universities will benefit from £14,154 in annual tuition fees on average per international student.
When average fees revenue is combined with the minimum level of maintenance funds students are required to demonstrate to UK Visas and Immigration for an academic year, the potential economic impact rises to a minimum of £23,000 per student.
Joe Paley, head of international and partnership development at University of South Wales, said: “The data reflects what we’re seeing this year. While fees, scholarships and entry requirements all have an influence on where overseas students choose to go to university, much more emphasis is being placed on things like the cost of accommodation, transport and food.
“Cardiff has the accolade of being the most affordable city in the UK for students and this adds to the list of reasons why Wales is such an attractive option for students coming from overseas. Our intake of international students has increased again this year and many come to experience all the beauty and rich cultural heritage Wales has to offer.”
Overall, there was a reported 40% increase in the percentage of international students choosing to study in the UK from January 2023. The data was compiled from the destination information provided by 24 institutions across the UK representing over 28,000 overseas students.