Briefing – International Students in the UK

13 August 2024

International students help make the UK a world leader in education, supporting our economy, society, domestic students and research.

International demand for our higher education should be regarded as a genuine UK success story.

Overseas students bring new skills and diverse perspectives to our classrooms and labs, strengthen the UK’s international relations and drive research and innovation across the country:

• Over a quarter of world leaders were educated at a UK university, conferring soft power benefits for generations to come.
• Alumni help forge new links with overseas businesses and research organisations, boosting trade and providing opportunities for FDI in UK research.
• A single cohort of international students generates £37.4bn net economic impact for the UK.
• Entrepreneurial international students launch spinouts in the UK that create jobs, attract inward investment and spur economic growth.
• Skilled international graduates will be an integral part of the future workforce, bolstering the UK’s R&D capability and staffing innovative British businesses that will be central to realising the ambitions of government’s new Industrial Strategy.

Find out more in our latest briefing.

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