§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many overseas students are now studying in the United Kingdom in the higher and further education sectors; what the numbers were before the introduction of full cost fees in 1980; how many students are currently receiving Government scholarships; and how the United Kingdom's record on receiving overseas students compares to that of its competitors.
§ Mr. BaldryThe numbers of overseas students studying in the United Kingdom in both the higher and further education sectors in 1979–80 was some 83,000. The number in 1992–93 was 99,700, an all-time high. In 1993–94 21,000 students from overseas studying in the United Kingdom were benefiting from official support820W under a variety of British Government scholarship and award programmes. These included 3,043 students holding British Chevening scholarships funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
According to available figures, the United Kingdom is fourth in the global league table of countries receiving overseas students with 92,000, against the United States, 420,000, France, 136,000 and Germany, 100,000.