HL Deb 05 December 1994 vol 559 c65WA
Lord Brougham and Vaux

asked Her Majesty's Government.

How many overseas students are now studying in the United Kingdom in the higher and further education sectors compared to the numbers before the introduction of full cost fees in 1980; how many overseas students are currently benefiting from government scholarships; and how the United Kingdom's record on receiving overseas students compares to that of other countries.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The numbers of overseas student 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 support 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).