§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the proportion of the international student market recently secured by higher education institutions in the United Kingdom; and what plans he has to increase this proportion. [134225]
§ Mr. WicksSome 18 per cent. of English-speaking international students (from outside the European Union) study in the United Kingdom, the remaining 82 per cent. studying almost exclusively in either the United States or Australia. Last year, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the target of increasing this market share to 25 per cent. by 2005. Recent data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service show that acceptances by international students for undergraduate courses beginning in the 2000–01 academic year have increased by 8.2 per cent., compared to a rise of 1.9 per cent. for all UK undergraduates.
As part of my right hon. Friend's initiative to attract more international students to the UK, we have developed the Education UK Brand, a three-year world-wide campaign to promote the UK to potential students. We have made it easier for international students to come to the UK by making the visa service more user-friendly, normally allowing them from the outset leave to remain for the full duration of their course, and making it easier for them to work while studying. The number of places on the Chevening scholarship scheme has also been increased.