17/12/2025
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How many international students are there in the UK?
The PIE compiles the most recent data on the number of international students in the UK, including those in the Graduate Route, along with insights into the leading source markets.
Total number of international students in the UK
According to the latest data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), there were 758,855 international students in UK higher education in 2022/23 – a record high and a 12% rise on the previous year, when there were 675,200.
Top 10 sending markets
As of the 2022/23 academic year, the top 10 countries sending international students to the UK are:
How many former students use the graduate route?
According to the UK government, a total of 159,218 extensions into the Graduate route were granted to main applicants in the year ending September 2024, marking a 52% rise on the previous year, when it was 104,501.
Economic value of international higher education in the UK
The latest statistics from HEPI show the economic benefit of international students rose from £31.3 billion to £41.9 billion between 2018/19 and 2021/22.
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