The Higher Education Statistics Agency and Jisc are exploring a potential merger in order to benefit the UK higher education sector.

UK higher education providers hosted 605,130 international students in the 2020/21 academic year, hitting its 600,000 target a decade earlier than hoped, Higher Education Statistics Agency figures have indicated.

The number of non-UK students at higher education institutions in the country in 2019/20 rose above half a million for the first time, which stakeholders say re-affirms positive steps that the government and sector have taken.

Industry commentators have been quick to point out that recent HESA statistics for EU and non-EU intake in 2012/13 are the first statistical confirmation that current visa policy is eroding the UK's market share in international education.