Applications for undergraduate courses through UCAS from outside the UK have increased in 2018, despite a drop from overall applications, according to the latest statistics from the application management organisation.
There have been 50,130 EU applications and 75,380 applications from outside the EU which represent a 2% EU rise and a 6% rise from countries outside Europe, whereas overall application numbers have dropped by 2% – to 636,960.
These figures represent all full-time UCAS undergraduate applications made by June 30 – the final deadline for applying to up to five universities or colleges simultaneously.
“The increases demonstrate the continuing popularity of UK higher education”
UCAS’s March deadline saw an increase of 2% from Europe and 8% from outside Europe.
According to UCAS, most international students use the services as students can apply to five universities simultaneously.
Applications from students in China (+14% from 2017), India (+23%), the US (+7%) and European countries including Spain(+11%) and Poland(+16%) have continued to rise.
UCAS has received 1,850 more Chinese applications in 2018 compared to 2017, and 1,100 more Indian nationals have applied in 2018 than the previous year.
This brings the applications from China to 15,240 and India to 5,890.
Other countries have not reached their previous records for application numbers.
Numbers of applications from Hong Kong have increased by 160 since last year, up to 6,100 in 2018, but not reached its previous peak of 6,570 in 2014.
The country still made the second highest number of applications for 2018.
In 2015, Malaysian applications hit 6,530. According to 2018 figures, there have been 4,260 Malaysian applications.
International students who apply directly to a UK university and not through UCAS are included in its December statistics.
In a statement, UCAS’s chief executive, Clare Marchant, said the numbers confirm the “enduring appeal” of the full-time degree experience.
“The significant increases in applications from EU and international students demonstrate the continuing popularity of UK higher education,” she said.
