According to new data from Universities UK International (UUKi), the number of students studying for UK higher education qualifications through TNE reached 699,660 in 2024–25, up 7% year-on-year and 36.6% over five years.
The figure is now higher than the 681,430 international students studying in the UK, highlighting the growing scale of UK universities’ overseas provision.
The findings come from the latest edition of UUKi’s ‘The scale of UK higher education transnational education’, published as the sector continues to grapple with changes in international student mobility and demand for UK degrees.
In total, 183 UK higher education providers delivered TNE across 229 countries and territories during 2024–25.
“With TNE playing a vital role in widening global access to UK degrees, this report shows how our universities are at the forefront of this profound shift,” said Jamie Arrowsmith, director of UUKi.
“As the landscape continues to evolve, we’re committed to supporting our members in developing their provision, ensuring that growth in TNE remains strategic, sustainable, and rooted in partnership and mutual benefit.”
As the landscape continues to evolve, we’re committed to supporting our members in developing their provision, ensuring that growth in TNE remains strategic, sustainable, and rooted in partnership and mutual benefit
Jamie Arrowsmith, UUKi
Asia remained the largest host region, accounting for 51% of all UK TNE students in 2024–25.
South Asia recorded particularly rapid growth, with 124,500 students, a 76.9% increase compared with 2020–21. East Asia hosted a further 118,270 students, up 35.6% over the same period, while Southeast Asia hosted 99,795, an increase of 14.3%.
Central and Western Asia accounted for a further 13,885 students, representing growth of 53.2% over five years.
Europe remained the second-largest host region despite a decline in student numbers, accounting for 16.3% of UK TNE students. It was followed by the Middle East, with 14.8%, and Africa, with 12.5%.
North America accounted for 4.4% of UK TNE students, while South America and Australasia represented 0.7% and 0.4% respectively.
All major forms of UK TNE provision have grown since 2020–21, although the pace of growth has varied.
Partnership provision recorded the largest increase, with student numbers rising 51.4% over five years. Overseas campus provision grew by 30.3%, while distance learning increased by 6.8%.
Fewer than 3% of students worldwide are internationally mobile, according to UUKi, meaning the majority of students seeking higher education continue to study in their home countries.
The organisation said TNE therefore provides a route for UK universities to meet international demand without requiring students to relocate.
Earlier this year, the UK government revealed its refreshed international education strategy, including an ambitious aim to grow education exports to £40 billion per year by 2030, citing TNE as a core pillar of growth.
The UUKi report has been released alongside a new international higher education dashboard from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), part of Jisc.
The interactive tool brings together data on international students studying at UK institutions and TNE students studying overseas, with data available from 2012–13.
Users can compare international student numbers and TNE provision by higher education provider and country of origin.
