The number of Americans studying full degrees in the UK has shot up 15% in the last three years according to new data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), with factors including shorter courses, price and high esteem among employers relevant... The number of Americans studying full degrees in the UK has shot up 15% in the last three years according to new data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
There were a record 15,555 US studying at British universities in 2010-11, a 3.3% rise over the previous year. Meanwhile data from the UK's Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) reveals a 10% increase in US applicants for courses starting 2012-13.
Penny Egan, executive director, US-UK Fulbright Commission, said: “Our press headlines are focused on the numbers of British students heading out to the US, but in fact British universities, which consistently feature alongside US universities at the top of the world league tables, are attracting American students in ever increasing numbers.”
The US has traditionally low study abroad rates, with just over one percent of all US HE students typically studying abroad for a period during a single academic year. Inversely around one in three German students study abroad.
Nonetheless, total US numbers grew 3.9% in 2009/10 to 270,604, and the UK, traditionally a favoured destination, has benefited. Around 7% of international students on full degrees at UK universities are from the USA, while more than 31,000 Americans completed a summer, semester or year programme.
Around 7% of international students on full degrees are from the USA
Factors behind this include the lower cost of tuition and shorter degrees – most US universities offer two-year master’s programmes, relative to the majority of British programmes which last just one year.
The reputation of the British higher education system is also key along with the portability of US loans. Unlike their British peers, American students are able to use US government loans to complete full degrees abroad and can choose from a number of private lenders to top-up these funds if needed.
Richard Everitt, deputy director of the British Council in the USA said: "A British degree is a valuable asset in the US job market. Three-quarters of American employers consider UK degrees to be the same as or better than US degrees, according to new research carried out by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of the British Council."
The number of Americans studying full degrees in the UK has shot up 15% in the last three years according to new data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
There were a record 15,555 US studying at British universities in 2010-11, a 3.3% rise over the previous year. Meanwhile data from the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) reveals a 10% increase in US applicants for courses starting 2012-13.
Penny Egan, executive director, US-UK Fulbright Commission, said: “Our press headlines are focused on the numbers of British students heading out to the US, but in fact British universities, which consistently feature alongside US universities at the top of the world league tables, are attracting American students in ever increasing numbers.”
The US has traditionally low study abroad rates, with just over one percent of all US HE students typically studying abroad for a period during a single academic year. Inversely around one in three German students study abroad.
Nonetheless, total US numbers grew 3.9% in 2009/10 to 270,604, and the UK, traditionally a favoured destination, has benefited. Around 7% of international students on full degrees at UK universities are from the USA, while more than 31,000 Americans completed a summer, semester or year programme.
Around 7% of international students on full degrees are from the USA
Factors behind this include the lower cost of tuition and shorter degrees – most US universities offer two-year master’s programmes, relative to the majority of British programmes which last just one year.
The reputation of the British higher education system is also key along with the portability of US loans. Unlike their British peers, American students are able to use US government loans to complete full degrees abroad and can choose from a number of private lenders to top-up these funds if needed.
Richard Everitt, deputy director of the British Council in the USA said: “A British degree is a valuable asset in the US job market. Three-quarters of American employers consider UK degrees to be the same as or better than US degrees, according to new research carried out by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of the British Council.”
