UK Business Schools Remain Attractive to Prospective International Students

Overview

International students comprise nearly two in three students enrolled in master’s level business programs at British business schools. As a result, Brexit uncertainties coupled with COVID-19 travel restrictions have been particularly severe for many business schools in the UK as international student mobility faced more disruption. Yet, data shows that demand for pursuing graduate business programs in the UK remains strong among international candidates.

Quick Facts

• Of the total 120,365 students pursuing graduate business programs in the UK in 2019/2020, two in three students (65%) were international students.
• Non-European Union student enrollment in graduate business programs in the UK grew by 50 percent between 2016/17 and 2019/20.
• One in four candidates (27%) from the Greater China region indicates that they prefer to study in the UK compared to one in five candidates preferring to study in the US (21%).
• 44 percent of international candidates preferring to study in the UK would like a program lasting 12 months or less compared to 15 percent of candidates preferring to study in the US.