In a report titled Patterns and Trends in UK Higher Education, Universities UK the representative organisation for UK`s universities reported that the number of students at British varsities has gone up by almost a third in the last 10 years with those coming from outside the European Union more than doubling.
However, the report warned that the growth in international student numbers over the last decade was recorded before the recent changes made to the student visa system. "This trend does not include the impact of recent changes to non-EU student visas, which may result in a greater loss of market share in the future," the report said.
"Since 2000/01, the number of non-EU students has more than doubled, with an increase of 11.7 per cent in the last year," the report said, but cautioned that the UK`s share of the international student market had reduced over this period, with other countries becoming more competitive in attracting these students.
More than 400,000 students now come to study here from outside the UK. The report added: "India provided the highest numbers on postgraduate taught courses. China (excluding Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao) continues to provide the highest numbers of international students on first degree, postgraduate research and other undergraduate courses and the second highest numbers on postgraduate taught courses". During 2009-10, there were 29,185 Indian students enrolled at UK universities, the report said.