The UK had a total of 679,970 international students studying at higher education institutions. Out of these, 120,140 students were from EU countries, and 559,825 were non-EU students. Chinese students formed the largest group of international students, with 151,690 students studying in the UK during 2021-22. Following China, there were 126,535 students from India and 32,945 from Nigeria (compared to 14,270 students in 2020-21, showing significant growth).

French and Italian students were the two largest cohorts from the EU, with 11,870 and 11,320 students respectively studying in the UK during 2021-22.

The total number of non-EU students increased by 23.8% in 2021-22, while EU students decreased by 21.4%.

The UK had a total of 679,970 international students studying at higher education institutions. Out of these, 120,140 students were from EU countries, and 559,825 were non-EU students. Chinese students formed the largest group of international students, with 151,690 students studying in the UK during 2021-22.

Following China, there were 126,535 students from India and 32,945 from Nigeria (compared to 14,270 students in 2020-21, showing significant growth).

French and Italian students were the two largest cohorts from the EU, with 11,870 and 11,320 students respectively studying in the UK during 2021-22. The total number of non-EU students increased by 23.8% in 2021-22, while EU students decreased by 21.4%.

Before 2020-21, the growth in non-UK student numbers was primarily driven by increasing enrollments from China. However, in 2020-21, there was a decline in new enrollments from China for the first time since HESA started recording data in 2007-08. In 2021-22, new enrollments from China showed slight growth, up by 0.8% from 2020-21. Meanwhile, new enrollments from India grew significantly by 64.2% from 2020-21, and new enrollments from Nigeria increased even more, by 130.9%.  

Among EU countries, Ireland, France, Germany, and Italy had the highest number of new enrollments. However, first-year enrollments dropped from all of the top 10 EU countries in 2021-22. Ireland experienced the smallest decline (-3.4%), while France (-34.3%), Germany (-38%), and Italy (-50.1%) had more significant declines. Poland (-78.4%) and Romania (-82.3%) had the steepest drops.

Most major non-EU sending countries saw an increase in both total student population and new enrollments from 2020-21 to 2021-22. The only exception was Saudi Arabia, which had a slight decrease (-0.8%) in total student population. Nigeria and Bangladesh were the fastest-growing sending countries, with new enrollments from these countries increasing by 107.4% and 90.5% respectively. 

The total student population from key North American sending countries, the USA and Canada, both increased in 2021-22 after experiencing small decreases in the previous year. Additionally, total student numbers from South-East Asian sending countries, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, increased during the year after modest declines in recent years.

In summary, the data from 2021-22 indicates that the UK attracted a significant number of international students, with China, India, and Nigeria being the top three countries sending students to the UK for higher education. While EU student numbers declined, non-EU student numbers showed notable growth.

According to HESA total enrolment figures for the top 10 sending countries to the UK in 2021-22 were: China (151,690)  India (126,535)  Nigeria (44,195) Pakistan (23,075)  United States (22,990)  Hong Kong (17,630)  Bangladesh (12,700)  Malaysia (12,135)  France (11,870)   Italy (11,320) 

Source: HESA. Higher Education Student Statistics: UK, 2021/22 – Where students come from and go to study.