New data released by Ucas today has revealed the twenty countries with the highest numbers of applicants to UK universities.
Excluding the UK, where 565,480 students applied to UK-based universities, the top 20 countries with the highest numbers of applicants to UK universities for the 2020-21 academic year are revealed below.
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1. China - 21,505
2. India - 6,720
3. Hong Kong - 6,215
4. France - 5,575
5. United States - 5,165
6. Italy - 4,640
7. Malaysia - 4,420
8. Poland - 4,405
9. Spain - 4,320
10. Ireland - 4,200
11. Romania - 3,600
12. Singapore - 3,510
13. Germany - 3,345
14. Cyprus (European Union) - 2,715
15. Portugal - 2,585
16. Canada - 2,520
17. United Arab Emirates - 2,485
18. Pakistan - 2,435
19. Greece - 2,415
20. Bulgaria - 2,125
Ucas’ analysis also found that 54.1 per cent of applicants from outside the UK used one of their five undergraduate application choices for a London-based course last year, compared with 27.8 per cent of UK applicants.
And nearly three quarters (72.8 per cent) of international students applied to a higher-tariff UK university, whereas under half of UK applicants (49.2 per cent) did so.
Clare Marchant, Ucas’ chief executive, said: “Campuses and communities across the country benefit enormously from both the academic and cultural contributions of students choosing the UK to pursue their studies.
“Our most detailed insight ever into international students’ choices further proves the high regard our higher education sector is held in around the world.”
