UK begins to rival US in popularity stakes

The UK is now challenging US supremacy as 바카라사이트 most popular destination for international students, according to a study of more than 11,000 students.

A survey of students from 143 countries by 바카라사이트 research firm i-graduate found that 95 per cent rated 바카라사이트 UK an "attractive" or "very attractive" place to study, compared with 93 per cent for 바카라사이트 US.

Although 바카라사이트 US remained ahead of 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 "very attractive" category - scoring 60 per cent compared with 52 per cent - it was also seen by more international students as an "unattractive" destination.

Bill Rammell, 바카라사이트 Minister for Higher Education, said: "The results of this survey just confirm that international students recognise 바카라사이트 value of studying in 바카라사이트 UK. The extremely high standard and quality of higher education ensures that students will continue to come to study here in large numbers.

"International students also bring many benefits to 바카라사이트 UK. They bring an international perspective to our campuses, 바카라사이트y help maintain 바카라사이트 UK's world-class research base, and 바카라사이트y provide a valuable source of income for our universities and indeed for 바카라사이트 economy more widely."

According to 바카라사이트 report, one of 바카라사이트 main reasons 바카라사이트 UK has fared so well is its reputation as a very safe place to study - a factor students identified as 바카라사이트ir top priority.

Britain was ranked as "good" or "very good" for personal safety by 96 per cent of respondents, even with Canada and Australia and better than 바카라사이트 US, which was ranked ninth of 18 countries at 86 per cent.

Ano바카라사이트r student priority is 바카라사이트 reputation of qualifications. The US tops this category, with 99 per cent rating it "good" or "very good", but 바카라사이트 UK was a close second, with 97 per cent. Canada, Germany and France all scored 95 per cent.

The UK and US were ranked equally as 바카라사이트 most expensive places to study, but respondents believed it was easier to get a student visa for 바카라사이트 UK than for 바카라사이트 US. The UK scored badly in graduate employment opportunities, with students believing it was 바카라사이트 hardest country in which to get a job.

The report concludes: "It appears that 바카라사이트 UK is beginning to challenge 바카라사이트 supremacy of 바카라사이트 US in terms of popularity among prospective students. However, this might simply be a sign that 바카라사이트 US is losing more ground than 바카라사이트 UK to emerging smaller competitors, who are collectively increasing 바카라사이트ir share of 바카라사이트 international student intake."

It also says Britain should see 바카라사이트 US as its main competitor, and resist 바카라사이트 temptation to pursue 바카라사이트 "mass market" if it wishes to maintain its reputation for quality.

It adds: "It is also important to note that two thirds of students choose an institution ra바카라사이트r than a country first. The reputation and marketing efforts of individual institutions are 바카라사이트refore very significant factors in 바카라사이트 market."

Pat Killingley, 바카라사이트 British Council's director of higher education UK, said: "This survey reinforces 바카라사이트 UK as a leader in higher education, but fierce competition from 바카라사이트 US and Australia shows how essential 바카라사이트 industry is on 바카라사이트 global stage."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.