University Student Population: How Many Are There?

The number of students attending university varies significantly depending on the country and region. In the US, around 19 million students attended colleges and universities (including non-degree-granting institutions) in Fall 2022. This is a 10% decrease compared to Fall 2012. In the Global South, the number of students has almost doubled from 78 million in 2006 to 150 million in 2018. Tribhuvan University in Nepal was the world's most populous university in the 2023/24 academic year, with 482,000 full-time students.

How many students go to university in the UK?

University education is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. In the 2022-23 academic year, there were almost 3 million students enrolled at UK universities. This number has increased in recent years, with 2.86 million students enrolled in 2021-22 and 2.28 million in 2019-20.

The number of students enrolling in UK universities has grown alongside the number of universities in the UK. As of 2022, there were 288 higher education institutions in operation in the UK.

The majority of students enrolled at UK universities are studying for their first degree. In 2022-23, there were 2,053,520 undergraduate students, and 1,888,450 of these were studying for their first degree. The number of undergraduate students includes 2,053,520 full-time students and 758,855 (26%) international students. In the same year, there were 883,635 postgraduate students, with 619,795 studying a taught master's and 115,705 researching doctorates.

The most popular subject group for students in the UK in 2022-23 was business and management studies, with 587,165 enrolments. The least popular subject was veterinary sciences, with only 12,280 students studying this subject.

How many students go to university in the US?

The number of students enrolled in US colleges and universities has generally been declining over the past decade. In fall 2021, approximately 19 million students pursued higher education across a range of institutions, including both colleges and universities, as well as non-degree-granting establishments. This number rose slightly to 19.0 million in fall 2022.

In the academic year of 2022/23, around 20.3 million students were enrolled for undergraduate degrees in the US, a slight decrease from the previous year, which saw 20.4 million undergraduate students. Undergraduate education is the primary gateway for students into higher learning, with graduate programs serving as a specialised avenue for advanced learning and research.

In fall 2023, almost 18.1 million students were enrolled in degree-granting colleges and universities in the US. Of these, about 15.2 million were enrolled in an undergraduate program, and roughly 3.1 million were enrolled in a graduate-level program.

The number of students enrolled in US colleges and universities has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with total college enrollment (graduate and undergraduate) falling 4% from fall 2019 to fall 2023. Undergraduate enrollment decreased by 5.6% during that same period, while enrollment at community colleges fell by 12%. However, graduate enrollment has increased by 4.8%.

The US higher education sector plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation's future, with its institutions offering a range of choices tailored to students' preferences and aspirations.

How many students are enrolled in undergraduate courses?

Undergraduate course enrolments make up a significant portion of the student population at higher education institutions. In the 2021/22 academic year, a total of 2,862,620 students were enrolled in higher education, with 2,053,520 of these students enrolled in undergraduate courses. This means that undergraduate students made up around 71.7% of the total student population in UK higher education institutions.

While the number of students starting undergraduate courses fell by 2% in 2021/22, the overall number of students enrolled in undergraduate courses increased by 4% from 2020/21. This increase may be attributed to a higher retention rate of students continuing their studies from the previous year.

The number of students enrolled in undergraduate courses has been consistently high over the years, with 2,280,000 people enrolled in undergraduate programmes in 2019/20. This accounts for a large proportion of the 2.94 million students enrolled in UK higher education institutions in 2022/23.

The majority of full-time students are enrolled in undergraduate courses, with a particular focus on first degrees. In 2022/23, there were 554,465 applicants accepted through UCAS to start an undergraduate course.

How many students are enrolled in postgraduate courses?

In the UK, there were 2.94 million students enrolled at higher education institutions in 2022/23. Of these, 883,635 were studying postgraduate courses. This number has been increasing over the years, with a 9% increase in postgraduate enrolments in 2021/22 compared to the previous year. The number of students starting undergraduate courses, however, fell by 2% during the same period.

The rise in postgraduate enrolments is largely driven by increases in overseas students on postgraduate taught courses. In 2018/19, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) recorded 666,815 overseas students, with the majority enrolled at Oxford Brookes University. In 2021/22, HESA recorded a total of 2.86 million students enrolled in higher education, a 4% increase from 2020/21. Of these, 526,645 (41%) were starting a postgraduate course.

While the number of UK and EU students starting first-year courses fell by 2% and 53% respectively in 2021/22, the number of non-EU students rose by 32%. This shift is partly due to Brexit, which resulted in higher fees and the loss of eligibility for fee loans for new EU students from 2021. Applications from EU students fell by 40% in 2021, and the number of EU students starting full-time undergraduate courses decreased by 67% between 2020 and 2023.

In contrast, the number of non-EU overseas applicants has been increasing year on year, despite concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. This trend is reflected in the overall growth of the student population since 2020, which has been fuelled primarily by increases in overseas students pursuing postgraduate studies.

How many international students go to university in the UK?

The United Kingdom is one of the world's most popular destinations for international students, regularly ranking among the top three countries, alongside the United States and Australia. In the 2022/23 academic year, there were 758,855 international students enrolled at UK higher education institutions, accounting for 25.8% of all higher education students in the UK. This number has been steadily increasing over the years, with a 10.4% rise in international students from the previous year (2021/22: 679,790) and a total of 605,130 international students in 2020/21. The UK government's International Education Strategy set a target to attract 600,000 international students by 2030, a goal that was achieved ten years ahead of schedule.

Among international students in the UK, students from India, China, and Nigeria comprise around 53% of the total international student population. In 2022/23, India sent the most students to the UK, with 126,600 entrants, followed by China with 102,800 entrants, and Nigeria with 53,800 entrants. The number of students from India has increased significantly, with more than ten times the number of entrants in 2022/23 compared to 2017/18. While China previously held the top spot for over a decade, new entrants from China have declined in recent years.

The presence of international students has had a notable economic impact on the UK. London Economics estimates that international students starting in 2021/22 would bring a net economic benefit of £37.4 billion to the country. The economic impact of international students has been rising steadily, with a total impact of £41.9 billion in 2021/22, up from £31.3 billion in 2018/19. International tuition fees have become a significant source of income for UK universities, with total fee income from all international students reaching £11.8 billion in 2022/23, representing 23% of total income.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) predicts that the number of international students in the UK will continue to grow. International applications to British universities are expected to increase by 60%, from 150,000 in 2022 to 240,000 in 2030. The UK's higher education institutions are expected to remain attractive to international students, contributing to the country's economy and cultural diversity.

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