The Hindu : National : India retains top slot in number of students in the United States

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 16, 2005

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National

India retains top slot in number of students in the United States

Special Correspondent

Asia continues to be the region sending the largest number of students by a wide margin

CHENNAI: India has retained the top position in the number of international students studying in the U.S. for the fourth year in succession.

With over 80,000 students of Indian origin getting admissions for 2004-05, there has been a one per cent increase in their numbers, according to "Open Doors 2005," the annual report on international academic mobility published by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

India is followed by China, Republic of Korea, Japan and Canada.

All these countries together accounted for almost half — 47 per cent — of all international students in the U.S.

According to the report, China, in the second place, reported a one per cent increase in enrolment last academic year, after a decline of 5 per cent the previous year.

Korea's representation went up by two per cent and Japan's by three per cent.

The enrolments from Canada also went up by four per cent and it was the only non-Asian country in the top five rankings.

For the year 2004-05, the total enrolment of international students recorded a marginal one per cent drop compared to the previous year.

But the admissions remained "fairly steady at 565,039," making it the sixth year in a row that the U.S. has hosted more than half-a-million foreign students.

"This year's numbers indicate a levelling off of enrolments, after last year's decline of 2.4 per cent. Some campuses reported significant increases in enrolments while others reported declines. Asia continued to be the largest sending region by a wide margin, and showed a slight increase in enrolments," said a press release from the American Consulate General here.

Overall decline

The slight overall decline in international students has been attributed to several factors, including "real and perceived difficulties in obtaining student visas [especially in scientific and technical fields], rising U.S. tuition costs, vigorous recruitment activities by other English-speaking nations and perceptions abroad that it is more difficult for international students to come to the United States.

In addition, universities in students' home countries and other regional host countries have been increasing their capacity to provide high quality education."

California has emerged as the leading host State for international students, followed by New York, Texas, Massachusetts and Florida.

The courses of choice were Business and Management, engineering, mathematics and computer sciences.

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