UK gains in popularity

The total number of students enrolled in UK universities from countries outside of the UK increased by 6.1 per cent in the last academic year. The number of overseas students rose from 300,055 in 2003-04 to 318,400 in 2004-05, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

The number of students from the European Union increased by 3.2 per cent from 96,845 to 100,005. Cyprus continued to be the largest contributor of students from new member states, with 5,675 students, while the number of Polish students more than doubled, from 965 to 2,185.

Business and administrative studies retained its status as the most popular subject among first degree students in 2004-05 - accounting for 12.4 per cent of students.