UK limbers up for push into South American market

British universities are increasingly focusing on South America as a market for overseas students.

The region is being targeted to diversify the non-European Union student population in British universities, which is disproportionately dominated by students from China and India. Last month, ten British universities attended an education fair sponsored by the British Council in Bogot , Colombia.

John Terry, deputy director of Newcastle University's international office, said: "The international student market in South America is a long-term investment. Along with Colombia and Venezuela, we also want to expand in Brazil and establish ourselves as a competitor in South America during the next three years."

John Beamish, acting head of the international office at Hertfordshire University, said: "South America is an appealing market for us because we want to enrich and broaden our student body."

The British Council's Education Counselling Service has designated Brazil one of 22 countries as a "priority market". Colin Beaver, ECS campaigns manager, said: "Under the initiative, Brazil adopted the Education UK brand and has promoted it through very creative marketing campaigns."

Since 1996, there has been a 28 per cent rise in the number of students from the region opting for the UK, with Brazil sending the highest number of students, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.