The UK HE International Recruitment Ranking looks at the scale and balance of UK HE international student recruitment. examining student volumes and international penetration rate across all institutions.

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Mission Group Performance

Against a backdrop of total growth of 23% from 19/20 to 21/22 (driven by 60% growth in PGT) as you'd expect, there's mixed performance from institutions, but some trends amongst mission groups.

Russell Group universities occupy many of the top spots, despite RG losing significant share of overall volumes. Few RG institutions kept pace with overall UK growth, the big exception being the University of Glasgow, which grew its international student body by more than 6,000.

University Alliance members performed strongly overall, as they quickly capitalised on surging demand from Nigeria and South Asia. Hertfordshire grew its international student numbers more than any other UK institution, growing by over 6,500. For University Alliance members the large growth was almost exclusively at PGT level.

14 former 1994 Group members exist outside of other university mission groups, and these generally had a tough period from 19/20 to 21/22 with 10 of the 14 universities experiencing actual volume declines against sector growth of over 20%. Even the four that grew failed to match overall sector growth.

MillionPlus institutions fared well overall, growing their share of total enrolments, though individual fortunes within the whole were still somewhat mixed. The biggest gainers were the University of East London and the University of the West of Scotland. Combined with good growth for GCU the West of Scotland is hosting far more international students than ever before.

Guild HE institutions were relatively stable as a collective, maintaining share, whilst seeing a slight decline in UG share.. but growing overall volumes.

Private Institutions don't feature heavily, but are making their presence felt more obviously with the availability of recruitment figures. Most that feature higher up the ranking, do so on account of having very heavily international cohorts. BPP should be noted for its strong growth and significant volumes as UG and PGT. Seems the BPP desk at Terminal 3 is getting some use!