Graduate applications from international students increase 11%

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But numbers remain below 2003 levels

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) reports that graduate applications from international students rose 11% from 2005 to 2006. This growth follows a two-year cumulative decline of 32%.

The report on applications for fall 2006 shows large gains in the volume of graduate applications from China (up 21%) and India (up 23%) to CGS U.S. member institutions. Annually, China and India send more students to the United States than any other countries. CGS also reports notable application increases in the sciences and engineering, fields critical to maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness in the 21st-century global economy.

Despite these increases, the number of international applications is still down 23% overall since 2003 for institutions that have responded to the CGS survey each of the last three years.

“This increase in applications from international students is good news, and is a result of sustained efforts by both the federal government and graduate schools,” says CGS President Debra W. Stewart. “The federal government has made considerable progress in reducing delays in visa processing, and graduate institutions continue to improve their admissions systems and enhance efforts to attract international applicants. But the lower volume compared to three years ago bears watching.”

The global competition for talent is increasing rapidly, CGS notes. In March, the United Kingdom announced a new immigration policy to attract international students and highly skilled workers. The European Union, China, India and other countries are enhancing their higher-education systems to attract talented students to their universities.

“It would be a mistake to presume that things are back to normal,” says Stewart. “We must be vigilant in adopting policies that encourage international students to pursue graduate study in the U.S. in order to strengthen our competitiveness and security in the global marketplace.”