UNITE, which manages student accommodation, has just announced the results of a survey of its international student customers, which now account for 46% of the company’s customers and 70% of its customers in London.

It reports: ‘Last year a total of 405,000 international students studied at UK higher education institutions, an increase of 10% on 2009 (369,000). 16% of all students in the UK are international and, unsurprisingly, are geographically biased towards London, where 24% of the city’s entire student population is from outside the UK.

‘This also illustrates international students’ preference for purpose built accommodation. The growth in international students has predominantly come from growing Far Eastern economies including China, which accounted for 73% more students compared to the 2009/10 academic year and Malaysia, with 54% more students.

‘The strong reputation of UK Higher Education degrees was seen as the major reason why international students chose the UK over other countries for study. This overturns the perception that international students come to the UK primarily to improve their English language skills.

‘UK universities were also seen as less complex and more straightforward to join, as opposed to those in the USA and Canada, whose enrolment procedures were seen as an issue for many international students.

‘The reputation of a city, and, most notably for those studying in London, Edinburgh and Manchester, was a common reason for choosing a particular UK university.’