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BU Ranked Tenth in International Students

Students hail from six continents and 133 countries

By Vicky Waltz

 

Boston University continues to build on its goal of broadening its international presence. According to the latest Open Doors report, which ranks both international populations and study-abroad programs at colleges and universities in the United States, BU has the tenth largest international population of any major U.S. university. The report was released on November 12.

 

During the 2006–2007 academic year, the University had 4,484 students from 135 countries, and according to Jeanne Kelley, director of the International Student and Scholars Office (ISSO), it currently has 4,752 students from 133 countries.

 

“International students come to BU because of the quality of our academic programs,” Kelley says. “Our curriculum is designed with an international perspective, and Boston is a very attractive city for international students.”

 

The 2007 report shows that the number of foreign students enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education increased by 3 percent, to a total of 582,984, during the 2006–2007 academic year. This marks the third consecutive year that the United States has hosted more than half a million international students. Additionally, a report from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs showed the number of student and exchange visas issued in 2007 rose 10.2 percent, compared to the same period last year.

 

“The U.S. higher education system is still recognized as being one of the best in the world, and international students like the practical training they receive throughout their academic experiences here,” Kelley says. “The United States continues to be a global leader in business, and training in the English language helps international students succeed when they get home.”

 

The report noted that more students continue to come from six of the ten leading countries of origin, including Japan, Taiwan, and Mexico. India remained in the lead, experiencing a 10 percent increase to 83,833 students; this is the sixth consecutive year that India has sent the most students to the United States. China increased by 8 percent with 67,723 students, and South Korea increased by 6 percent with 62,392 students. Enrollments from the Middle East increased by 25 percent, with the most notable rise in the number of students from Saudi Arabia. Significant growth was also seen in students from Iran, Iraq, and Palestine.

 

At BU, the international population has a similar structure: according to ISSO, Asia has the largest foreign representation at BU, with 653 students coming from China, 650 from Korea, and 482 from India. Students from the Middle East represent 9.8 percent of BU’s international population, with 77 coming from Saudi Arabia. 

 

“I think students from the Middle East are feeling more comfortable in applying to institutions in the U.S., going though the process of applying for a visa, and traveling to the U.S.,” Kelley says. “There was a slight dip after 9/11, but there have been procedures put into place to streamline the process and make it easier for them.”

 

In total, students come from six continents and 133 countries, some of which — like Botswana and Gabon — are represented by only one student.