US universities report increase in enrollment of foreign students on F-1 student visas

The number of international students on F-1 student visas enrolled in post-graduate business schools in the US has been rapidly increasing. According to a recent BusinessWeek article, the average international student enrollment in the top 20 full-time US MBA programs "is now 33.4 percent, up from 30.2 percent at the height of the economic crisis, when visa and financing issues prevented many international applicants from enrolling."

A recent report conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council, shows that 46 percent of programs in 2011 reported growth in applications from foreign students wishing to come to study on F-1 student visas. Prospective students from Asian-Pacific countries sent the highest number of applications. It is interesting to note that there are also more women from countries like China, Vietnam and Taiwan that are pursuing post-graduate business degrees.

According to Businessweek, part of the reason for the increase in international students is because there is a higher approval rate for F-1 student visas, in part due to US Secretary Hillary Clinton's push to get more international students to study in the US.

"Because of the excellence and diversity of our colleges and universities, more students worldwide are choosing to study in the United States," said Ann Stock, Assistant Secretary of State. "Young people who study abroad gain the global skills necessary to create solutions to 21st Century challenges. In turn, international students globalize our campuses and communities."

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