Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the benefits of international students at UK universities to the wider UK economy in the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

The Government’s International Education Strategy, published in July 2013, included an analysis of the value of international education to the UK. This analysis showed that EU and non-EU students at UK universities contributed £9.7bn in 2011 to the UK economy (tuition fees and living expenditure).

International students also bring indirect economic benefits to the UK, including: strengthening the quality, diversity and reputation of the UK education sector; providing a pipeline of global talent that supports world class research and collaboration; and improving overseas trade, social and cultural links.