Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to update the stated ambitions of the International Education Strategy 2019.

The department continues to work towards the two ambitions in the International Education Strategy to increase the value of our education exports to £35 billion per year, and to continue to host at least 600,000 international students in the UK per year, both by 2030.

In 2019, the total UK revenue from education-related exports and transnational education activity was estimated to be £25.2 billion. The 600,000 international students’ ambition was met for the first time in 2020/2021, and around 10 years early with 605,130 international students studying in the UK. We are now focusing on bringing in £35 billion from our education exports by 2030.

Education exports make an important contribution to the UK economy as well as helping us build global relationships and international students enrich the university experience for all students, including those from the UK themselves. Attracting the brightest students from around the world is good for our universities and delivers growth at home, as well as supporting the creation of more places for UK students.