Most international students who study in the UK become lifetime advocates of the UK, a new report has found.
More than three-quarters (78%) of students who graduated from UK higher education institutions more than 25 years ago recommended a UK education in the past 12 months, a new report found, while 87.8% had recommended the UK as a travel destination in the same period.
A British Council study of 3,094 alumni from 123 countries found that 84.5% of all alumni reported recommending a UK education in the past 12 months, while 59.5% of respondents reported recommending a UK education several times.
More than 75% of respondents had contacted or met someone from their UK study experience in the past year, indicating the long-lasting ties that are created for many graduates.
The study examined the affinity, advocacy, and trust fostered by international students who choose to study in the UK, finding that those from the Middle East and North Africa (88.6%) were the most likely to recommend UK education, closely followed by South Asia (88.2%). Researchers note this is particularly positive considering the importance of the South Asian market to UK higher education.
Some 81% of respondents from the Americas recommended a UK education, while only 64.8% of those from the EU recommended studying in the UK.
Undertaken by the British Council’s Alumni UK programme, the study found that perceptions of the UK, its people, institutions, and global influence, are consistently more positive than those of non-alumni peers in G20 countries. This is particularly relevant when viewed in the context of recent studies that consistently find that the UK educates more future world leaders than any other country.
The report highlights the importance of international alumni as a valuable soft power asset for the UK. Researchers note that educational experiences foster long-lasting emotional and professional ties that extend far beyond graduation, with alumni going on to serve as authentic ambassadors for the UK, promoting education, tourism and cultural values through personal and professional networks.
The study also outlines the huge opportunities that UK Higher Education offers to advance UK soft power goals, with some 2.5 million international students having graduated from UK Higher Education institutes (HEIs) in the past decade, and some 732,285 international students having studied in the UK in 2023/24.
More than 70,000 international graduates of UK higher education institutions and transnational programmes have joined the British Council’s Alumni UK programme since it was launched in November 2022, providing a global network for people who have experienced a UK education. Recognising alumni as influential leaders and ambassadors, the programme fosters lasting relationships between graduates and the UK, promoting shared values and collaboration.
Maddalaine Ansell, Director Education at the British Council said, “International alumni are a hugely valuable soft power asset to the UK. The evidence from this survey shows that their educational experiences foster long-lasting emotional and professional ties that extend far beyond graduation. These alumni often serve as authentic ambassadors for the UK, consistently showing favourable views of the UK and greater trust in its institutions and people, and ultimately promoting education, tourism and UK cultural values through personal and professional networks long after they have graduated.”