UK international students to generate £45.1 billion in economy

A report by HEPI and Kaplan International Pathways estimates that the 404,500 international students who started higher education in the UK in 2024-25 will generate £45.1 billion in economic benefits against £4.7 billion in public costs.

The benefit-to-cost ratio stands at 9.7 to 1, with each international student contributing an average net economic value of approximately £100,000 over their studies.

The cohort's economic activity supports about 287,300 full-time equivalent jobs across the UK, though new student arrivals fell by 12% or 54,500 compared to the 2022-23 peak.