The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is once again a top destination for international students, according to data from this year’s Open Doors report. The report, released by the Institute of International Education (IIE), ranks Illinois No. 2 among public universities and No. 6 in the country for the most international students. The university also ranks No. 15 for most students studying abroad among doctoral universities.
“As a land-grant institution, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign serves the state and world best when we are able to facilitate our connections to each other,” said Chancellor Robert J. Jones. “We are proud of our reputation as a global university that welcomes students no matter where they come from.”
With robust educational programs, impactful research partnerships and a diverse student population, Illinois provides one of the most comprehensive global learning environments in the world. According to the 2021 Open Doors data report, 12,838 international students were enrolled at Illinois and 1,276 students earned credit abroad.
“Together, we have weathered what at times felt like an impossible challenge—to continue teaching, conducting research, and seeking transformative learning experiences for our students, during a global pandemic. Thanks to the dedication of our Illinois community and the resiliency of our students, we continue to foster more diverse and inclusive global classrooms on campus, in our community and around the world.” said Dr. Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategies.
The university facilitates approximately 300 education abroad programs in over 45 countries, providing more than $350,000 in student scholarships each year to foster global education. All Illinois undergraduate students studying abroad on pre-approved programs are eligible to apply for the Illinois-for-Illinois (I4I) Scholarship, a student-initiated fee that supports study abroad education for in-state undergraduates.
Findings from the 2021 Open Doors report include:
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is No. 2 among public institutions for international student and scholar enrollment and sixth in the country overall, enrolling 12,838 international students in 2020-21;
- Illinois is No. 15 in the country for credit-bearing study abroad participation, with 1,276 students earning credit abroad in 2019-20;
- Students from China, India, South Korea and Canada make up the bulk of all international students in the United States;
- The United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and Australia were the top host destinations for U.S. students studying abroad.
The Institute of International Education has conducted an annual census of international students in the U.S. since its founding in 1919. Open Doors has been published by the Institute since 1949, and has received support from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State since the 1970s. For more on the IIE, visit: http://www.iie.org/en.
