The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the top public university in the country for international students and scholars, according to data from this year’s Open Doors report. The report, released Nov. 18 by the Institute of International Education (IIE), ranks Illinois No. 1 among public universities and No. 5 in the country for the most international students. The university also ranked No. 28 for the most students studying abroad.
“As a land-grant institution with a global impact, we have a responsibility to ensure that our students leave Illinois with a worldview and knowledge that will prepare them to be competitive in the global marketplace no matter where they come from,” said Chancellor Robert J. Jones.
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. For the 2018-2019 academic year, Illinois reported 13,497 international students enrolled on campus and 1,931 students earning credit abroad, according to the Open Doors data.
“When we encourage education without borders, we create an environment where our students, scholars, and faculty have access to richer knowledge, innovation and connections that will allow them to solve our world’s most pressing challenges,” said Dr. Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategies. “The global classroom invites all of us to join in developing its curriculum with the hope of steering humanity forward in a more inclusive direction.”
The university facilitates approximately 300 education abroad programs in over 45 countries, providing $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 2019 Open Doors report include:
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is No. 1 among public institutions for international student and scholar enrollment and fifth in the country overall, enrolling 13,497 international students and scholars;
- Illinois is 28th in the country for credit-bearing study abroad participation, with 1,931 students earning credit abroad in 2017-18;
- Students from China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada make up the bulk of all international students in the United States;
- The United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and Germany 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.
