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 on November 14 by the Institute of International Education (IIE), ranks the University of Illinois second in the nation among public universities for the most international students. The University of Illinois was also ranked 22nd in the country for hosting the most international scholars.
“Global learning and engagement are fundamental components and priorities of our university mission,” said Chancellor Robert J. Jones. “We are committed to welcoming a diverse population of students, recruiting outstanding faculty, offering robust education abroad programs and collaborating with leading institutions to ensure that we offer the most comprehensive global learning environment in the world.”
The 2022 Open Doors data report states that 12,833 international students were enrolled at the university last year and that departments hosted 1,116 international scholars. The Open Doors report also includes data about the number of students studying abroad for academic credit, which had sharply declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is no understatement to say that the last few years have been filled with significant challenges,” said Dr. Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategies. “Thanks to the dedication and resilience of our community, our commitment to global learning never wavered and we were able to utilize technology to foster connections across borders through our global classrooms and virtual global experience programs.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university did not offer study abroad through Fall 2021, which is reflected in this year’s Open Doors report. During this time, new programs like global classrooms and virtual global experiences were implemented to support global learning while allowing students to gain valuable professional and research skills. As of Spring 2022, the university has resumed facilitating approximately 300 education abroad programs in more than 50 countries.
Findings from the 2022 Open Doors report include:
- The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is second among public institutions for international student enrollment and sixth in the nation overall, enrolling 12,833 international students and scholars;
- The university was not ranked for credit-bearing study abroad participation because of the the suspension of study abroad activities due to COVID-19;
- Students from China, India, South Korea and Canada make up the bulk of all international students in the United States;
- Math, Computer Science, Engineering and Business are among the top fields of study for international students.
The Institute of International Education has conducted an annual census of international students in the United States 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 information on the IIE, visit: http://www.iie.org/en.