The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) released its on Thursday, which revealed that the number of international student applications to U.S. graduate schools increased by 7 percent in 2014 and, for the second year in a row, Chinese applications fell slightly, while those from students in India soared.
Chinese graduate applications (and enrollments) had steadily increased for the better part of a decade. But, in 2013, the number of graduate applications from China dropped by 3 percent and, this year, that number fell by another 1 percent. Meanwhile, Indian applications increased by 22 percent in 2013 and by an even more impressive 32 percent in 2014.
鈥淭he distribution of applications by country of origin鈥� remains a concern,鈥� the CGS report states, noting that Chinese applications trends have historically been more stable than Indian applications trends. Past fluctuations in Indian applications appear to have primarily resulted from changing economic circumstances and exchange rates; however CGS鈥檚 president, Debra W. Stewart, to tightening student-visa rules in the U.K.
The number of new Indian students at English universities since 2010-11, which observers partially ascribe to the elimination of post-study work opportunities for international students and, as notes, other U.K. immigration policy changes that have made the U.K. appear less welcoming of international students.
According to an article by , 鈥淪tewart said she worries that unless American lawmakers reform the visa system to make it easier for international students to stay and work after graduation, the United States could lose whatever edge it may have.鈥�
The Chinese slowdown is likely a more permanent change resulting (at least partially) from China鈥檚 push to improve its own research universities. The report鈥檚 other noteworthy findings include that Brazilian graduate applications increased by 33 percent鈥攚hich could be due in part to the Brazilian government鈥檚 massive scholarship program鈥攁nd that graduate applications from Africa, Europe and the Middle East (the three world regions reported on) all showed increases as well.
Figures for 2014 are preliminary and subject to revision in a CGS report planned for August.