Despite pandemic, UB remains a leading host for international students

Despite the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, UB continues to rank among the nation’s top universities when it comes to hosting international students.

UB is ranked No. 27 by the Institute of International Education in its latest census, “The Open Doors 2021 Report on International Educational Exchange,” which was released this week.

International students at UB totaled 6,161 during fall 2020, according to the report by the Washington, D.C.-based organization.

The number includes international students studying online at UB while still abroad amid the pandemic. That number also includes the 2,521 who continued in the U.S. with postgraduate Optional Practical Training, which allows for a period of temporary employment in their field of study.

“We are excited to report that UB remains a major contributor in the international market by enrolling smart students and producing an impressive number of educated students for the global workforce,” says Lee Melvin, vice provost for enrollment management.

Among universities in New York, only New York University, Columbia University and Cornell University hosted more international students than UB, according to the report.

The leading countries sending students to UB in fall 2020 were, in order: China, India, Korea, Canada, Taiwan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

“UB’s success in enrolling outstanding students from around the world reflects our commitment to providing enriching experiences — and our current students sharing their experiences with other students,” says Nojin Kwak, vice provost for international education.

“Attracted by the excellent academics and extracurricular opportunities available at UB, international students discover a welcoming, inclusive community and strong support services, both of which enhance their experience here and help them be successful,” Kwak says.

Aniruddh Devaiya, a senior electrical engineering major at UB, can attest to that.

As a freshman coming from India, Devaiya arrived at UB both amazed and anxious. But he was fortunate early on to find a good group of friends, as well as others at the university who would provide him advice and guidance through his undergraduate journey.

Overall, he has accomplished what he set out to do while at UB.

“I have always looked for available opportunities and how I can make the most out of them,” he says. “The electrical engineering department provided an excellent undergraduate curriculum that had great course selection and gave me the flexibility that allowed me to specialize in my subject area while exploring other majors.”

Johnathan Lim, president of the Singapore Student Association, had some hesitancy about coming to UB, but the senior is grateful to the university’s large international community for helping him fit in and not feel left out.

“I feel very welcomed and confident,” Lim says, “and as time goes by, when there are new students coming in, I would also do my best in guiding them.”

This is the 19th straight year that UB has ranked among the top 30 institutions in the annual Open Doors report, which has long served as a benchmark for higher education. UB came in at No. 27 on the list last year, as well.

The number of international students at UB last fall was down 572 from the previous year, according to institute figures. But that’s a reflection of how the global pandemic has impacted international students studying at universities across the U.S.

In the 2020-21 academic year, 914,095 international students pursued studies at U.S. colleges and universities — a decrease of 15% from the previous academic year, according to the report.

Much of that decline came in the category of new international students studying at U.S. universities for the first time. Those numbers dropped 46% from the prior academic year.

A snapshot from this fall, however, shows that the number of international students has already rebounded for the 2021-22 academic year, according to the report.