UB among nation’s top schools for hosting international students

BUFFALO, N.Y. – For the 18th straight year, the University at Buffalo is rated among the nation’s top 30 institutions hosting international students.

UB is ranked No. 27^th by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in the institute’s 2020 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, released recently in Washington, D.C.

The census of international students at UB in fall, 2019, totaled 6,733, according to the Open Doors report. The number includes 2,273 students who have gone on to postgraduate Optional Practical Training. UB’s total state-funded enrollment for fall, 2019, was 31,923 students.

The ranking places UB fourth in New York State, behind only New York University, Columbia and Cornell, and ahead of all other SUNY institutions.

UB’s international students hail from 102 different countries. In the Open Doors report, the leading sending countries for UB are: India, China, South Korea, Canada, Iran, Taiwan and Turkey.

“While these pre-pandemic numbers reflect UB’s continuing attractiveness for students around the world, COVID-19 has obviously had a tremendous, if relatively short-term, impact on international enrollments here and across the country,” says John J. Wood, UB interim vice provost for international education.

“Looking ahead, we expect UB to continue to be a leader, as our core strengths remain the same,” says Wood. “UB has an excellent reputation overseas, and is highly regarded for strong academics, exceptional research and experiential learning opportunities, and a welcoming, supportive campus community.”

The international pandemic has severely affected international student enrollment, according to the IIE. Among their findings:  

• Total international students at higher education institutions in the United States and studying online outside the U.S. decreased by 16% this fall.
• New international student enrollment in the U.S. and online outside the U.S. has decreased by 43% this fall. Many international students studying at U.S. institutions took advantage of opportunities to begin their studies remotely. According to Open Doors, new student enrollment accounted for 25% of the international student population in 2019-20.

“We are encouraged to see a fifth year of more than one million international students in the United States before the pandemic,” said Marie Royce, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs. “International student mobility is as important today as ever, and we believe the United States is the best destination for students to study and earn their degrees. Education is a pathway to a greater future and international educational exchange has the power to transform students’ trajectories.”

According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit for professionals working in international education, contributions of international education include:

• Advancing learning and scholarship.
• Providing insight into how people from other countries work.
• Building up global experience at U.S. colleges and universities, something now increasingly crucial to success in all fields.
• Expanding horizons for research, creating more opportunities and enhancing quality and innovation.