According to data from the SEVP program for students and exchange visitors of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, there are currently more than one million foreign students in the country.
Earlier, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) reported that the preliminary number of applications from prospective foreign students for master's programs increased by 7% in 2014, compared to a 2% increase in 2013.
The most popular fields of study among foreigners receiving higher education at American colleges and universities remain natural sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Business, engineering, physical and earth sciences make up 64% of all subjects studied by international students enrolled in US master's programs. The largest increase in applications was also recorded in these specialties.
To attract more foreign students, university faculty, and scholars, the US plans to make some visa concessions. Thus, the US Department of Homeland Security has proposed changes that would expand employment opportunities for spouses holding H-1B visas (temporary work visas) who have applied for green cards. This will give a chance for certain groups of highly skilled professionals to stay in the US. The new rules could ease life for nearly 100,000 H-4 visa holders this year, and about 30,000 annually in the future.
Recall that H-4 visas are issued to accompanying spouses. Under current rules, their holders are allowed to stay in the US, but without the right to work. The proposed changes would allow H-4 visa holders whose spouse (or partner) has applied for permanent residency to also apply for work authorization in the US.
Currently, 85,000 H-1B visas are issued per year, of which 20,000 go to graduates of US universities.
Denmark plans to attract more foreign students
The Danish government intends to increase funding for students from non-EU countries, as well as ease the visa regime and expand the number of work permits obtained by foreigners after graduating from Danish universities.
To this end, it is planned to spend 25 million Danish kroner on scholarship programs. In addition, foreign graduates who have obtained a master's or doctoral degree in Denmark will have the opportunity to apply for permission to work in Denmark for two years or to start their own business.
In 2012, 22,260 foreign students were studying at Danish universities, which is 10.9% higher than in 2011, and accounts for 9% of all students in the country.
Finnish universities will become more accessible
At the end of this year, the pilot project involving 9 Finnish universities and 10 polytechnic institutes, which charged tuition fees to postgraduate students from non-EU countries, will close. Most universities have already stated that they will not require payment from students starting their studies this fall.
As is known, in 2011, 24 master's courses were approved for the pilot project. 110 students paid for tuition, more than 80% of whom studied at Aalto University or Lappeenranta University of Technology. Tuition fees ranged from 3,500 to 11,750 euros per academic year, averaging 8,000 euros.
Based on materials from
TsMK "Parta".