University of Cambridge: international student trends
Non-UK enrolment, international share, and the top countries of domicile for students at Cambridge. Source: HESA/Jisc, 2024/25 release. Part of our UK international student statistics.
Cambridge enrolled 7,265 international students in 2024/25, making up 32.2% of the student body (down 3.8% over five years).
International enrolment over time
| Year | International students | Total students | International share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014/15 | 6,370 | 19,515 | 32.6% |
| 2015/16 | 6,525 | 19,660 | 33.2% |
| 2016/17 | 6,750 | 19,955 | 33.8% |
| 2017/18 | 7,050 | 20,510 | 34.4% |
| 2018/19 | 7,350 | 20,890 | 35.2% |
| 2019/20 | 7,550 | 21,340 | 35.4% |
| 2020/21 | 7,270 | 22,155 | 32.8% |
| 2021/22 | 7,205 | 22,610 | 31.9% |
| 2022/23 | 7,305 | 22,975 | 31.8% |
| 2023/24 | 7,310 | 22,710 | 32.2% |
| 2024/25 | 7,265 | 22,565 | 32.2% |
Top countries of domicile
| Country | Latest students | Change |
|---|---|---|
| China | 2,050 | +146% |
| United States | 745 | +28% |
| Singapore | 480 | +39% |
| Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) | 385 | +35% |
| India | 340 | +89% |
| Germany | 285 | -42% |
Want to know what Cambridge graduates go on to earn? See graduate outcomes at Cambridge.
Methodology & attribution
Source: HESA/Jisc (hesa.ac.uk). International = non-UK country of domicile. Figures aggregated from country-of-domicile rows and rounded by HESA to the nearest 5, so small counts are approximate. 2024/25 release.
Frequently asked questions
How many international students does Cambridge have?
HESA/Jisc data (2024/25 release) shows Cambridge enrolled 7,265 international (non-UK domiciled) students in 2024/25. The table above shows the year-by-year trend.
What share of Cambridge's students are international?
International students made up 32.2% of the student body at Cambridge in the latest HESA release, up from earlier years shown in the chart above.
Is international enrolment at Cambridge growing?
International enrolment at Cambridge has fallen by 3.8% over the five-year period covered by the latest HESA data.
Which countries do most of Cambridge's international students come from?
China is the largest source country for international students at Cambridge, per HESA/Jisc country-of-domicile data. The table above lists the top source countries and how they've changed.
Can international graduates from Cambridge work in the UK after finishing?
Yes. Graduates of any UK university that holds a Student-sponsor licence, including Cambridge, can apply for the Graduate visa (2 years for bachelor's/master's, 3 years for PhD) without needing a job offer. To stay longer, a graduate typically switches to the Skilled Worker route with a sponsoring employer.
When is HESA international enrolment data refreshed?
HESA/Jisc publishes "Where students study" data once a year. We refresh this page from the new release shortly after it's published.