University of Leicester: international student trends
Non-UK enrolment, international share, and the top countries of domicile for students at Leicester. Source: HESA/Jisc, 2024/25 release. Part of our UK international student statistics.
Leicester enrolled 3,660 international students in 2024/25, making up 19.3% of the student body (down 17.3% over five years).
International enrolment over time
| Year | International students | Total students | International share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014/15 | 6,055 | 17,995 | 33.6% |
| 2015/16 | 4,300 | 16,325 | 26.3% |
| 2016/17 | 4,080 | 16,800 | 24.3% |
| 2017/18 | 4,250 | 17,325 | 24.5% |
| 2018/19 | 3,985 | 16,855 | 23.6% |
| 2019/20 | 4,425 | 16,180 | 27.3% |
| 2020/21 | 4,255 | 16,100 | 26.4% |
| 2021/22 | 5,185 | 16,670 | 31.1% |
| 2022/23 | 5,485 | 18,265 | 30% |
| 2023/24 | 4,340 | 18,480 | 23.5% |
| 2024/25 | 3,660 | 18,990 | 19.3% |
Top countries of domicile
| Country | Latest students | Change |
|---|---|---|
| India | 1,330 | +582% |
| Canada | 540 | +83% |
| China | 345 | -87% |
| Nigeria | 215 | +8% |
| United Arab Emirates | 70 | +250% |
| Saudi Arabia | 65 | -58% |
Want to know what Leicester graduates go on to earn? See graduate outcomes at Leicester.
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 Leicester have?
HESA/Jisc data (2024/25 release) shows Leicester enrolled 3,660 international (non-UK domiciled) students in 2024/25. The table above shows the year-by-year trend.
What share of Leicester's students are international?
International students made up 19.3% of the student body at Leicester in the latest HESA release, up from earlier years shown in the chart above.
Is international enrolment at Leicester growing?
International enrolment at Leicester has fallen by 17.3% over the five-year period covered by the latest HESA data.
Which countries do most of Leicester's international students come from?
India is the largest source country for international students at Leicester, per HESA/Jisc country-of-domicile data. The table above lists the top source countries and how they've changed.
Can international graduates from Leicester work in the UK after finishing?
Yes. Graduates of any UK university that holds a Student-sponsor licence, including Leicester, 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.