The 404,500 international students who began higher education courses in the United Kingdom in the 2024-25 academic year are expected to generate £45.1 billion in economic benefits, against estimated public costs of £4.7 billion, according to a report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and Kaplan International Pathways. London Economics conducted the study.

The report, titled The Benefits and Costs of International Higher Education Students to the UK Economy , estimates that every 10 international students generate approximately £1 million in net economic benefits over the duration of their studies. The estimated benefit-to-cost ratio is 9.7 to 1, with the average net contribution per student standing at around £100,000.

The economic activity generated by the 2024-25 cohort is also estimated to support approximately 287,300 full-time equivalent jobs across the UK.…