Researching the performance of international students in the UK

Abstract This article considers how well international students in the UK perform academically, seeking to identify factors which affect their ability to fulfil their potential. It provides a short survey of the literature and summarises the findings of a research project commissioned by UKCOSA: The Council for International Education. The research analysed data collected centrally by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on the class of degree obtained by undergraduate students from different countries. Although there is some variation, the HESA data on which the analysis was based do not allow the causes of the differences to be identified confidently.