The scale of UK transnational education

Definition: Transnational Education

All types of higher education study programmes, or sets of courses of study, or educational services (including those of distance education) in which the learners are located in a country different from the one where the awarding institution is based. Such programmes may belong to the education system of a State different from the State in which it operates, or may operate independently of any national education system. (UNESCO/Council of Europe, 2001).

This page includes the most up-to-date figures on: 

• The total number of UK higher education transnational education students 
• Where in the world UK TNE students are studying 
• The level at which students are studying through UK TNE 
• The type of provision through which UK TNE students are studying 
• The scale of TNE provision from each UK provider

The total number of students studying through UK TNE varies from year to year as universities add or close online courses, open new campuses, and develop new partnerships.  

Data about TNE is collected annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), via the Aggregate Offshore Record (AOR). AOR data has been collected since 2007−08 from publicly funded higher education providers in the UK who subscribe to HESA. Universities provide data in their AOR return about 'students that are studying wholly outside the UK who are either registered with the reporting provider or who are studying for an award of the reporting provider'.  

Note: Changes to transnational data for 2019–20

In 2018–19 and earlier years, the AOR included all publicly funded HE providers in the UK and the University of Buckingham. From 2019–20, coverage expanded to include all English providers registered with the Office for Students (OfS) in the Approved (fee cap) and Approved categories and all publicly funded HE providers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

HESA also implemented changes to the AOR in 2019–20, requiring providers in England and Wales to return data in new headcount categories to count students who successfully completed, students who are in continuing study, students who are dormant, and students who have withdrawn from study. Further analysis on these new headcount categories is included in the Scale of TNE 2019–20 report.

Interactive bar chart showing total TNE student numbers 

Tips for using the graph

• Button to choose whether you see including or excluding Oxford Brookes University
• Drop down menu to choose UK nation of provider 
• Hover over bars for more details

Note: Analysis excluding certain providers

Occasionally in our analysis, we disaggregate the data into two groups ‘All providers’ and ‘Excluding Oxford Brookes University’. In 2019–20, Oxford Brookes University made changes to the way in which they report students studying on the ACCA programme validated by Oxford Brookes University. This change has led to a reduction in the total number of students appearing in the AOR from 2019–20. We will therefore occasionally exclude Oxford Brookes when analysing longitudinal trends to 2020-21.

Our analysis will also sometimes disaggregate the data into two groups ‘All providers’ and ‘Excluding the three main providers of distance, flexible and blended TNE’. The latter category excludes Oxford Brookes University, the Open University and University of London students. From 2008–09 to 2018–19, these three providers accounted for an average of over 55% of the student numbers in the AOR and relatively small variations in one of them can have an impact on our understanding of the performance and spread of TNE more generally amongst UK universities.

UK TNE host countries and territories

UK degrees were delivered in over 225 countries and territories in 2020-21. UK TNE delivery is concentrated mainly in Asia, which accounts for around half of all student numbers. This is followed by the EU, the Middle East and Africa.  

In 2020-21, China was the country hosting the most UK TNE students (61,495), followed by Malaysia (48,460), Sri Lanka (37,175), Singapore (27,875), Egypt (23,805) and Hong Kong (22,480). The top five host territories account for 38.9% of all UK TNE student numbers. 

Interactive map showing total UK HE TNE student numbers per country/territory

Tips for using the map

• For the best experience, view in fullscreen mode (button in bottom right corner) and zoom in for more detail.  
• Hover over countries to view information
• Slider to move between academic years
• Button to select between including or excluding Oxford Brookes University

Level of study 

Students can pursue UK degrees across almost all subject areas at all levels of study through TNE, from first-time undergraduate degrees to research masters and PhDs. There are also a range of options for studying part-time, or full-time, depending on the needs of the student.  

Undergraduate provision makes up a higher proportion of UK TNE student numbers than postgraduate provision. In 2020-21, the proportion of students at undergraduate and postgraduate level was around two thirds and one third, respectively.  

Interactive stacked bar chart showing total TNE student numbers by level of study 

Tips for using the chart 

• Button to choose whether you see including or excluding Oxford Brookes University
• Drop down menu to select global region of provision 
• Hover over bars for more details

Type of provision

Transnational education is a broad term which captures a range of teaching and partnership models including, but not limited to, branch campuses, distance learning, online provision, joint and dual degree programmes, double awards, ‘fly-in’ faculty, and mixed models, traditionally referred to as blended learning. 

HESA collects data which relates to five categories or types of TNE provision and universities are responsible for returning data against these. The categories are broad, and universities may not always define their programmes by the same definitions used by HESA. Table 1 shows these categories and an example for each.  

In 2020-21, 39.1% of UK TNE students were studying through collaborative provision, with an additional 30.0% studying through distance, flexible or distributed learning, 22.6% registered at an overseas partner organisation, and overseas campuses of UK universities account for 7.0% of the total UK TNE student population.  

Interactive pie chart showing total TNE student numbers by type of provision  

Tips for using the chart 

• Button to choose whether you see including or excluding Oxford Brookes University 
• Drop down menu to select global region of provision 
• Slider to move between academic years
• Hover over segments for more details

Definition: Transnational Education Arrangement

An educational, legal, financial or other arrangement leading to the establishment of (a) collaborative arrangements, such as: franchising, twinning, joint degrees, whereby study programmes, or parts of a course of study, or other educational services of the awarding institution are provided by another partner institution; (b) non-collaborative arrangements, such as branch campuses, off-shore institutions, corporate or international institutions, whereby study programmes, or parts of a course of study, or other educational services are provided directly by an awarding institution. (UNESCO/Council of Europe, 2001)

Breakdown by provider 

162 higher education providers reported students studying through TNE in 2020-21, more than ever before. TNE is a core component of many universities’ strategic approach to international growth, but each institution’s approach is unique. TNE provision is driven by a range of local and international factors, and the success of UK universities in delivering TNE is testament to their flexibility and dynamism. 

Successful TNE provision comes in many shapes, forms, and sizes, and each institution’s portfolio differs according to their needs and aspirations, from a handful of joint or dual degrees to a network of global campuses and partnerships. Successful TNE engagement can be resource-intensive, but done well it delivers a wealth of positive outcomes for students, overseas partners, and the UK universities themselves.

Interactive bubble chart showing total TNE student numbers for all providers 

Tips for using the chart  

• Slider to move between academic years
• Drop down menu to choose UK nation of provider
• Button to choose whether you see including or excluding three largest providers
• Hover over bubbles for more details

Note: Neither the Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited nor HESA Services Limited can accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from data or other information supplied by HESA Services.