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International staff data
Global talent plays an important role in UK’s universities, influencing teaching and research in every institution. This page acts as your one-stop hub for comprehensive information on international academic staff in UK higher education.
This page includes the most up-to-date figures on:
- Where are international academic staff from by country?
- Where are international academic staff from by region?
- Where are international academic staff based in the UK?
- In which academic fields are international academic staff employed?
- Scotland and Wales focus: where are international academic staff from in Scotland and Wales and which fields are they employed in?
The data displayed is drawn from the 2022–23 HESA Staff data and only examines data concerning academic staff. Non-academic staff were not included in this data.
Key facts
- In 2022–23, 77,725 international academic staff worked at UK higher education institutions, representing 32.7% of academic staff in the UK increasing by 4.9% from 2021–22.
- China has become the top country of origin for international academic staff for the first time in the last ten years, with the number of international staff increasing by 15.8% from 2021–22.
- The subject area of Engineering and Technology had the highest proportion of international academic staff in 2022–23 at 49.2%.
Where do international staff come from?
In 2022–23, 77,725 international academic staff worked at UK higher education institutions, representing 32.7% of academic staff in the UK. In 2022–23, the top five nationalities for international academic staff were China, Italy, Germany, Ireland and the USA. These have been the top five countries of origin for international academic staff since 2005–06.
In 2022–23, the number of academic staff from China overtook those from Italy for the first time, making them the largest group of international academic staff in the UK. Numbers from China increased by 15.8% from 2021–22 to 2022–23. Among the top five staff nationalities, staff numbers from China grew the fastest between 2012–13 and 2022–23, increasing by 147.5% over those ten years.
The number of academic staff from Italy decreased by 1% from 2021–22 to 2022–23, marking a decline for the third consecutive year, following steady increases from 2004–05 to 2018–19. The number of academic staff employed in UK higher education from Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Poland also decreased slightly between 2021–22 and 2022–23. Between 2018–19 and 2022–23, the number of international academic staff from Germany and the Netherlands decreased the most, by 10.5% and 6.3% respectively.
From 2018–19 to 2022–23, the number of international academic staff from Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey saw the largest growth, of 103.7%, 90.5% and 79.5% respectively. From 2012–13 to 2022–23 Nigeria experienced the largest growth in international academic staff (371.2%) and is now the 10th largest source country for international academic staff in UK HE.
Top 10 countries of nationality for international academic staff in the UK in 2022–23:
- China (7,165)
- Italy (6,460)
- Germany (5,155)
- Ireland (4,775)
- United States (4,675)
- India (4,525)
- Greece (3,910)
- Spain (3,335)
- France (3,075)
- Nigeria (1,835)
What is the regional breakdown of international academic staff in the UK?
The number of international academic staff from Africa working at UK institutions increased by 19.4% between 2021–22 and 2022–23. Academic staff numbers from Kenya and Nigeria saw the largest growth between 2021–22 and 2022–23, growing by 28.4% and 27.9% respectively. International academic staff numbers from Africa saw the largest increase (70.0%) of any regions from 2018–19 to 2022–23. Academic staff numbers from Ghana and Nigeria grew the most during this five-year period, by 108.6% and 103.7% respectively.
The number of international staff from Asia grew by 15.3% from 2021–22 to 2022–23. International academic staff from Asia account for the second-largest proportion of international academic staff numbers, at 22.9%, behind Europe’s 52.5%. China provides the largest proportion of academic staff from Asia. The largest regional growth in the number of academic staff between 2021–22 and 2022–23 came from Pakistan and Bangladesh, increasing by 26.4% and 23.7% respectively. Staff numbers from Japan underwent a slight decrease from 2021–22, down by 1.7%.
Australia and New Zealand are the main nationalities among the international academic staff from Australasia. After a slight decrease in international staff numbers coming from Australia (-3.7%) between 2020–21 and 2021–22, the number of Australian staff employed in the UK increased in 2022–23 by 1.3%. The number of academic staff from New Zealand continues to decline (-1.4% between 2021–22 and 2022–23).
European academic staff account for nearly half (52.5%) of international academic staff. However, staff numbers from Europe decreased by 0.5% from 2021–22 to 2022–23. This marginal decrease is reflected across the top countries of origin for international staff from Europe. From the top ten European countries, only Turkey does not follow this trend, with an increase of 16.3% over the year from 2021–22 to 2022–23 and of 79.5% over the five-year period from 2018–19 to 2022–23.
The number of academic staff from the Middle East grew by 13.8% between 2021–22 and 2022–23, continuing a trend of consistent growth from 2018–19. Academic staff from Iran make up over half (53.6%) of the staff from the Middle East and numbers increased by 13.3% from 2021–22 to 2022–23. Over this same period, academic staff numbers from Yemen and Kuwait underwent the largest growth, at 33.3% and 42.9% respectively.
North America provides the third-largest group of international staff. Numbers have increased steadily in the five years from 2018–19 to 2022–23, increasing by 2.3% between 2021–22 and 2022–23. Academic staff from the USA account for more than half (63.1%) of North American academic staff and their numbers increased by 1.9% between 2021–22 and 2022–23.
The number of international academic staff from South America increased by 9% between 2021–22 and 2022–23. Brazil continues to provide the largest group of academic staff from South America, with 860 staff in 2022–23. However, staff numbers from Peru increased the most, by 20.8%, from 2021–22 to 2022–23.
Top five countries of nationality for international academic staff from Africa in 2022–23:
- Nigeria (1,835)
- Egypt (575)
- Ghana (460)
- South Africa (430)
- Kenya (205)
Top five countries of nationality for international academic staff from Asia in 2022–23:
- China (7,165)
- India (4,525)
- Pakistan (1,250)
- Malaysia (745)
- Japan (660)
Top three countries of nationality for international academic staff from Australasia in 2022–23:
- Australia (1,425)
- New Zealand (435)
- Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands (20)
Top five countries of nationality for international academic staff from Europe in 2022–23:
- Italy (6,460)
- Germany (5,155)
- Ireland (4,775)
- Greece (3,910)
- Spain (3,335)
Top five countries of nationality for international academic staff from the Middle East in 2022–23:
- Iran (1,650)
- Israel (305)
- Iraq (240)
- Syria (210)
- Lebanon (195)
Top five countries of nationality for international academic staff from North America in 2022–23:
- United States (4,675)
- Canada (1,730)
- Mexico (735)
- Trinidad and Tobago (70)
- Jamaica (50)
Top five countries of nationality for international academic staff from South America in 2022–23:
- Brazil (860)
- Chile (360)
- Colombia (255)
- Argentina (170)
- Peru (95)
Where in the UK are international staff based?
In 2022–23, 81.2% of international academic staff in the UK were based in England and 26.9% of all international academic staff were based in London. The number of international academic staff in the UK has grown consistently, with the East Midlands and the North East experiencing the largest growth in staff numbers from 2021–22 to 2022–23, increasing by 8.4% and 13.7% respectively.
Between 2018–19 and 2022–23, the number of international staff based in Scotland grew by 123%. This has been driven by increases in the number of staff from China (67.4%) and India (94.2%) over the five-year period.
Northern Irish higher education institutions experienced a minor decrease in international staff of 2.5% between 2021–22 and 2022–23. This is the first decrease in international staff numbers in Northern Ireland since 2012–13. The number in Wales has continued to grow steadily since 2017–18, increasing by 13.1% from 2018–19 to 2022–23.
International academic staff numbers in each UK nation, 2022–23:
- England (63,150)
- Scotland (10,480)
- Wales (2,370)
- Northern Ireland (1,725)
International academic staff numbers in each English region, 2022/23:
- London (20,945)
- South East (9,570)
- East of England (5,650)
- North West (5,585)
- West Midlands (5,265)
- South West (4,605)
- Yorkshire and The Humber (4,465)
- East Midlands (4,160)
- North East (2,910)
What do international academic staff in the UK do?
In 2022–23, international academic staff made up 32.7% of the total academic staff in the UK. Between 2021–22 and 2022–23 the number of international academic staff increased by 4.9%, with the number of academic staff in central administration, academic services, and administrative and business studies undergoing the largest growth, increasing by 72.3%, 19.5% and 12.6% respectively.
The subject areas with the highest proportion of international academic staff are engineering and technology (49.2%); administrative and business studies (40.9%); and biological, mathematical and physical sciences (40.0%). The lowest proportion of international academic staff in the UK are employed in either design, creative and performing arts (18%) or education (15.9%). However, between 2021–22 to 2022–23, education experienced a 9.7% increase in international academic staff numbers.
In 2022–23, STEM subjects had the largest numbers of international academic staff in UK institutions, with the top two subjects being engineering and technology (14,675) and medicine, dentistry and health (14,505). STEM subjects experienced the most significant growth and have higher numbers of international academic staff. Non-STEM subjects have also consistently increased their number of international academic staff, albeit at a slower rate. Social studies have the largest number of international academic staff outside of STEM, with a 17% increase between 2018–19 and 2022–23 to 10,550.
Proportion of international academic staff in the UK in each cost centre:
- Engineering and technology (49.2%)
- Administrative and business studies (40.9%)
- Biological, mathematical and physical sciences (40.0%)
- Humanities and language-based studies and archaeology (36.2%)
- Social studies (34.0%)
- Architecture and planning (33.7%)
- Central administration and services, staff and student facilities (30.1%)
- Medicine, dentistry and health (25.0%)
- Agriculture, forestry and veterinary science (24.7%)
- Academic services (19.8%)
- Design, creative and performing arts (18.0%)
- Education (15.9%)
Number of international academic staff in UK HE institutions per cost centre:
- Engineering and technology (14,675)
- Medicine, dentistry and health (14,505)
- Biological, mathematical and physical sciences (13,590)
- Social studies (10,550)
- Administrative and business studies (8,440)
- Humanities and language-based studies and archaeology (6,500)
- Design, creative and performing arts (3,480)
- Education (2,260)
- Architecture and planning (1,810)
- Central administration and services, staff and student facilities (790)
- Agriculture, forestry and veterinary science (770)
- Academic services (355)
What is the regional breakdown of international academic staff in Scotland?
In 2022–23, 10,480 international academic staff worked at Scottish higher education institutions. The top five nationalities for international academic staff in Scotland were China, USA, Germany, Italy and India.
The number of international academic staff from Africa working at Scottish institutions increased by 26.5% between 2021–22 and 2022–23, and featured the largest increase (79.4%) of any region from 2018–19 to 2022–23.
The number of international staff from Asia grew by 21.8% from 2021–22 to 2022–23. International academic staff from Asia account for the second-largest proportion of international academic staff numbers, at 23.7%.
Australia and New Zealand are the main nationalities among the international academic staff from Australasia in Scotland. Between 2021–22 to 2022–23, academic staff from Australasia increased slightly, by 2.1%.
European academic staff account for more than half (51.9%) of the international academic staff in Scottish higher institutions but have only increased slightly from 2021–22, by 1.4%.
The number of academic staff from the Middle East grew by 21.8% from 2021–22 to 2022–23, continuing a trend of consistent growth from 2018–19.
Academic staff from North America are the third largest group of international staff, increasing by 5.9% from 2021–22 to 2022–23.
The number of international academic staff from South America increased by 7.6% from 2021–22 to 2022–23.
Top ten countries of nationality for international academic staff in Scotland in 2022–23:
- China (1,035)
- USA (805)
- Germany (775)
- Italy (695)
- India (665)
- Ireland (570)
- Spain (510)
- Greece (500)
- France (430)
- Canada (255)
What is the regional breakdown of international academic staff in Wales?
In 2022–23, 2,370 international academic staff worked at Welsh higher education institutions. The top five nationalities for international academic staff in Wales were China, Italy, Ireland, India and Germany.
The number of international academic staff from Africa working at Welsh institutions increased by 30.2% between 2021–22 and 2022–23, the largest increase from any region during this period.
The number of international staff from Asia grew by 14.5% from 2021–22 to 2022–23. They account for the second-largest proportion of international academic staff in Wales, at 23.8%.
Australia and New Zealand are the main nationalities among the international academic staff from Australasia in Wales. Between 2021–22 and 2022–23, academic staff from Australasia increased slightly, by 5.5%.
Top ten countries of nationality for international academic staff in Wales in 2022–23:
- China (190)
- Italy (175)
- Ireland (170)
- India (165)
- Germany (155)
- United States (125)
- Greece (115)
- Spain (100)
- Nigeria (85)
- France (80)
Glossary:
HESA – Higher Education Statistics Agency.
Cost Centre – The cost centre describes where resources deployed to teach the student are located and is similar to the academic department of a university.
Nationality – The country of legal nationality of staff.
A note on the data:
All HESA figures quoted in the publication that relate to staff, have been rounded to the nearest five in accordance with HESA data protection protocols. Unknown domiciles and nationalities were excluded from HESA figures and percentages.
All percentages have been calculated using raw figures and rounded, therefore rounded figures may not sum precisely and vary by figures of five. Due to the nature of this publication, data is collated from several sources published on different dates. All data in this publication is correct as per the date it was accessed.
This report uses data from the full-person equivalent (FPE) versions of the HESA Staff Record. For more information, please visit: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/support/definitions.
From 2019–20, it became optional for providers in England and Northern Ireland to report data about staff on non-academic contracts. Therefore, the page examines international academic staff only.