Pakistani F1 Student Enrollment in US Rising at Slowest Rate in 5 Years
Enrollment of Pakistani students on US F1 visa rose just 5.6% to 7,957 in 2018/19, the slowest rate in 5 years. It's in sharp contrast to 27% jump in Pakistani student enrollment to 28,000 in China this year.
Rate of increase in Pakistani students on F-1 visas declined to 5.6%, down from 8.5% in 2014/15 and 14.7% in 2015/16. However, the total number of Pakistani students on F1 visa in the United States has climbed from 5,354 to 7,957. Enrollment of international students from Pakistan on F1 visa declined from a peak of nearly 9,000 in 2001/02 to a low of 4,600 in 2011/12.
Total number of foreign students studying in the United States is nearly 1.1 million, the largest in the world. China hosts nearly 492,000 foreign students. New international student enrollment is declining in the US while it is rapidly climbing in China.
Pakistan (7,957) now ranks 22nd among nations sending students to study in the United States. China (369,548), India (202,014), South Korea (52.250), Saudi Arabia (37,080) and Canada (26,122) occupy the top 5 positions in terms of the number of international students in the United States.
Number of foreign students in the United States from various countries of origin is heavily skewed by visa refusal rates. 48% of applications from Pakistan for non-immigrant travel visa to the United States, including F-1 student visa, are rejected, a much higher rate than 27% refusals in India. Highest refusal rates are for applicants from Somalia (90.2%) and Iran (87.7%). The lowest are in Argentina (1.7%) and Liechtenstein ( 0%).
In China, South Korea is the leading sender with 50,600 students enrolled in 2018, followed by Thailand (28,600 students), and, in a virtual tie for second place, Pakistan and its 28,000 students in Chinese institutions and schools last year. Rounding out the top five source countries are India (23,200 students in 2018) and the US (21,000 students).
Related Links:
Haq's Musings
South Asia Investor Review
Rapid Growth of China-Pakistan Educational, Scientific and Cultural Ties
China-Pakistan Strategic Ties
US and China Compete For Influence in Pakistan
China-Pakistan Defense Tech Cooperation Irks West
Pakistan-Russia-China vs India-Japan-US
Pakistan Rising or Falling? Myth Vs Reality
Facts and Myths About China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
China Emerges as Top Destination for Pakistanis Studying Abroad
Sec Hagel: India Using Afghanistan to Launch Attacks in Pakistan
Ex Indian Spy Documents RAW's Successes Against Pakistan
Riaz Haq's Youtube Channel
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| Pakistani F1 Students in US. Source: IIE |
Rate of increase in Pakistani students on F-1 visas declined to 5.6%, down from 8.5% in 2014/15 and 14.7% in 2015/16. However, the total number of Pakistani students on F1 visa in the United States has climbed from 5,354 to 7,957. Enrollment of international students from Pakistan on F1 visa declined from a peak of nearly 9,000 in 2001/02 to a low of 4,600 in 2011/12.
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| US Non-Immigrant Visa Rejection Rates. Source US State Dept via Quartz India |
Total number of foreign students studying in the United States is nearly 1.1 million, the largest in the world. China hosts nearly 492,000 foreign students. New international student enrollment is declining in the US while it is rapidly climbing in China.
Pakistan (7,957) now ranks 22nd among nations sending students to study in the United States. China (369,548), India (202,014), South Korea (52.250), Saudi Arabia (37,080) and Canada (26,122) occupy the top 5 positions in terms of the number of international students in the United States.
Number of foreign students in the United States from various countries of origin is heavily skewed by visa refusal rates. 48% of applications from Pakistan for non-immigrant travel visa to the United States, including F-1 student visa, are rejected, a much higher rate than 27% refusals in India. Highest refusal rates are for applicants from Somalia (90.2%) and Iran (87.7%). The lowest are in Argentina (1.7%) and Liechtenstein ( 0%).
In China, South Korea is the leading sender with 50,600 students enrolled in 2018, followed by Thailand (28,600 students), and, in a virtual tie for second place, Pakistan and its 28,000 students in Chinese institutions and schools last year. Rounding out the top five source countries are India (23,200 students in 2018) and the US (21,000 students).
Related Links:
Haq's Musings
South Asia Investor Review
Rapid Growth of China-Pakistan Educational, Scientific and Cultural Ties
China-Pakistan Strategic Ties
US and China Compete For Influence in Pakistan
China-Pakistan Defense Tech Cooperation Irks West
Pakistan-Russia-China vs India-Japan-US
Pakistan Rising or Falling? Myth Vs Reality
Facts and Myths About China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
China Emerges as Top Destination for Pakistanis Studying Abroad
Sec Hagel: India Using Afghanistan to Launch Attacks in Pakistan
Ex Indian Spy Documents RAW's Successes Against Pakistan
Riaz Haq's Youtube Channel
Comments
Nearly 6.4 million people came to the United States on a B visa in 2017. This common visa type—B-1, for business travel; B-2, for tourism; or the combo B-1/B-2, for a bit of both—is issued for short-term travel to the US. If you plan to attend business meetings or conferences, spend a week on vacation in Hawaii or Florida, or visit family in the US, this is the visa you’re likely to need.
Not everyone requires one, of course. Citizens of 38 countries are eligible for the ESTA visa waiver system, allowing them to bypass ordinary visa requirements for short-term business or tourist travel. They are mostly rich nations in Europe and Asia.
But despite how common the B visa is, getting one isn’t as easy as it might appear. Applicants must pay a fee, apply online, and then attend an in-person interview, where they’ll be grilled on what their plans are, where they’ll be going, and—crucially—when they plan to leave the US. Processing time from there can take as much as two months.
Even then, many people find their applications rejected. In fiscal year 2018—which ran from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018—B visa applicants from around 50 countries were more likely to have their application refused than accepted. For citizens of Somalia, the refusal rate was more than 90%, with only 38 Somalis granted a B visa (pdf).
The table below shows the refusal rates for each country with at least 10 visas issued in fiscal year 2018, according to data from the US Department of State (pdf). The overall refusal rate, including countries with 10 or fewer visas issued, was 32.4%.
http://uis.unesco.org/en/uis-student-flow
China 28,000 (Not included in UNESCO numbers)
Australia 11,324
United States 7,412
United Kingdom 5,594
Malaysia 4,649
Germany 4,204
Canada 2,802
Saudi Arabia 2,165
Turkey 1,822
Italy 1,339
South Korea 1,272
Kyrgyzstan 830
Sweden 806
Finland 675
Qatar 638
Bahrain 580
Cyprus 551
Hungary 469
France 410
Norway 344
New Zealand 326
Oman 300
Netherlands 289
Iran 282
https://academiamag.com/us-pakistan-agreement-to-support-125-pakistani-phd-students/
In a step toward expanding U.S.-Pakistan educational cooperation, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support 125 Pakistanis to pursue PhD studies in the United States, 25 per year for five years. The MoU extends an agreement that funded 125 Fulbright-HEC PhD scholarships between 2016 and 2020. Acting HEC Chairman Dr. Shaista Sohail and USEFP Executive Director Ms. Rita Akhtar signed the MoU on June 16, through which the Government of Pakistan will contribute USD 5 million per year to the Fulbright-HEC PhD Program.
Fulbright is the flagship scholarship program of the U.S. Department of State, operating in 165 countries. Since 2005, Pakistan has had the world’s largest Fulbright Program in terms of U.S. government financial contribution, with approximately 100 master’s and 25 PhD scholarships funded annually. The HEC-USEFP MoU funds an additional 25 PhDs per year, bringing the total to 50.
“This MoU provides funding for 125 exceptional Pakistanis to complete PhD programs at some of the best universities in the United States,” explained USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar. “It represents a spectacular contribution to the social and economic development of Pakistan as well as to mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries. Our Fulbright grantees return to Pakistan to apply new skills and knowledge in every field and sector of Pakistan’s economy.”
According to U.S. Embassy Chargé d’affaires Les Viguerie, “The U.S.-Pakistan education partnership is among the best in the world, and the United States values the Pakistani students who enrich American campuses across our country.”
The Fulbright Program is a fully funded, merit-based program that provides the opportunity to conduct research and implement skills and ideas. The participants hail from different regions of Pakistan and study at leading universities in the United States.
USEFP is a bi-national commission established in 1950 by the governments of the United States and Pakistan. Since its inception, more than 9,000 Pakistanis and over 935 Americans have participated in USEFP-managed exchange programs. Its mission is to promote mutual understanding between the people of Pakistan and the people of the United States through exchange programs.
https://immigrationroad.com/visa/f1-student/f1-student-visa-statistics.php
Pakistan ranks 25th with 1,965 F1 visas and 185 F2 visas in Fiscal Year 2018 (Oct 1 to Sept 30)
1 China - mainland 98,904(F1) 2,549(F2)
2 India 42,694 2,550
3 Korea, South 20,959 2,529
4 Vietnam 16,061 248
5 Japan 14,413 670
6 Brazil 13,288 4,751
7 Saudi Arabia 12,502 4,595
8 China - Taiwan 8,474 296
9 Mexico 7,015 431
10 Germany 6,239 80
11 France 5,491 113
12 Nigeria 5,365 646
13 Colombia 4,609 349
14 Russia 4,350 265
15 Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4,325 87
16 Spain 4,071 87
17 Turkey 3,778 245
18 Italy 3,703 95
19 Thailand 2,722 24
20 Hong Kong S.A.R. 2,493 45
21 Switzerland 2,450 33
22 Indonesia 2,351 170
23 Australia 2,327 68
24 Kuwait 1,989 232
25 Pakistan 1,965 185
26 Sweden 1,932 19
27 Bangladesh 1,920 623
28 Nepal 1,829 283
29 Singapore 1,803 88
30 Chile 1,772 434
31 Malaysia 1,722 42
32 Venezuela 1,672 179
33 Netherlands 1,632 17
34 Peru 1,594 80
35 Argentina 1,538 109
36 Ghana 1,494 163
37 Norway 1,489 25
38 Ecuador 1,477 83
39 Iran 1,433 210
40 Ethiopia 1,328 73
41 Panama 1,310 5
42 Kenya 1,285 73
43 Denmark 1,285 13
44 Burma 1,241 34
45 Kazakhstan 1,178 265
46 Egypt 1,108 266
47 South Africa 1,062 61
48 Israel 1,014 114
49 Jamaica 999 47
50 Philippines 944 55
PAKISTAN
22
InternationalStudentPlaceof OriginRanking,2019/20
$325,000,000
InternationalStudentEconomic Impact,2019*
159
U.S.StudyAbroad DestinationRanking,2018/19
*Source:EstimatecalculatedbyIEbasedoninformationfrom OpenDoorsandBureauofEconomicAnalysis,U.S.DepartmentofCommerce, www.bea.gov/international
INTERNATIONALSTUDENTTOTAL
2019/20 7,939
2018/19 7,957
2017/18 7,537
2016/17 7,015
2015/16 6,141
2014/15 5,354
2013/14 4,935
2012/13 4,772
2011/12 4,600
2010/11 5,045
U.S.STUDYABROADSTUDENTTOTAL
Year
International
2016/17 % Ch%andgifef Students
Ab.
-0.2 . 2018/19
Ab.
5.6 . 2017/18
Ab.
7.4 . 2016/17
Ab.
14.2 . 2015/16
Ab.
14.7 . 2014/15
Ab.
8.5 . 2013/14
Ab.
3.4 . 2012/13
Ab.
3.7 . 2011/12
Ab.
-8.8 . 2010/11
Ab.
-3.4 . 2009/10
7 40.0Abc 5 -16.7Abc 6 0.0Abc 6 -40.0Abc
10 66.7Abc
6 -45.5Abc
11 175.0Abc
4 -71.4Abc
14 40.0Abc
10 100.0Abc 5 -
2009/10 5,222 INTERNATIONALSTUDENTSBYACADEMICLEVEL
Ab.2008/09
1999/00-2019/20
-. e
Abc
Source:TheOpenDoorsReportonInternationalEducationalExchangeisacomprehensiveinformationresourceoninternationalstudentsinthe UnitedStatesandU.S.studentsstudyingabroad.ItissponsoredbytheU.S.DepartmentofStatewithfundingprovidedbytheU.S.Governmentand ispublishedbyIE.Formoreinformation,visitwww.opendoorsdata.org.
U.S.StudyAbroad
Year 2016/17 Calculation%3Change
9K
6K
3K
0K
StudentsfromPakistan intheU.S.
Undergraduate Graduate Non-degree OPT
3,505 3,296 41.5 -6.0 2,761 2,930 36.9 6.1 306 272 3.4 -11.1 1,385 1,441 18.2 4.0
U.S.StudentsStudying AbroadinPakistan
2010 2015 2020
2000 2005
Students
A c a d e m ic 2 20 01 187/ /1 198 2 0 1 8 /1 9 % o f
2018/19 2019/20 % Total % Chang
Level Countr.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2021/02/01/international-student-applications-to-us-colleges-are-rebounding-is-it-a-biden-bounce/?sh=4aab6f6b9e3b
Although applications from China are down by 18% from last year, that loss is more than offset by large increases in applicants from several other countries; including India (+28%), Canada (+22%), Nigeria (+12%), Pakistan (+37%), the United Kingdom (+23%), and Brazil (+41%).
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American colleges and universities had become accustomed to annual increases in applications from international students throughout much of the past two decades, but that came to a halt with the beginning of the Trump administration and its embrace of several policies on travel, visas, and financial aid that were seen as harmful to the interests of foreign students. Consequently, there was great interest in the 2020 presidential election among college officials, in part because of the prospects that a win by Joe Biden would result in the reversal of several of those policies.
That anticipation was confirmed in the first week of the new administration, when President Biden signed executive orders that:
ended the ban on travel to the U.S. from several majority-Muslim countries;
revoked a Trump policy that cracked down on “sanctuary” communities;
overturned Trump’s attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census;
reinstated DACA protections, a policy that Trump had tried to remove thereby leaving undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children subject to deportation;
stopped funding and construction of Trump’s wall on the southern border of the U.S.
Now U.S. colleges are examining the best ways to respond to the possibility of a better international student market for the next few years, particularly with the availability of effective Covid-19 vaccines. Although China will probably remain the source of the largest number of students coming to the U.S., its growth may have plateaued.
As a result, colleges will begin to diversify their outreach to students in other countries. New emerging markets are there. Africa may be a prime opportunity, along with South American countries, and India, which already ranks second to China as the home country of students traveling to America for college. Other good prospects in that neighborhood include Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2021/06/11/us-universities-look-for-international-student-enrollment-to-recover-this-fall/?sh=3cea6cb245fb
Compared to 2019-20, the volume of international applicants has increased by about 9% this year according to data from the Common App, as of January 22. Most of the top “sending” countries are showing increases, with the notable exception of China, the leading source of international students. But that decrease has been more than offset by substantial increases from countries like India, Canada, Nigeria, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.
There's an appointment wait-time of 833 days for applications from Delhi and 848 days from Mumbai for visitor visas.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/us-visa-appointment-wait-time-the-shocking-difference-for-indians-3387535
Indian visa applicants require a wait-time of over two years just for getting an appointment, a US government website showed, while the timeframe is only two days for countries like China.
There's an appointment wait-time of 833 days for applications from Delhi and 848 days from Mumbai for visitor visas, shows the US State Department's website. In contrast, the wait-time is only two days for Beijing and 450 days for Islamabad
For student visas, the wait time is 430 days for Delhi and Mumbai. Surprisingly, it's only one day for Islamabad, and two for Beijing.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, who is in the US, yesterday raised the issue of visa applications backlog with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The top US diplomat said he's "extremely sensitive" to the issue and that they are facing a similar situation around the world, a challenge arising due to Covid.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html
Haroon Janjua Islamabad
https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-students-say-german-visa-delays-put-their-education-at-risk/a-63481632
Pakistani students, who have been admitted to German universities, are worried that they might lose their admissions due to long waiting times for student visa appointments at German missions in the country.
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When Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto visited Germany earlier this month, he said the visa issue is a big concern and that Islamabad hopes to "continue to be able to engage and make that process more easier."
His German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, at the joint press conference on October 7, said that the issue is high on her ministry's agenda and promised to address the problem.
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For Farooq Rasheed, getting admitted to the University of Bonn's Geodetic Engineering program this year was one of the best things that happened in his life. He was supposed to begin his studies in the western German city last week but he's still stuck in Pakistan waiting for a visa.
The 23-year-old student from Lahore city said that he had applied for a visa in July but has yet to receive it.
"My classes started last week but the university has given me exemption, and I am attending online classes for the next two-three months," Rasheed told DW, adding that he has no idea when he will receive the student visa.
It's not an isolated case. Many other students have complained of long waiting times for visa appointments at German missions in the South Asian country.
Fatima Saleem, 23, is enrolled for a masters program in entrepreneurship management and marketing at the Otto Von Guericke University in Magdeburg. She said she has been waiting for a visa appointment since May.
"I didn't know I would have to miss my first semester due to the delay in appointments from the German Embassy, as the website stated that the waiting time is 2-3 months," she told DW.
"My classes started on October 10. I hope to get my visa soon. My university has allowed me to join later, before exams. But since there are no online classes, I am facing many issues and have to study all by myself," she noted.
Students fear losing admission
Students say they risk losing their admissions if the German missions in the country fail to make an appointment for them on time.
"I am afraid, if I won't make it before exams I might lose my whole academic year, which would have a devastating effect on my future. I request the German Embassy to kindly expedite the process now and make us a priority so that we can reach there at least before exams," said Saleem.
Students who apply for a visa appointment at the German Embassy in Islamabad are receiving an auto generated message, pointing to the long waiting times.
"Given the high demand for appointments, please note that you have to wait approximately up to more than twelve (12) months for the allocation of your appointment," it reads.
The embassy hasn't so far responded to DW's repeated requests for comment as to why students are facing such long delays in getting visa appointments.
What could be the reasons behind the long waiting times?
Rasheed believes the long waiting times are due to the fact that anyone with a passport can apply for a visa appointment and they don't actually need an offer letter from a German university to do so.
This means that people book appointments long before they have even applied for university, resulting in their taking up appointment slots that would otherwise go to deserving visa applicants who actually have offer letters.
"This creates a backlog and many serious candidates get left behind," he said, adding: "The embassy should ask the candidates to provide at least an admission letter at the time of applying for appointments so that only serious candidates who have all the documentation can be considered for visa interviews."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/11/14/international-college-student-enrollment-rise/
The number of international students at U.S. colleges increased last year after a marked drop during the pandemic, according to a survey of thousands of universities released Monday.
For a normal college experience during the pandemic, these students hopped continents
The number of international students increased 4 percent in the 2021-2022 academic year to nearly 1 million students, coming from more than 200 countries, the survey found, a rebound that many higher education officials hoped to see.
But the data also indicated a drop in the number of students from China, the country that for years has sent the most students to the United States.
The Open Doors 2022 Report on International Educational Exchange was released Monday by the Institute of International Education and the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The survey included both enrolled students and those here on optional practical training — temporary work related to their academic field — at some 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States.
A separate, much smaller survey of more than 600 schools this fall offered a more recent snapshot of data, finding an additional 9 percent increase in enrollment by international students.
The numbers are closely watched for the cultural and economic impact of such exchanges; international students alter the educational experience for U.S. students studying with them. And, according to the Commerce Department, they contributed $32 billion to the U.S. economy in 2021.
In more than a century of data, Allan E. Goodman, chief executive of the Institute of International Education (IIE), said, they have seen that international exchanges occur even during pandemics and grow rapidly afterward.
The increase was welcomed by Lee Satterfield, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs. “We are thrilled to see international student numbers on the rise, and to see the United States maintain its global leadership as the top destination of choice for international students,” Satterfield said in a statement.
Satterfield said that welcoming international students to American campuses “is at the heart of people-to-people diplomacy and a foundational component of our U.S. foreign policy strategy to attract the top talent to the United States.”
More than half of all international students last year came from China or India. China sent the most — nearly a third of the total — but the numbers decreased nearly 9 percent from the 2020-2021 academic year.
At the same time, the number of students from India increased nearly 19 percent, to almost 200,000.
Before 2020, the number of students from China had been increasing since the 2009-2010 academic year, said Mirka Martel, head of research, evaluation and learning for IIE. She said the pandemic and its impact on travel is probably one of the primary reasons Chinese students were unable to travel to the United States or were choosing to defer their studies.
Speaking to whether geopolitics influenced those numbers as well, Ethan Rosenzweig, deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the State Department, said on a press call that the Biden administration has been very clear that Chinese students are welcome here. Rosenzweig said he is looking forward to China opening its borders to allow U.S. universities to recruit in person there again.
Pakistani students receive access to millions of pounds worth of scholarships and bursaries in the UK
https://www.dawn.com/news/1740162
Due to its rich educational history and culture that fosters a global perspective, the UK has become one of the most sought-after destinations for Pakistani students looking to acquire higher education. As of June 2022, the number of student visas issued for Pakistani students has surged to 28,188, marking a significant 95pc increase from the previous year.
A major contributing factor to this trend is the UK’s Graduate Route (GR) programme, which was launched in 2021. This programme allows Pakistani students to kick-start their careers immediately after completing their course, with a two-year upper limit to find employment. Doctoral graduates (PhD) are given an additional year, providing them with a competitive edge in the job market.
Moreover, the UK’s master’s degree programme is another key factor attracting Pakistani students. The programme offers extensive transformational instruction in just 12 months, comprising a combination of classes, projects, studies, and papers. Compared to other countries where the postgraduate programme lasts two years, students in the UK can start working almost a year earlier, giving them a competitive advantage while also being more cost-effective.
As a global hub for education, the UK boasts four universities in the top 10 list of the Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2023. Graduates from the UK have access to the best-in-class industry professionals, research facilities, and infrastructure to acquire practical skills, making them highly employable. According to QS Graduate Employability Rankings, UK graduates are the most employable globally. Additionally, according to a Universities UK International (UUKI) report, 83pc of international graduates stated that their UK degree helped them secure a job.
For Pakistani students who cannot afford tuition fees, numerous scholarships and bursaries worth millions of pounds are available, including the Commonwealth Scholarships, Chevening Scholarships, and others. The British Council also provides exceptional scholarships to young, brilliant Pakistanis, such as the British Council Women in STEM Scholarships and GREAT Scholarships, opening up even more opportunities for them.
A UK education prepares young students to become the leaders of tomorrow, researchers who address global challenges, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders of the future. For Pakistani students considering postgraduate education abroad, the UK offers innumerable benefits for their future professional careers.
https://uis.unesco.org/en/uis-student-flow
United Arab Emirates 24,863
Australia 11,297
United Kingdom 7,802
United States 7,511
Kyrgyzstan 6,003
Germany 5,837
Malaysia 4,243
Canada 2,607
Türkiye 2,386
Saudi Arabia 1,635
Korea, Rep. 1,465
Sweden 1,056
Qatar 1,039
Italy 936
Hungary 878
Finland 618
France 502
Norway 435
Bahrain 411
Iran, Islamic Rep. 377
Ukraine 335
Japan 330
Cyprus 318
Oman 293
New Zealand 274
China, Hong Kong 272
Ireland 263
Poland 253
Latvia 234
Spain 192
Estonia 155
Belgium 145
South Africa 138
Thailand 135
Czechia 131
Denmark 130
Austria 127
Georgia 122
Russian Federation 115
Azerbaijan 90
Lithuania 84
Egypt 77
Portugal 71
Switzerland 69
Malta 63
Uzbekistan 56
Romania 51
Kazakhstan 47
Jordan 42
Brazil 39
Bulgaria 34
India 25
Slovenia 25
Belarus 21
Luxembourg 21
Brunei Darussalam 19
Ghana 17
Iceland 17
Botswana 11
Morocco 10
Slovakia 10
Bosnia/Herzegovina 9
Greece 9
Tanzania 8
Viet Nam 5
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/05/31/hec-announces-daad-scholarships-for-studies-in-germany/
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced the German assistance organization Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) scholarships for Pakistani students who want to study in Germany.
According to HEC, the organisation has announced scholarships for students to pursue a Master’s degree in their Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS).
“Under the Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) programme, foreign graduates from development and newly industrialised countries from all disciplines and with at least two years professional experience have the opportunity to take a postgraduate or Master’s degree at a state or state-recognised German university,” the HEC statement read on Twitter.
Pakistani graduates with at least two years of professional experience can apply for the programme and must also possess a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject normally in a four-year-long course.
“Candidates can prove their motivation is development-related and be expected to take on social responsibility and initiate and support processes of change in their personal and professional environment after their training/scholarship,” DAAD mentioned on their website.
Students can find more details on the scholarship and programme on DAAD’s website.
https://monitor.icef.com/2023/04/international-students-are-returning-to-australia-in-numbers-but-not-yet-at-pre-pandemic-levels/
Short on time? Here are the highlights:
Australia’s international student numbers and overall enrolments were up in 2022, but they have not yet reached their levels before the pandemic in 2019
The Chinese market is not rebounding, and Indian students now account for more commencements (first-time enrolments) than Chinese students do
Driving the Australian international education sector’s recovery are new students from Thailand, Nepal, Colombia, Pakistan, and other emerging markets
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Australia’s international education sector is recovering from pandemic losses, but it has not rebounded to pre-pandemic performance yet according to new data from Austrade.
Australian institutions enrolled 619,370 foreign students in 2022. This is up 8% over 2021 but is down 18% since 2019.
Commencements (first-time enrolments in Australian programmes) grew by 39% y-o-y but were 23% lower than in 2019. Fewer new Chinese students depressed commencement volumes: there were 39% fewer Chinese students in 2022 than in 2019. In 2022, India displaced China as the largest source of commencements.
Total course enrolments (as distinct from total international students) nudged upwards by 4% to 746,390 in 2022, but this is 22% lower than in 2019. (Australia provides data on both international students and international enrolments – the second is always a higher number as an international student may enrol in more than one course while on their study visa.)
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Offsetting a decline in Chinese enrolments (177,470 in 2022, down 11% y-o-y) and zero momentum from India (128,980, up .03%) were notable enrolment increases from:
Thailand, the 6th largest market, up 61% to 25,792
Nepal, the 3rd largest market, up 21% to 71,805
Colombia, the 4th largest market, up 21% to 28,435
Pakistan, the 9th largest market, up 21% to 20,935
Combined, China and India still contributed half of all international enrolments in Australian institutions in 2022.
Foreshadowing the shape of the sector’s recovery in the years to come are commencement trends. Chinese commencements fell by 8% in 2022 compared with 2021, while Indian commencements increased by 45%, boosting India to the top market for Australia in terms of first-time enrolments in courses. Otherwise, the biggest stories in terms of commencements come from:
Thailand, up 145%
Nepal, up 94%
Pakistan, up 71%
Philippines, up 61%
In 2022, India and China each accounted for roughly 18% of commencements, with Nepal next at 11%.
http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=3807#
Pakistan: 64,604 students
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Bangladesh 49,151
Brazil 89,151
Canada 51,156
China 1,088,466
Egypt 43,243
India 516,000
Iran 66,701
Malaysia 55,311
Morocco 63,001
Nepal 95,268
Nigeria 71,753
Pakistan 64,604
Syria 87,057
South Africa 12,295
South Korea 100,610
Russia 57,591
Vietnam 132,559
UK 40,074
USA 109,827
Bangladesh (70,000) , Nepal (125,500), Pakistan (103,190), Philippines (62,000) and Thailand (40,720).
https://monitor.icef.com/2023/03/outbound-mobility-trends-for-five-key-sending-markets-in-asia/
Pakistan
The most recent UNESCO data (2020) counts 64,065 Pakistani students abroad in higher education. Outbound mobility from Pakistan was over 103,190 in 2022 when we consult more recent statistics published by government sources in various destinations. There have been large increases in Pakistani students recorded recently in the UK, Australia, US, Canada, and Germany.
The top three destinations for Pakistani students currently are UAE, UK, and Australia.
UAE: 24,865 in 2020 according to UNESCO
UK: 23,075 in 2021/22 (+62% y-o-y)
Australia: 15,875 in 2022 (+15%)
US: 8,770 in 2021/22 (+17%)
Germany: 7,115 in 2021/22 (+22%)
Canada: 6,405 in 2022 (+38%)
Kyrgyzstan: 6,000 in 2020 according to UNESCO
Malaysia: 4,700 in 2021
Turkey: 2,385 in 2020 according to UNESCO
Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sweden, Qatar: At least 4,000 in 2020 according to UNESCO
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/latest-updates/students-deported-from-us-may-face-five-year-entry-ban/articleshow/102870578.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Students who were deported from the United States and had their student visa cancel could face a five-year entry ban to the country, TOI said in a report.
These students can also face problems when they try entering other popular international study destinations such as Canada, the UK, and Australia, experts said
The same report also said that this can create long-term implications for these individuals if they want to get an H1B visa in the future unless endorsed by major MNCs.
Financially, the cancellation of the F1 visa results in substantial losses as students forfeit expenses including visa fees, airfare, university application costs, consultant charges, and more, which could total around ₹3 lakh.
Twenty-one Indian students were deported from the United States in a single day, sparking concerns about visa-related complications. Many of these students, hailing from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, had completed visa formalities and arrived in the US with aspirations of pursuing higher education.
Reports indicate that these students were sent back following thorough document checks by immigration officers, leading to their brief detainment. The instances occurred across airports in Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco. Students shared their confusion, as they believed they had fulfilled all requirements for their visas and were prepared to join colleges.
Lacking clear explanations for their deportation, some students revealed that their mobile phones and WhatsApp conversations were scrutinized. Moreover, they were instructed to exit the country calmly, with warnings of severe legal consequences should they voice objections. The universities these students were en route to included institutions in Missouri and South Dakota.
As per data for May and June, which is typically when F1 visas for the fall semester are issued, about 42,750 students bagged F1 visas from five consulates in India. In sharp contrast, in the same period in 2022, only 38,309 F1 visas were issued.
Studying in Europe offers Pakistani students access to world-renowned institutions, innovative teaching techniques, and multicultural surroundings. In 2019, nearly 10,000 Pakistani students registered in European colleges.
The number of Pakistani students studying abroad has grown steadily over the past decade. In 2020, 64,604 Pakistani students were studying abroad.
Some of the top countries for Pakistani students to study abroad include:
The United States, The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Malaysia, France, Singapore, Sweden.
Some of the top destinations for Pakistani students in Europe include:
Germany
Austria
Sweden
The United Kingdom
Pakistani students are required to pass language tests to study abroad. However, some universities offer scholarships that allow students to study in Europe without IELTS.
Below is the total number of F1 Visa issuances/ approvals in Pakistan since fiscal year 2018.
Fiscal Year(FY)* Approvals/ Issuances
FY 2018 1,672
FY 2019 1,593
FY 2020 654
FY 2021 4,111
FY 2022 3,848
https://visagrader.com/visa-approvals-and-refusals/F1/pakistan-pak
F1 Visa Approval and Rejection rates for Consulates/ Embassy in Pakistan
Below is the projected F1 Visa approval and rejection rates across US Consulates/ Embassy in Pakistan by fiscal year. The US Department of State does not release specific data of rejections/ refusals or denials by Country or US Consulate/ Embassy. The approval and rejection rates for F1 Visa and nationality of Pakistan that you see below are derived based on the total number of approvals across all Consulates in Pakistan and the global rejection/ refusal data shared by US Department of State.
Fiscal Year* Approval Rate Rejection Rate#
FY 2018 65.03% 34.97%
FY 2019 74.65% 25.35%
FY 2020 68.84% 31.16%
FY 2021 80.17% 19.83%
F1 Visa Approvals/ Issuances by Month and Year at Consulates/ Embassy in Pakistan
Below is the total number of F1 Visa approvals/ issuances in Pakistan by every month of the year since year 2018. The data by month of the year is a good indicator to understand the seasonality of the demand for certain visa types for your planning. You can use this data to book appointments during less busy time to avoid issues with finding visa slots.
2018
Month Approvals
January 96
February 17
March 30
April 88
May 182
June 312
July 413
August 264
September 20
October 36
November 74
December 142
2019
Month Approvals
January 71
February 18
March 19
April 65
May 195
June 303
July 436
August 203
September 31
October 61
November 161
December 263
2020
Month Approvals
January 112
February 26
March 17
April 3
May 2
June 1
July 1
August 3
September 4
October 375
November 326
December 374
2021
Month Approvals
January 236
February 79
March 131
April 185
May 286
June 832
July 576
August 488
September 223
October 282
November 341
December 443
2022
Month Approvals
January 304
February 121
March 133
April 163
May 390
June 667
July 522
August 374
September 108
October 94
November 0
December 0
F1 Visa Issuances/Approvals by US Consulate/ Embassy
You can click on the below links to explore F1 Visa approvals/ issuances data by US Consulate/ Embassy in Pakistan
Total F1 Visa Approvals/ Issuances by Fiscal Year* for Individuals with Nationality as Pakistan
Below is the total number of F1 Visa approvals/ issuances for individuals with nationality as Pakistan since fiscal year 2018.
Fiscal Year* Approvals/ Issuances
FY 2018 1,964
FY 2019 1,881
FY 2020 790
FY 2021 3,506
FY 2022 3,553
In the past two years, an overall 33% increase has been noted
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1129600-us-records-16-increase-in-admission-of-pakistani-students
A United States Department of State report recorded a 16% increase in the admission of Pakistani students to universities across the country.
The annual Open Doors Report for 2022-23 report, prepared in collaboration with the Institute of International Education (IIE), highlighted a substantial increase in the number of students from Pakistan studying in higher education institutions in the US.
"During 2022-2023, there were 10,164 Pakistani students, compared to 8,772 in the previous year, indicating an impressive 16% increase," the report read.
It also underscores the continued prominence of the US as the top destination for international study in the 2022-2023 academic year. Notably, the data reveals a significant milestone, with the US hosting over one million (1,057,188) international students during this period, marking a remarkable 12% increase from the previous academic year and representing the fastest growth rate in over four decades.
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International students in the U.S., by country of origin 2022/23 | Statista
10,164 students from Pakistan studying in America, ranking the country the 16th largest source of international students in the US
https://www.statista.com/statistics/233880/international-students-in-the-us-by-country-of-origin/
https://wenr.wes.org/2020/02/education-in-pakistan
Pakistan is a significant exporter of international students globally. According to UNESCO statistics, the number of outbound Pakistani degree-seeking students grew by 70 percent over the last decade, from 31,156 in 2007 to 53,023 in 2017. While that number is dwarfed by the more than 330,000 degree-seeking students from neighboring India, consider that Pakistan’s outbound mobility ratio—the percentage of international students among all students—is almost three time as high (2.7 percent in 2017) as that of India (1 percent). This means that it’s far more common for Pakistani students to study abroad and broaden their academic horizons in another country than it is for Indian students.
Further increases in student outflows from Pakistan are expected in the years ahead. The British Council, for instance, expects Pakistan to be among the top 10 growth countries worldwide until 2027, despite an overall cooling of international student mobility on a global scale. For one, the precarious economic conditions and employment prospects in Pakistan are a major push factor for both international students and the hundreds of thousands of labor migrants leaving Pakistan each year. Studying abroad can open immigration pathways in countries like Australia or Canada, while a foreign degree gives those that return a competitive edge on the Pakistani labor market.
Another important driver is the lack of university seats and high-quality study programs in Pakistan, particularly at the graduate level. While Pakistan has created a tremendous amount of new doctoral programs over the past decade, growing numbers of Pakistani scholars are heading abroad to access higher quality education, primarily in fields like engineering and the sciences. To modernize research in Pakistan and raise the qualifications profile of university faculty, the government supports this development with scholarship programs of considerable scale, considering Pakistan’s fiscal constraints. While most Pakistani students are said to be self-funded, overseas scholarship programs have helped thousands of graduate students to pursue studies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Cuba, Germany, France, and various other countries in recent years. Scholarship recipients are often required to return home after graduation.
The traditional English-speaking international study destinations, Australia and the U.S., are currently the top choices among Pakistani degree-seeking students, as per UNESCO statistics. Datapublished by the Australian government show that the number of Pakistani students grew almost threefold over the past decade, from 3,512 in 2008 to 10,000 in 2019, making Pakistan one of the top 10 sending countries of tertiary students in Australia.
In the U.S., likewise, Pakistani enrollments have generally been on an upward trajectory over the past few years. According to the Open Doors data of the Institute of International Education, Pakistan sent 7,957 students to the U.S. in 2018/19, an increase of 5.6 percent over the previous year, making it the 22nd most important sending country. Around 44 percent of these students are enrolled in undergraduate programs, 35 percent in graduate programs, and 4 percent in non-degree programs, while 17 percent pursue Optional Practical Training.
Other popular destination countries include the U.K. and the Muslim-majority countries Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, the latter also being a magnet for labor migrants from Pakistan. It should be noted, however, that China has emerged as a significant destination as well. China may, in fact, now host the largest number of Pakistani international students worldwide. While UNESCO does not report data for China, and Chinese government figures are difficult to compare,1 Pakistan is currently the third-largest sending country to China with 28,000 students, per Chinese statistics.
Canada (28,998) ranks 4th, Taiwan (23,157) ranks 5th, Vietnam (22,066) ranks 6th, Nigeria (20,029) ranks 7th, Bangladesh (17,099) ranks 8th, Brazil (16,877) ranks 9th, Nepal 16,742) ranks 10th, Mexico (15,474) ranks 11th, Saudi Arabia (14,828) ranks 12th, Japan (13,959) ranks 13th, Iran (12,430) ranks 14th and Pakistan (10,988) ranks 15th.
UK (10,473) ranks 16th, Colombia (10,120) ranks 17th, Ghana (9,394) ranks 18th, Germany (9,230) ranks 19th, Turkey (9,148) 20th, Spain (8,842) 21st, France (8,543) 22nd, Indonesia (8,348) 23rd, Italy (6,545) 24th and Hong Kong (5,6,27) 25th.
Other Places of Origin (175,624).
https://opendoorsdata.org/annual-release/international-students/
https://monitor.icef.com/2024/10/market-snapshot-international-student-recruitment-in-pakistan/
Recent data on which destinations are hosting the most Pakistani students include:
UK: 34,690 in 2022/23 (+50% y-o-y)
China: 28,000 before the pandemic
UAE: 24,865 in 2020 according to UNESCO
Australia: 23,380 in 2023 (+49%)
US: 10,165 in 2022/23 (+16%)
Germany: 8,210 in 2022/23 (+22%)
Kyrgyzstan: 6,000 in 2020 according to UNESCO
Malaysia: 5,000 in 2023
Canada: 4,750 in 2023 (+101%)
Turkey: 2,385 in 2020 according to UNESCO
Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sweden, Qatar: At least 4,000 in 2020 according to UNESCO
(Total Pakistanis studying abroad is about 150,000)
What the UK International Student 2022/23 data can tell us
https://monitor.icef.com/2024/08/uk-reports-record-foreign-enrolment-for-2022-23/
India (173,190 students) surpassed China (154,260) as the main sender of students to UK universities. China had been the #1 market since 2018/19. Indian students represented a quarter (26%) of all international students in the UK in 2022/23.
India (+37%), Nigeria (+39%), and Pakistan (50%) were by far the fastest-growing student source countries, year-over-year.
What the 2022/23 data can tell us
India (173,190 students) surpassed China (154,260) as the main sender of students to UK universities. China had been the #1 market since 2018/19. Indian students represented a quarter (26%) of all international students in the UK in 2022/23.
India (+37%), Nigeria (+39%), and Pakistan (50%) were by far the fastest-growing student source countries, year-over-year.
The top 10 non-EU sending markets were:
India (173,190, +37%)
China (154,260, +2%)
Nigeria (72,355, +39%)
Pakistan (34,690, +50%)
US (22,540, -2%)
Hong Kong (17,095, +3%)
Bangladesh (14,945, +18%)
Malaysia (13,005, +7%)
Saudi Arabia (9,045, +3%)
UAE (8,350, +3%)