More apply to study in UK, Chinese numbers up

The number of Chinese students applying to study at British universities this year rose by 30 percent over the previous year, pushing the total population of would-be students from China above their peers from Northern Ireland for the first time, according to the latest statistics.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, which manages admissions to the United Kingdom's universities, said 19,760 students from China applied for access to British universities this year, compared to 18,520 from Northern Ireland.

Overall, a record number of 81,340 students from outside of the European Union chose the UK as a study destination, an increase of 8 percent compared to the previous year. Despite Brexit uncertainty, the number of applicants from the EU rose by 1 percent to 50,650. Among UK residents, 275,520 people applied to go to university, which was up from last year's 272,920.