International students’ value to city and region is £227m – new report

Published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and Kaplan International Pathways, with analysis carried out by London Economics, the study provides a constituency-level breakdown of the number of international students living in each area, the economic value they generate and the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs they support.

The findings underline the important role international students play not only in enriching campus life and bringing diverse perspectives to Hull, but also in contributing to the prosperity of the city and wider region.

For the three Hull constituencies figures show:

• Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham: £213.1m benefit, £17.8m cost, net effect: £195.3m. Value per member of the resident population: £1,605 and 1,510 FTE jobs supported
• Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice: £27.7m benefit, £2.5m cost, net effect: £25.2m. Value per member of the resident population: £230 and 195 FTE jobs supported
• Kingston upon Hull East: £7.1m benefit, £0.6m cost, net effect: £6.5m. Value per member of the resident population: £60 and 50 FTE jobs supported

Professor Tom Lawson, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull, said: “International students make a hugely important contribution to Hull and the wider region. These figures demonstrate the significant economic value they bring to our communities, supporting local businesses, sustaining jobs and helping our city to thrive.

“Their impact extends far beyond economics. International students enrich our campus and communities with diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences, helping to create a vibrant and globally connected environment that benefits everyone.

“We are proud to welcome students from around the world to the University of Hull and to see the positive difference they make across our region. As these figures show, international education delivers substantial benefits locally while strengthening the international partnerships and relationships that are so important to our future success.”

Nationally, the analysis shows international students who began higher education courses in the UK in 2024/25 are expected to generate a net economic benefit of £40.4 billion for the UK over the course of their studies.