11-13-2007

Contact: Maureen Miller, (614) 247-2462

Ohio State ranked a top university for international students

OSU students also studying abroad in record numbers

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University ranks as one of the nation's top public universities for the number of students studying abroad and for its international student enrollment, according to a national report released this week.

Ohio State is ranked 10th among the nation's research institutions with 1,858 students studying abroad and 12th among all U.S. universities in hosting international students, with a total of 4,345* students representing 113 nations.

These findings were issued as part of the Open Doors 2007 report, an annual survey published by the Institute of International Education. It is the first time that Ohio's State's Study Abroad program has made the top 10 list.

Ohio State University Provost Joseph Alutto says the university is very committed to promoting global awareness as an integral part of the academic experience.

“There is quite literally no region in the world where Ohio State students could not find themselves having a study-abroad experience,” Alutto said. “And at any given time, there are several thousand international students studying on this campus, so there is a constant two-way flow of students to bring a global perspective.”

The report found that the number of international students enrolled in colleges and universities in the United States increased by 3 percent to a total of 582,984 in the 2006-07 academic year. It is the first significant increase in total international student enrollments since 2001-02.

Ohio State also ranked 6th nationally among research institutions with 955 students studying abroad for at least one quarter or more. The most popular destinations for Ohio State students to study abroad include: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, China and Brazil. Nationally, the leading destinations for studying abroad are the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and Australia.

International students at Ohio State are from 113 different countries including, China (806); Korea (687); India (673); Taiwan (232); and Japan (101). Nationally, the leading home countries for international students are India, China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

The data presented in the annual Open Doors report are obtained each year through surveys sent to over 2,800 accredited U.S. institutions. Separate surveys are conducted for international scholars and U.S. study abroad programs. The Institute of International Education has conducted an annual census of international students in the United States since its founding in 1919.

The annual report is released as part of the nationwide observance of International Education Week (Nov. 12-16), a joint initiative established by the U.S. Departments of Education and State.

At Ohio State, the week is celebrated with a number of activities promoted by the Office of International Affairs (OIA), which oversees Ohio State's study abroad programs and international students and scholars services. The office also advances high-quality international education programs, scholarships and service activities to promote global opportunities for Ohio State, its faculty, staff and students. For more information, see http://oia.osu.edu/

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*The IIE number does not match Ohio State's reported international enrollment for 2006 of 3,650.

The IIE definition of international student expands on Ohio State's and includes two categories of students who are not currently enrolled in classes for credit. They include "Optional Practical Training" students who are not currently taking classes, but are continuing their education through practical training in their field of study; and other non-degree students such as those pursuing Intensive English education.