International students at universities in London, 2013-14

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Data published by London & Partners, the city’s official promotion organisation, show that the capital’s Chinese student cohort grew by 49 per cent from 2009-10 to 2013-14 and is now more than twice as large as those from the US, the next biggest group.

However, the report, titled The Economic Impact of London’s International Students, reveals that China “tends to be under-represented in the capital”, with just 15 per cent of the total number of Chinese students in the UK studying in London, compared with 36 per cent of American students.

Italians are most likely to be attracted to the capital, with 43 per cent of Italian students in the country attending a university in London.

India is the third-highest source of London’s international students, but the report states that its cohort has shrunk by 11 per cent year-on-year since 2009-10.

Overall, the overseas students at universities in London comprise nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of all international students in the UK, and more than one in four students attending London’s universities are from outside Britain.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com