Indian nationals led the list of recipients for study and research permits, securing a total of 50,308 authorisations. This figure represents 11.2 per cent of all permits issued throughout the year, making India the top country of origin for international students in terms of permit approvals.
Close behind were Chinese nationals, with 46,989 authorisations, constituting 10.4 per cent of the total. Moroccan nationals followed in third place, with 21,871 permits issued, accounting for 4.9 per cent.
The top ten nationalities receiving study permits were as follows:
- Americans: 20,726 authorisations (4.6 per cent)
- Turks: 16,972 authorisations (3.8 per cent)
- Russians: 15,127 authorisations (3.4 per cent)
- Algerians: 13,321 authorisations (3 per cent)
- Tunisians: 10,609 authorisations (2.4 per cent)
- Colombians: 10,289 authorisations (2.3 per cent)
- Cameroonians: 9,343 authorisations (2.1 per cent)
Collectively, these top ten countries represented 47.8 per cent of the total 450,777 study and research permits granted.