Open Doors

According to the Institute of International Education's Press Release, in 2009/10, more American students are going to less traditional destinations. YAY! Exciting! 


"The United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and China, remained the top host destinations. Each of these destinations hosted more U.S. students in 2009/10 than the prior year, with increases ranging from two to five percent. There has been a surge of interest in study in China in the past decade, with nearly 14,000 students studying in China in 2009/10 compared to fewer than 3,000 in 1999/00.


The report found notable increases in U.S. students going to study in many of the less traditional destinations.  Fifteen of the top 25 destinations were outside of Western Europe and nineteen were countries where English is not a primary language.  There was a 44 percent increase in U.S. students going to India.  Israel, Brazil and New Zealand also showed large percentage gains.  Substantial increases were reported in U.S. students going to Egypt.


[...]


The United Kingdom remained the most popular destination, with a total of 32,683 (a 4 percent increase). Italy is second, (increasing 2 percent to 27,940), followed by #3 Spain (25,411, up 5 percent), #4 France (17,161, up 2 percent), and #5 China (13,910, up 2 percent). Other destinations in the top 25 were: #6 Australia (9,962, down 11 percent), #7 Germany (8,551, up 3 percent), #8 Mexico (7,157, down 2 percent),  #9 Ireland (6,798, down less than 1 percent), #10 Costa Rica (6,262, down 2 percent), #11 Japan (6,166, up 7 percent), #12 Argentina (4,835, up 3 percent),  #13 South Africa (4,313, up 4 percent),  #14 India (3,884, up 44 percent and moving up from #21 the prior year), #15 Greece (3,700, up 2 percent), #16 Czech Republic (3,409, down 7 percent), #17 Israel (3,146, up 61 percent), #18 Chile (3,115, down 11 percent), #19 New Zealand (3,113 up 12 percent), #20 Brazil (3,099 up 12 percent), #21 Ecuador (2,960,up 4 percent), #22 Austria (2,701, down 5 percent), #23 Netherlands (2,369, up 2 percent),  #24 Peru (2,316 up 7 percent), and  #25 Denmark (2,228, down less than 1 percent)."


Source: IIE.org