Bis research paper number 128 The wider benefits of international higher education in the uk

5. Other research findings 
5.1 Results and observations 
5.1.1 Semi-quantitative results of interview preparation questions 
Within the research process, alumni who had agreed to be interviewed were asked to 
respond to a short online questionnaire, as outlined in chapter 3, encouraging them to 
think about certain topics relating to the interview. 80 interviewees provided these 
responses. Although this was not intended to be a representative sample of international 
graduates who have studied in the UK, there is nevertheless some value in presenting 
their responses as a broad indication of the thinking of the alumni as a group. 
The substantive career benefit most widely recognised (by over 90%) was the influence of 
skill development during their UK HE experience on their progression (Figure 4). This was 
somewhat more commonly cited than the influence of the qualification itself (just under 
75%). Over 80% suggested that their UK HE experience had directly contributed to gaining 
their current or a previous job. Nearly a third (and this included most types of graduate) 
had been prompted to consider a new career direction as a result. 
Given the dominance of potential career benefit in motivations for international study, 
these figures reflect positively that such enhancements were being perceived by the 
majority of the alumni interviewed. 
 
Figure 4
Perceived extent of influence of UK HE degree experience on aspects of 
graduates’ careers (
N
=80) 
When asked about how their UK HE degree experience had influenced other aspects of 
their life, beyond career, the proportions reporting impact were somewhat more varied 
(Figure 5). About 75% reported substantive impact in terms of new friends and contacts 
from their UK HE institution, and slightly more new friends/contacts based in the UK made 
during their stay in the UK. Although only around 25% travelled back to the UK more 
regularly as a result of their UK HE for professional purposes (which could presumably 
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The Wider Benefits of International Higher Education in the UK 
also be impacted by visa issues), this was over 40% for leisure or social purposes. Over 
60% reported that they directly influenced other people to study in UK HE. It should be 
noted that this questioned whether they had actually influenced people, rather than just 
whether they would influence people (which has elsewhere been considered as a proxy for 
overall satisfaction with their experience).