Skip Global Navigation to Main Content
Skip Breadcrumb Navigation
Skip Left Navigation
Special Feature

International Education Week 2011

“…We’re the home to the world’s best colleges and universities, where more students come to study than any place on Earth. What’s more, we are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea -– the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny…”
- President Barack Obama

International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. IEW Fact Sheet

International Students in the United States [Open Doors 2011]

The number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by five percent to 723,277 during the 2010/11 academic year. >> View Open Doors data


 

 

Open Doors Fact Sheet: South Korea 

INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Educational Exchange Data from Open Doors 2011

In the 20010/11 academic year, 73,351 students from South Korea were studying in the United States (up 2% from the previous year). South Korea is the third leading place of origin for students coming to the United States.

Academic Level: The majority of South Korean students study at the undergraduate level. In 2010/11, their breakdown was as follows:

51.7% undergraduate
30.7% graduate students
9.4% other
8.2% OPT (Optional Practical Training)

Historical trends: After consistently increasing through the 1980s and 1990s, the number of South Korean students in the U.S. decreased in the late 1990s due to the Asian financial crisis. Following a rebound of the economy, South Korean student numbers have increased significantly since 1998/99. In 2001/02, South Korea moved from the fourth-leading place of origin to third, after China and India, and continues to hold that spot.

[source: Source: Open Doors: Report on International Educational Exchange, published annually by IIE with support from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs]

USG Publications

  • Campus Connections
    Campus Connections

    A globalized economy makes business and employment spill across national boundaries, so an education abroad is likely to make a young person better prepared for the world’s future. Almost double the numbers of students travel abroad for an education today as compared with 20 years ago. Campus Connections examines the international study experience and its influence on individual growth.  

  • Choosing a Career
    Choosing a Career

    This edition of eJournal USA rambles down the many varied paths that Americans take on their way to find their life's work. Professionals in various fields explain how they got there, and some wrong turns they made along the way. Experts describe how young people can weigh and explore the options before them.  

  • World Youth Building a Future
    World Youth Building a Future

    This edition of eJournal USA, "World Youth Building a Future," opens a window on the real life experiences of young people who have left home and family to participate in an international exchange program. Young American adults offer first-person accounts of their discoveries in educational programs abroad, and exchange students from various other countries share their insights ... 

  • USA Education In Brief
    USA Education In Brief

    USA Education in Brief covers the development of the public school movement, beginning with "common school," (the iconic little red schoolhouse) in the 18th century, through the Land-Grant university movement to the G.I. Bill of Rights and the civil rights movement which expanded educational opportunity to all U.S. citizens. Additional topics include 21st century challenges; civic, bilingual, and special ...  

Multimedia

Useful Web Resources

U.S. Department of State - The Bureau of Consular Affairs offers an array of information for U.S. citizens and foreigners planning international travel.

U.S. Department of State - The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is at the forefront of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an Internet-based system that collects and maintains information on foreign participants in exchange programs.

EducationUSA is a guide to higher education in the United States.

The Fulbright Program is one of the oldest and most widely known U.S. government exchange programs.

Engaging the World: US Global Competence for the 21st Century features 15 videos and other resources demonstrating the vital importance of US global competence in a broad spectrum of professions.