The Open Doors 2011 survey has recently been published by the Institute of International Education; the detailed report highlights the trends of foreign students studying in the US, as well as information on American students studying overseas.

The results have proved quite interesting with the overall number of international students studying in America increasing by 4.7%, despite the economic downturn and the increased efforts from other countries such as Australia and China to attract more students to their campuses. Their hard work over the past 12 months must have paid off, after upping their marketing strategies due to the fierce competition from around the world.

There has been some distinct changes in where these students are coming from in comparison to last year. The number of students from African and European countries has stayed around the same, only dropping 0.5-1% from last year. However, Asia and the Middle East has seen an increase of students choosing to study in America with the number of Asian students increasing by 30,000 and those from the Middle East increasing by 11,000.

Some individual countries have seen some very dramatic changes since 2009/10, with countries such as Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and East Timor sending over 40% more students in comparison to last year. And, at the other end of the scale, countries such as Liberia, Laos, Cuba and North Korea sending at least 25% less than the previous year.

Business and Management remains the most popular subject, with 21.5 of students choosing subjects in this area, closely followed by Engineering at 18.7%. The biggest increase in subject interest was Intensive English Language, where the number of students choosing courses in this field increased by 24.0% compared to last year.

To find out more about how you can join the growing number of students choosing the US for their higher education please visit the USA pages on i-studentadvisor. You can also register for free at our online university matching service i-studentenquiry, to see which universities are right for you. Speak to students already studying in the US and learn what it’s really like at i-studentlife.

The Open Doors Report and International Educational Exchange is published by the Institute of International Education, the leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States.

Libyan assets, which include the Libyan-North American Scholarship Programme, were frozen by the United States in February after the outbreak of civil war in the country. Approximately 1,900 Libyan students are currently studying at US colleges and English language schools, many whose tuition fees, medical cover and living allowances have been financed by the Scholarship Programme.

In March, the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) were granted permission to use payments (an estimated $1.3 million) from Libya’s Ministry of Education already in their possession, to continue helping Libyan students.

“Now more than ever Libyans will need support from their North American friends,” said CBIE Chair of the Board of Directors Dr Vianne Timmons. “We are committed to helping in all possible ways.”

However, with the total cost of the Scholarship Programme forecast to exceed $200 million in the upcoming school year, more funds will be needed to continue helping Libyan students.

“In recent days,” reads a report from the New York Times “the Canadian group — which estimates that the cost of the programme will jump to $206 million in the coming school year — has sought help from the State Department and the United Nations to unblock some Libyan accounts, hoping to keep the students enrolled.”

An article on msnbc website claims that many students “are facing an end to their funding next month [June].” If indeed the funds do subside it’s predicted that many of the students would look to apply for immigration protection or political asylum in order to stay and complete their studies.

Ultimately, until a decision is made by the United States as to whether or not Libyan Government assets will be unfrozen, the educational futures for many Libyan students will remain uncertain and the prospect of returning to a country rocked by political unrest remains a stark reality.

Are you interested in going to university overseas and joining the thousands of people who make the move every year to become international students? We can help you. Our sister site i-studentenquiry is a free matching that could help you find the right-fit university or college overseas.

In three easy steps you could be matched to the university or college that is perfect for you:

1. Visit www.i-studentenquiry.com
2. Select a graduate level and fill in the short registration form choosing the countries and subjects you’re interested in as well providing us with as much detail as you can about your current studies.
3. Hit “Submit”.

After 48 hours you will receive an email with a list of institutions that match your criteria, with links to their websites and online prospectuses.

You will also be able to re-access our registration form with the new “My Account” feature. Using your email address and the password provided to you, you can then re-enter the site and amend or add any information you would like. You are also able to view all previous matches you have received.

So what are you waiting for?

Take the “search” out of your research and visit i-studentenquiry now.

GOOD LUCK!