Foreign applications to U.S. graduate schools increased 11 percent, according to a 2006 survey of UT and 149 other universities.
But the survey, conducted by the Council of Graduate Schools, which represents the research and academic interests of graduate students nationwide, found that foreign applications were down 23 percent from 2003, despite the increases. The numbers began to decline in 2002, following heightened visa restrictions after Sept. 11, 2001, such as lengthier security checks and application processes.
Council spokesman Stuart Heiser said the increase was the result of an effort between graduate schools and the State Department to make the United States more accessible to foreign students.
Pat Ellison, UT admissions associate director, and her office tabulated estimates of the number of applications. She could not be reached for comment.
A fall 2005 report by International Student and Scholar Services, however, showed an increase in international students for the first time in three years. Of the 4,546 international students enrolled at the University, 2,870 are in graduate school. Korea is the largest contributor, with 873 students enrolled from that country, and India, the next largest contributing country, had 711 students.
Jerry Wilcox, director of the International Office, said University practices such as reimbursing students for the $100 information system fee charged by the Department of Homeland Security have aided UT's international student growth.
"It's modest, but $100 is $100," he said. "Every little bit helps."
Heiser said an international student's contact with the government is the first key to attracting them to an American graduate school.
"Trying to get a visa from the government is the first impression they have of authority in this country," he said. "The United States generally has the reputation of having the best graduate programs in the world, so the perception of quality is already there."
UT President Bill Powers previously said his administration's goal, aside from curriculum reform, will be diversifying the campus culturally and academically. He has spoken about his goal of offering alternatives to the top 10 percent rule, extending accessibility of admissions to students in foreign countries and expanding recruitment efforts, which include sending UT students to high schools around Texas to promote the University.
Mary Gonzalez, co-director of the UT Latino Leadership Council, said diversifying the campus will take an equal balance of recruiting minority and international students.
"It's important to learn about the experiences of people outside of the U.S.," Gonzalez said. "International students can give us that firsthand. We could always use more international students."
He also said that, aside from Sept. 11, the economy can affect international student enrollment.
"When economy is skittish, people stay, but that's conjecture on my part," Wilcox said.
Wilcox said the University does not set benchmarks or quotas for recruiting international students. He said the initiative to decrease total UT enrollment to 48,000 makes it difficult to accept large numbers of foreign students.
"Ther can never be a free-floating enrollment for undergrads," he said. "We have to always make sure that we are accessible to international students, be we also have to cater to our Texas people."
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