International enrolment in higher education has been a subject of sustained attention within UK politics, especially on the topic of UK-China relations. On 24 June, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy presented the findings of the long-awaited, yet non-publicised China Audit (GOV.UK, 2025). Responders raised many issues regarding the UK university sector’s relationship with China, ranging from insufficient cultural exchange to greater national interest concerns, which some in parliament suspect the Audit does not sufficiently explore (UK Parliament, 2025).
Exploring data on the consistent influx of Chinese international students, and the much greater increase in Indian International Students within the UK, this article will discuss the opportunities and threats these notable and relevant trends present.
