U.S. GRADUATE EDUCATION: Foreign Enrollment Rebounds After 3-Year Slump -- Bhattacharjee 313 (5793): 1559b -- Science

U.S. GRADUATE EDUCATION: Foreign Enrollment Rebounds After 3-Year Slump -- Bhattacharjee 313 (5793): 1559b -- Science:

"After a 3-year decline, the number of foreign students starting graduate studies in the United States rose 4% last year. And, continuing the upswing, the number of international graduate applications to U.S. universities shot up 12% this year, suggesting that the country may be regaining its positive image among foreign students.

Observers credit the rebound, documented in a 643-institution survey released this week by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), to speedier processing of visa applications and increased international outreach. 'The U.S. government has clearly made efforts' to modify some of the restrictive visa policies that were put in place after the 2001 terrorist attacks, says CGS President Debra Stewart. 'The visa situation is still not perfect, but it is much better than it was in 2004.' A majority of foreign-born graduate students pursue degrees in the sciences and engineering."

Good news!