’SC leads in international students


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USC leads the nation in international student enrollment for the 11th year in a row, according to a report released Monday.

The report was released by the Institute of International Education and supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the Department of State. In the 2011-12 school year, USC enrolled 9,269 international students with a record enrollment of 2,515 Chinese students representing the largest group. The second-largest group of international students were from India, with 1,265 enrolled. In fall 2011, about 71 percent of international students were participating in graduate programs.

President C. L. Max Nikias said in a statement released Monday that USC’s large international student population enhances the educations of all students on campus.

“USC is so proud of its exceptional international students, as well as its ability to continually draw such talented students from all over the world,” Nikias said in a statement. “These students arrive on our campuses with a broad range of experiences and perspectives, as well as tremendous intellect and creativity. They benefit enormously from their time at USC, while our domestic students learn about cultures outside their own. The bonds our students form — and the professional connections they establish — remain with them for life.”

Associate Dean of Student Affairs Tony Tambascia said USC’s concerted efforts to attract international students will encourage them to attend the university.

“At USC, international students from over 115 different countries participate fully in both the academic and co-curricular aspects of campus life,” Tambascia said in a statement. “The university’s leadership is dedicated to helping international students have a great Trojan experience, and I think this is part of why so many students from around the world enroll each year.

The report also found that USC ranked sixth for the total number of students pursuing study abroad programs, with 2,340 students participating in these programs in the 2010-11 school year.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and New York University ranked second and third place, respectively, for number of international students, according to the report.