HESA, part of Jisc, has introduced a new interactive dashboard that consolidates data on international students studying in the UK and students enrolled overseas through UK transnational education (TNE). The tool was launched at Universities UK International’s TNE Conference on September 30 and provides an accessible way to examine global higher education trends and track changes in international and TNE activity across the sector.
The dashboard draws on HESA open data from 2012/13 to 2024/25, enabling users to explore student populations by country, higher education provider, academic year, and level of study. It allows universities to investigate where UK TNE students are located, the origins of international students in the UK, how populations have shifted over time, and how the balance of home, international, and TNE students varies between providers.
HESA explained that the dashboard is intended as a starting point for universities exploring international opportunities. It can support planning and strategy teams in identifying trends, understanding the wider market, and developing questions for deeper analysis.
For institutions requiring more detailed insights, tailored datasets are available. These provide bespoke extracts of HESA data, with Jisc analysts assisting universities in defining requirements and accessing data to address specific strategic questions.
The launch comes at a time when international education remains a priority for the UK, with providers considering how recruitment, partnerships, and TNE can contribute to sustainable global growth. Jisc noted that successful TNE requires not only data but also consideration of how provision will operate in different countries and contexts.
Jisc’s wider support includes areas such as digital equity, licensing, cybersecurity, connectivity, trust and identity, research, and consultancy. Its TNE initiatives also draw on HESA data to help the sector understand the scale and characteristics of UK TNE. Research conducted with 19 UK higher education providers, involving feedback from more than 5,000 participants across 30 countries, highlighted recurring challenges around connectivity, access to digital resources, cultural differences in technology use, and digital skills.
Together, the dashboard, tailored datasets, and broader support services aim to help universities move from understanding international trends to identifying opportunities and considering how they can be delivered effectively.
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