Our international students boost Sheffield economy by £120 million

The University of Sheffield have unveiled ground breaking research at the House of Commons today, showing international students in the city are responsible for pumping over £120 million into Sheffield's economy over a single year.

The study, commissioned by the University of Sheffield through Oxford Economics, highlights the huge contribution international students make to the city and the UK economy.

It's the first research by a university to evaluate both the financial contribution and the costs of international students, concluding there are net benefits to the city's economy of £120 million, and to the wider region of up to £176 million.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Keith Burnett said: "Here at Sheffield, we're proud of the extensive contribution our international students make to both the University and the city.  I'd like to thank our international students for this important contribution and show the world how much we value it."

Students' Union President, Abdi Suleiman, said: "We are an International students' union, distinguished by our diversity, invigorated by the intermingling of colours and cultures, made profound by wisdoms from around the world. To have the diversity we have always prided ourselves on so comprehensively celebrated on economic grounds is simply put very validating. £120.3 million in net benefit to the Sheffield economy is what International students are worth. £120.3 million of livelihoods and investment. Sheffield without the bright and interesting folk of the world would be more boring and poorer. Literally £120.3 million poorer."

The report's parliamentary launch was jointly hosted by Paul Blomfield, the Labour MP for Sheffield Central, and Nadhim Zahawi, the Conservative MP for Stratford-upon-Avon, at which a Sheffield Students' Union video exploring how we are all international students was also launched.

Full details of the report to be found on the University of Sheffield's website.

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