Webster Named a Top School for Hosting International Students and Study Abroad

Webster University was named as one of the top master’s-conferring institutions in the United States for for hosting international students and for sending students to study abroad by the Open Doors project. Open Doors is produced by the Institute for International Education (IIE), a collaborative project from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Education that tracks study abroad trends in higher education. 
 
Webster placed seventh among all institutions in the U.S. that confer master’s degrees on the annual list for hosting international students from outside the United States. This is the third time in a row that Webster has been recognized as a top academic institution for international students, and the first time Webster placed in the top 10. Webster also placed fourth among all institutions in Missouri and first among all master's-conferring institutions in Missouri for hosting international students. 
 
International Students at Webster said they are pleased at how inclusive the campus environment is, giving them the opportunity to celebrate their cultures while learning about the diversity found around the world. 
 
“We celebrate things like Ganesh Chaturthi and other Navratri stuff here, which is not expected, but here at Webster University, it is possible. Even the faculty members come over here and participate enthusiastically,” said Satya Sheela Sujana Maredla, a student from India. “When we are celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri here, it always makes us feel more comfortable and gives a sense of community because we are feeling more welcome.”

Chesper Tunga, a student from Rwanda, said he is impressed with how Webster is structured to allow him to explore different majors and figure out his own path. “Back home, I think you only learn classes based off your major, but here we have the GCP classes, which I think are really interesting as well, because when I first came here, I wasn't necessarily sure about it, but I'm taking a criminology class and a public speaking class, and they’re for sure one of the classes that I look forward to every single week as well,” he said. “I learn different things that I think I’m going to use outside of just the classes, which I think is fun, and I like that.” 
 
“Webster University is in a unique position in that it feels like a small school, but it has a global reach with campuses around the world,” said Samrat Ray Chaudhuri, assistant vice president for International Enrollment.  “This year, we have attracted students from more than 130 countries and have students from every continent except Antarctica. That diversity helps create an incredible experience for students who wish to explore the world and expand their horizons while also earning a college degree.” 
 
Webster was also recognized by Open Doors for sending U.S.-based students to other countries to study. This year, Webster was placed among the top 40 master’s-conferring institutions that sent students from the United States to study in other countries. According to the Open Doors report, about 23% of all undergraduate students at Webster will study abroad. This is the third time in four years that Webster has been recognized in the top 40, and the fourth time since 2009 that Webster made the list. The annual Open Doors report also listed Webster’s study-abroad ratio in its 2017 report. 

"With our own campuses abroad, as well as our study-abroad partnerships with colleges and universities around the world, Webster students have numerous opportunities for both short-term and long-term programs in other countries,” said Webster’s Director of Study Abroad Kelly Heath. “We believe that exposure to different cultures helps make a student more prepared for the increasingly diversified workplace and a better international citizen, while also broadening their horizons to new ideas and finding ways to make a positive difference in the world.” 

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Open Doors project. IIE tracks data from more than 1,500 institutions of higher education in the United States and issues its annual report every November. The reports categorize institutions as “Baccalaureate Colleges,” “Master’s Colleges & Universities” and “Doctoral Universities.” 
 
According to a press release issued this week about the annual report, the number of international students studying in the U.S. reached an all-time high in the past year, with more than 1.1 million students from other countries earning degrees in the United States. Overall, international students accounted for about 6% of all college students in the U.S., contributing more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy. The same report also found that the number of U.S.-based students studying abroad roase about 49% over the previous year, signaling a recover from the post-Covid fears over traveling internationally. 
 
Information about Webster’s study abroad programs and international admissions can be found online. For more information about the IIE report and how it collected data, visit the Open Doors website.