RESEARCH REPORT - INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE APPLICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE ROLE OF GRADUATE EDUCATION IN SUPPORTING INNOVATION

摘要

Every year since 2004, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has undertaken an extensive, multi-year empirical examination of international graduate application, admission, and enrollment trends. This analysis responds to member institutions' concerns about continuing changes in the enrollment of students from abroad seeking master's and doctoral degrees from American colleges and universities. The analysis also responds to concerns about international student trends in enrollments in science, engineering, and technology programs at American graduate schools. The core of this examination is a three-phase survey of CGS member institutions. The survey collects an initial snapshot of graduate school applications (Phase I, conducted in February of each year), final applications and an initial picture of admissions offers (Phase II, June), and final offers of admission, first-time enrollments, and total enrollments (Phase III, October). The 2004 Phase II report found a 28% decrease in international applications and an 18% decline in initial admissions offers. In 2005, applications fell by 5%, but admissions offers grew 3%. Last year's Phase II report revealed a 12% increase in both final applications and initial offers of admission.