MU maintains number of international students
Some students face visa difficulties, while others have financial problems.
Published Nov. 16, 2004
Although the number of international students has decreased nationally for the first time since 1971, MU has kept stable its number of international students. The Middle Eastern population at MU has been decreasing significantly however, because of difficulties getting visas since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Malaysian population also has been decreasing since the Asian economic crisis in the 1990s.
MU has 1,338 international students, including 294 undergraduates and 1,041 graduates ' the number increased by 17 students from last year.
International Center Director James McCartney said the number of international students has remained consistent after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"The lowest peak was 1998 to 1999, when Eastern Asia had a serious economic crisis," McCartney said. "The factors that affect international student enrollment are first economical and second difficulties with getting visas."
Chinese and Indian populations have been dramatically increasing at MU, with 199 Chinese students and 70 Indian students in 1997. MU has 283 Chinese students and 232 Indian students.
On the other hand, the Middle Eastern population and the Malaysian population have been significantly decreasing.
Junior Malaysian student Swee Foo Ong said increasing tuition and too few scholarship opportunities for international undergraduates have contributed to the decline in the Malaysian population at MU.
"Some universities offer scholarships for international undergraduates even before they come to the university," Ong said. "Many people go to those universities rather than MU."
In 1997, MU had 178 Malaysian students. This year there are 27.
Tuition for international undergraduates has increased 38 percent since 1997, and tuition has increased by 33 percent for international graduates.
MU requires that international students pay out-of-state fees.
The Middle Eastern population at MU has decreased from 101 in 2002 to 61 in 2004.
"This semester, seven students from (United Arab Emirates) are graduating," senior Salem Al Saari said.
Saari said no new students are coming, because it is difficult for them to get visas.
Abdullah Sherbin, a senior from Saudi Arabia, said he has not visited his country for more than two years.
"If I go back, it will take too much time to get a visa again," Sherbin said. "Sometimes, it takes two weeks, but sometimes months. And sometimes the American Embassy rejects applications for visas."
McCartney said the International Center has been trying to help international student enrollment.
McCartney said the admissions office tries to make coming to the United States more efficient.
"We went to Washington, D.C., to meet sponsor agencies and asked them to encourage their students to come to MU," McCartney said.
McCartney said the center is trying hard to recruit more international students, because American students will benefit from interaction with people from other countries.
"Diversity is extremely important," McCartney said. "See my clothes? Everything I wear is from other countries. Many foods we eat are from other countries, too, and the world is interdependent now."
