International Admission Continues a Growth Spurt

In recent years, the University of Denver has become increasingly attractive to international students seeking undergraduate and graduate education.

The University’s international undergraduate applications for fall 2010 jumped by 26 percent in the span of a single year and more than doubled since the recruitment campaign for fall 2008. Of the 1,175 international undergraduate applicants, 569 were accepted. In addition, the University received 2,218 international graduate applications for fall 2010, 686 of which were accepted.

Most of the growth in applications is from China, though DU admission officers have not visited the country for two years. Chinese students represent 35 percent of undergraduate and graduate international students. “What we’re experiencing is really fascinating,” explained Marjorie Smith, associate dean of international admission. “The growth in China has a lot to do with the relationship building we have done with the education industry there.”

With an eye toward diversifying its applicant pool, the Office of International Admission will continue building relationships with Latin American countries, India, Scandinavia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, among others.

To ensure that a DU education is accessible to international students, the office is investigating a program that awards need-based aid to undergraduate international students. “Cost is a huge consideration,” Smith said, “because their own educational systems are very good and very inexpensive. We hope this conversation will help close the financial gap and positively affect our diversity.”