BOURNEMOUTH University could see its foreign student numbers boosted by nearly 500 - if the government gets its way.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox have published a brand new International Education Strategy to cement Britain’s role in the global market by increasing the number of international students studying in the UK by more than 30 per cent.

The ministers say it will help boost the income generated by education exports to £35 billion.

The UK currently hosts around 460,000 international higher education students and the education sector generates approximately £20 billion per year through education exports and transnational activity, which includes income from international students, English language training, education providers setting up sites overseas, and education technology solutions being sold worldwide.

This strategy sets out an ambition to grow the total number of international students during the year to 600,000 and generate £35 billion through education exports by 2030 It focuses not only on retaining existing markets such as Europe, but raising the profile of the UK education sector in global markets such as Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The UK’s education system is world-leading and its reputation is the envy of many countries around the globe, Damian Hinds said.

"There is no limit to our potential and this strategy will help cement our status as a world-leader in education, while creating real benefits for the country and students across the globe," he added.