Peppa Pig and Mr Bean giving UK boost in attracting international students, survey reveals

Peppa Pig and Mr Bean giving UK boost in attracting international students, survey reveals The fictional characters have helped to sway international students when deciding where they should attend university - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in British culture – including fictional creations such as Peppa Pig and Mr Bean – represent a key deciding factor for international students choosing where to study, new research indicates. According to a survey by the British Council, more than four in five (83%) foreign students attending UK universities said British culture played an important role when selecting an overseas destination. The survey of 2,500 UK-based students originating from five countries revealed that 59% regarded fictional British figures as a major or strong influence behind their choice to study in the UK. Of those swayed by fictional British characters, Harry Potter was selected by 22%, followed by Mr Bean (21%), James Bond (21%) and the pre-school animated character Peppa Pig (19%). Administered by Censuswide in April and May, the study polled 500 UK-based students aged between 18 and 25 from each of the five leading sender nations to the UK: the US, China, India, Pakistan and Nigeria. British music was cited as a major or strong influence by more than three in five (62%) respondents deciding to undertake their education in the UK. Among those influenced by music from the UK, Ed Sheeran (18%), Dua Lipa (17%), Coldplay (16%) and Harry Styles (16%) emerged as the most popular selections. Furthermore, nearly three in five (58%) of all surveyed students stated that British cultural icons were a strong or major influence on their choice to study in the UK. Among those affected by British cultural icons, Queen Elizabeth II (18%), Princess Diana (16%), Sir David Beckham and King Charles III (16%) were selected most frequently. Catriona McCarthy, the British Council’s interim director for education, said: "The UK is renowned for our world-class degree programmes and global reputation of our higher education institutions. "It is clear from this survey, however, that UK culture is also a huge draw for international students. "At a time of increased competition, it is crucial that the UK does everything it can to maintain its position as a global leader in higher education, drawing on all aspects of our higher education proposition and a culturally vibrant UK in order to attract the best students from around the world." Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments