Applications from international students to U.S. graduate schools rebounded this year to their 2003 levels, reports the Chronicle of Higher Education, noting a new report released by the Council of Graduate Schools:

“Overseas applications rose by 9 percent from 2009 to 2010, and initial offers of admission to foreign students also increased, by 3 percent, reversing a 1-percent dip last year...

“…Offers of admission to prospective graduate students from India fell 4 percent in 2010, and offers of admission to students from South Korea dropped 7 percent. The decreases followed declines of 14 percent for each country in 2009.

“…Offers of admission to students from China, meanwhile, clocked their fifth consecutive year of double-digit gains, climbing 16 percent.”

Nathan Bell, director of research and policy analysis at the Council and author of the report, noted that he believes the results in the report are a hopeful sign: “The declines in offers weren’t nearly as bad as last year,” he said. “It might indicate we're moving toward something more stable for next year.” Bell cautions, though, that the U.S. still faces an aggressive world higher education market:

“With continued competition for international students from other countries and an increased capacity for graduate education in some countries, U.S. graduate schools cannot assume we will always remain the destination of choice for students from abroad.”