The number of students seeking to study MBAs abroad is on the rise, according to research from the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC).

The latest research shows 46% of all graduate business programmes saw growth in international applications, with China and India topping the list of foreign applicants, especially for full-time MBA programmes, while 83% of finance programmes, 69% of management programmes, and more than half of accounting programmes reporting increased volume over 2010.

Speaking on a conference call presenting the findings, GMAC researcher Rebecca Estrate said: “The 2011-12 international pool is being driven by international applicants. Full-time MBA programmes are most attractive to international applicants. The masters in finance programmes had the greatest increase in application volumes had the highest rate of international students. Four out of five for this programme were international students.

“We are seeing a dramatic rise in the percentage of international applicant programme types. This year, 51% of all full-time two-year MBA applicants were international. Compared to last year, international applicants were only 44% of the total applicant pool, and 36% of masters accounting applicants were international last year, compared with 46% this year.”