"Historically, our ability to recruit the best and brightest international graduate students has enabled the U.S. to become a leader in ground-breaking research and innovations," she said.

"International students stimulate the U.S. economy and research enterprise in many important ways, and we must develop policies that encourage strong, stable growth in international graduate applications and enrolments," Stewart said.

Preliminary increases in applications varied by broad field, the report said. The three most popular fields of study — engineering, physical and earth sciences, and business — together account for 64 percent of all international students enrolled in US graduate programmes

They were also the fastest growing, at 14 percent, 16 pe cent, and 7 percent, respectively. Gains in applications were also found in 2014 in arts and humanities (3 percent) and other fields (2 percent).

Rates of international applications to social sciences and psychology programmes were unchanged from the prior year.

Applications in education declined 1 per cent and life sciences fell, 6 percent.
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