With insufficient homegrown talent entering key disciplines such as engineering and the physical sciences, the United States has long relied on foreign graduates to make up its PhD shortfall. But since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the number of international students enrolling in US graduate programmes has dropped dramatically. As a result, numerous initiatives have been launched in a bid to attract students back to the country. And, according to a report issued by the US Council of Graduate Schools, these efforts are at last beginning to bear fruit.

The report shows that, compared with last year, 2006 has seen an 11% increase in applications from foreign graduates and a 12% increase in the number of positions being offered (see http://www.cgsnet.com). But the key figure — how many students actually enrol — will not be available until October.

The year-on-year decline in enrolment was the result of several factors, many of which are linked to US policy. The tightening of security in the wake of the terrorist attacks caused significant problems for foreign students trying to get visas. Even those who already had visas faced considerable difficulties re-entering the United States from their home countries. The fresh focus on defence-related research has also meant that the US budget for basic research and development has remained relatively flat — or has even declined for some disciplines — making the country less attractive. At the same time, other nations including Britain and Canada have actively wooed foreign graduate students.

But, as the new report explains, these issues have spurred US universities into action: 79% of admissions offices surveyed said that they had implemented at least one new practice to entice foreign graduate students to their institution. These initiatives include dedicated staff for recruiting and assisting the students, special funding schemes and international collaborations. If the US labour market is to avoid losing its competitive edge in science, then the decline in enrolments must be reversed. The latest statistics may provide a glimmer of hope, but there's still a lot of work to be done.