Graduate schools in the United Statesare reporting a nine percent increase in applicationsfrom international students this year.The increase is the same as two years ago.Last year's gain was eleven percent.China, Mexico and Brazil showed the biggest increasesin applications to enter master'sand doctoral programs this fall.Engineering is the top area of studyfor international studentsand had the biggest increase in applications.Gains in business and physicaland earth sciences were close behind.Life sciences showed no growth in the latest surveyby the Council of Graduate Schools.The survey includes the top five countriesthat send graduate students to the United States,plus Mexico and Brazil.The top five are China, India,South Korea, Taiwan and Canada.Applications from China climbed eighteen percent this year.That was down from last year.India's number increased just two percent.Applications from South Korea and Taiwandecreased by one to two percent.Applications from Africa were down five percent,while the Middle East and Europe showed growth.Council President Debra Stewart saysfinal results will not be available until the summer.DEBRA STEWART: "Remember, applicationsdo not necessarily convert to enrollment.So about forty-seven percent ofall international applications to U.S. graduate schoolsactually come from students from China.But the share of the applicant poolthat actually ends up enrolling in U.S. graduate programsis a bit lower though their application numberswere considerably higher."Ms. Stewart says last fall,for example, twenty-nine percent ofall international graduate students were from China.This year is the seventh year of big increasesin applications from China, where Ms. Stewart points outthat more and more students are finishing college.DEBRA STEWART: "There are just a huge number of talented students,the number growing ever year,because of the tremendous growthin the undergraduate population in China.Now, China has felt the recessionlike the rest of the world has felt the recession.So it certainly is possiblethat these very exceptionally strong numberscould be a reflection of recession experiencesin China, as well."George Ofosu from Ghanais working toward a doctorate in political scienceat the University of California, Los Angeles.He says he was attracted to UCLA's coursework,libraries and other resources, including financial aidhe would not have had at home.GEORGE OSOFU: "It was an ideal opportunity for me to go through the system and get admission here.One, get the training and,two, get some funding to pursue the studies.So I think, yeah, the experience here is really phenomenal."And that's the VOA Special English Education Report,written by Jerilyn Watson.