The survey, conducted by Study London in May 2010, found that 32% of international students said the fact that the city was hosting the next Olympic and Paralympic Games had influenced their decision to study there. The figure in May 2009 was 17%.

The result of the survey indicates that the Games are helping to raise the profile of London’s higher education sector and the trend could be expected to continue in the next two years.

Latest figures show London accommodates around 100,000 overseas students from more than 200 countries, contributing approximately £1.5 billion annually to the UK’s economy.

Previous research has shown that higher education in both Sydney and Manchester benefitted from hosting the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2002 Commonwealth Games respectively.

Sydney saw an increase of 64% in international students between 2000 and 2001 according to Impacts of the Olympic Games on HE in the host city by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, 2008.

The University of Manchester saw an increase in applications of 22% immediately after the 2002 Games, according to London 2012: An Analysis of the Contribution of Universities to Major Sporting Events by London Metropolitan University, 2004.