International recognition and local acknowledgement of SMU’s academic approach and programmes is leading to increased numbers in student applications to the University’s six schools. The number of applications in 2008 showed an increase of 23% over the numbers for 2007. The 2008 admissions exercise received a total of 15,933 applications, which is a significant increase compared to 12,911 in 2007. Interestingly, there was a 56% increase in the number of International applications in the past year, with 3,789 and 2,436 applications submitted in 2008 and 2007 respectively. In 2007 foreign students comprised 19% of the cohort and totalled 396 undergraduates.