SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 21: For the first time since 1971, American colleges and universities have seen a fall in the number of foreign students as visa delays have caused thousands of applicants to wonder if it's worth the hassle to try to study in the United States.

Foreign enrolment was down 2.4 per cent in 2003-04, according to the latest "Open Doors" report by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Some universities saw drops as big as 23 per cent.

US higher education is coming to grips with other trends that could weaken its magnetic pull on the world's scholars: a slow economy, growth of higher education in places like China and India, and aggressive competition from other English-speaking countries like Australia, Canada and UK, the report said.

Australia, Britain, and even Canada have boosted their foreign-student enrolments by double-digit figures in recent years, the report said. Five international education groups joined together last week and called on President Bush to work with experts on a national strategy to keep foreign students flowing in.

The goodwill these students generate around the world after learning about American society firsthand is essential post 9/11, they argue. In addition, many graduate programs, especially in mathematics and sciences, depend heavily on foreign talent. International students bring about $13 billion a year into the US economy.

Meanwhile, individual universities are doing what they can to boost recruitment and make life easier for applicants and current students. Indiana University has decided to offer more scholarships this year after it saw its foreign applications drop by 21 per cent for graduate students and 14 per cent for under grads.

Indiana University is also speeding up the application process to give students more time for security clearances. Boston University representatives are travelling abroad to try to counter any negative perceptions of America.