The article analyzes the peculiarities of using the terms “overseas student”, “foreign student” and “international student” in various educational and cultural contexts. It was found that British scientists prefer to use the term “international student”, because it better reflects the realities of globalization, internationalization and student mobility, which meets the modern needs of educational institutions and the international community. It is emphasized that the term “foreign student” remains the dominant term in Ukrainian education due to its legal certainty and established practice, however “international student” is also gradually coming into use, especially in the context of European integration and educational exchanges. Analysis of the use of the terms “foreign” and “international” student on the example of the British Council and HESA shows how important is the correct definition of students in international education statistics. A change in the HESA counting methodology in 2009, when students were classified by nationality rather than place of residence, revealed a significant difference in the number of international students in the UK (a difference of 32%), highlighting the extent to which counting methodology can influence research outcomes and state policy.