International student applications to Canterbury University have dropped by more than half since a year ago.

By last month, the university had received 169 applications from international students for next year – 55 per cent less than the 372 received at the same time last year.

Last year, foreign tuition generated 12.3 per cent of the university's gross revenue.

University pro-vice-chancellor student services and international, Nello Angerilli, said the numbers were a concern, but it was "too early to be really worried".

For 2011, the university was budgeting on international students making up about 9.5 per cent of its roll. This year they made up 9.2 per cent, with 2026 enrolled.

If applications did not pick up, the budget would be reviewed, Angerilli said.

Foreign students were important for more than financial reasons, he said. They had a vital part to play as Canterbury sought to be seen as a global university.

"We want to be considered as a strong institution outside of New Zealand and known as a world-class learning environment."

Angerilli said applications from Saudi Arabia were down sharply, while those from Malaysia and the United States had also dropped.

Applications from China were up after a decline since the 2003-04 financial year.