UK universities’ enrollments from non-EU international students are still up
The coronavirus pandemic has caused international student numbers to decline, but UK universities’ enrollments from non-EU international students are still up. The loss in revenue from universities’ tuition fees is undeniable, but there are reasons why international students are attracted to British universities despite the current situation. These include opportunities for employment, global politics, and perceived teaching quality.
Worldwide politics have a direct impact on higher education. In particular, this is relevant for relations with China, the country where the largest number of international students come from.
Due to the increased tension between China and the US thousands of visas for Chinese students to study in the US have been declined. The way other countries have dealt with the coronavirus pandemic and the measures taken have affected the number of international students and may have led students to choose the UK instead. For example, the Australian government encouraged foreign students to return home. Australia and New Zealand’s borders are being closed to foreign nationals.
There are several other advantages for students choosing the UK. The duration of the courses is one of them. Most undergraduate courses last three years and master’s degrees one year in the UK. This is shorter than programmes in countries such as the US. Although the university course fees in the UK are high compared to other countries, these shorter courses keep the overall costs down.
Additionally, international student applications may have been encouraged by reintroducing the two-year post-study work visa that allows students to stay in the UK and seek employment after completing a degree. It is aimed mainly at Indian students because they dropped significantly when the post-study work visa was stopped in 2010.
Most students continue to feel that the UK offers a high quality of teaching, however, there is room for improvement. Students from East Asia are more likely to feel disappointed about their learning experiences. This may be due to the cultural and historical differences in educational approaches and a failure by universities to focus consistently on inclusive and innovative teaching practices.
The universities have to address discrimination and racism, especially for students from China or East Asian countries who reported COVID-related discrimination. This issue needs to be tackled as safety is a priority for applicants and their families. Ongoing concerns include rising numbers of COVID cases on campuses and lockdown measures that have seen students self-isolate or avoid socialising outside their accommodation that affected international students’ experience.
The shift to online teaching may also affect student satisfaction as students often do not consider online learning as of the same quality as a face-to-face option. International students are also hoping for experiences beyond the classroom. The test for British universities will be whether they can still offer adequate social and cultural opportunities for international students, despite reduced socialising opportunities.
International student recruitment, in the near future, will depend significantly on the experiences provided by UK universities in the coming months. There are opportunities for UK universities to provide meaningful learning and life experiences for international students through empathy and care. The investment and support for staff by university leadership will be needed to provide necessary resources and manageable workloads amid unanticipated student numbers and shifts to online learning.
