UK Universities Facing Funding Issues As Foreign Students Go Elsewhere

UK universities, recognized for their global prestige, are under major financial difficulties as overseas student numbers fall amid tough immigration requirements.

These constraints, combined with Brexit-related difficulties, dissuade international students and have an impact on university finance.

In 2022, around 760,000 international students were studying in the UK, with the majority coming from India, China, and Nigeria, ranking the UK second only to the United States in popularity. However, visa approvals fell by 5% last year, with a 16% decline in applications from July to September compared to 2022.

This drop is critical for universities that rely primarily on the higher fees paid by international students; British students have a price maximum of £9,250, whereas non-EU students can pay up to £31,000.

Universities UK (UUK), which represents 141 institutions, applauded the recent Labour government decision to raise the ceiling to £9,535 next year.

However, this shift provides only modest respite as inflation erodes the value of student support, which is already at its lowest per-student level since 2004. In September, UUK President Sally Mapstone stated that universities are “feeling the crunch.”

As a result, many universities are increasingly reliant on foreign students to balance their budgets, with international students accounting for more than half of the student body at institutions such as the University of the Arts London.

However, visa limitations implemented by the previous Conservative government hamper recruitment. Foreign students are prohibited from bringing family members or switching to work visas while studying under restrictions aimed at reducing immigration. International student applications declined by 30,000 in early 2024 compared to the previous year, with many choosing to study in Canada and Australia instead.

Brexit’s impact has been especially noticeable at Coventry University, where EU student numbers have dropped by 90% since Brexit. To address this trend, Coventry and other institutions are forming connections abroad.

Coventry University offers campuses in Egypt, Morocco, India, and China, allowing students to complete their degrees without having to go to the United Kingdom. This foreign growth could help to cushion declining enrollments, but fears remain that the UK’s restrictions may permanently reduce its appeal as a study destination.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli