New global higher education data has revealed that universities in the United Kingdom (UK) experienced a 19% decline in international postgraduate enrollment this autumn, outpacing a 13% drop in the United States as strict immigration policies reshape global student mobility.
Traditional English-speaking study destinations are losing ground in the race for global talent, with the United Kingdom bearing the brunt of the downturn.
According to a joint global survey of 437 universities conducted by Studyportals, NAFSA, and the Oxford Test of English, nearly four in five (79%) British institutions reported fewer overseas postgraduate starters for the current academic year.
While both the UK and the US are grappling with shrinking graduate cohorts, the rate of contraction in Britain is noticeably steeper, raising urgent financial alarms for UK universities that rely heavily on international tuition fees to subsidize domestic research and teaching.
In contrast to the UK, postgraduate enrollment in Canada fell by 3 per cent. Numbers were up slightly in continental Europe and Asia from a low base.
The UK reduction, which the universities attribute primarily to tougher immigration controls, sparked a fresh appeal by their representative body to the government over concerns about arbitrary decision-making when granting visas to foreign students.
Vivienne Stern, head of Universities UK, said she had written on Wednesday to the Independent Commissioner for Borders and Immigration.
“We are asking the Home Office to look at the quality of decision-making. Some reasons seem to us spurious,” she said.
Of the 41 UK institutions surveyed, 79 per cent said their international postgraduate numbers had fallen this year, and 43 per cent reported a decline in undergraduate intakes from abroad.
Studyportals, which conducted the survey with the NAFSA educators association and Oxford Test of English language proficiency tester, estimated that the reduction would cost the sector up to £7bn in annual tuition fees and other revenues.
UK universities withdraw offers from international students to avoid blanket ban
Edwin van Rest, Studyportals chief executive, said: “This doesn’t come at a good time for the UK university sector or the UK economy in general. It’s a big problem on top of the already dire financial situation universities have.”
Official statistics on current international student numbers are expected before the end of the year. Studyportals’ survey is largely consistent with other recent indicators, including a reduction in granted student visa applications and levels of student interest in applications.
In recent months, the UK has introduced restrictions on families accompanying international students, a reduction in the time they can remain to work after completing their studies and will impose a levy on international students. New Home Office rules also threaten to remove universities’ rights to sponsor students’ visas if more than 5 per cent are rejected when they apply.
Stern said the drop in numbers tallied with information she was receiving from her members.
“It’s been really, really tough. The frustration that this is self-inflicted by the UK,” she added. “Government is really hurting us. Given we have a system which is financially quite fragile, this is a major problem.”
Earlier this week, a separate survey by the Chartered Association of Business Schools of 59 of its UK members — which contribute significant fees to their universities’ revenues — showed 69 per cent reported lower international enrolments this academic year.
A recent government study estimated that the cost of university tuition for most courses was above the £9,790 annual cap currently which is funded by student loans, forcing institutions to rely on international students charged higher fees to subsidise domestic tuition and research.
The current funding squeeze has already sparked thousands of job losses in the sector and triggered university mergers.
