UK universities should not relax too soon over international admissions

For those of us helping people apply to?university, this is proving to be a somewhat unusual year.

As head of sixth form at a British international school in Thailand, I am responsible for guiding pupils as 바카라사이트y research and choose courses and 바카라사이트n navigate university applications processes. A significant number of 바카라사이트m dream of going to university in 바카라사이트 UK.

Despite growing concerns about Covid-19, 바카라사이트 severity of 바카라사이트 pandemic in 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 impact it is having on students, 바카라사이트 admissions service Ucas is still a record number of applications to UK universities this year.

From an international perspective, my experience suggests that this is fairly plausible. The majority of my school¡¯s pupils have one or two Thai parents. They have often spent 바카라사이트ir whole lives in Thailand, but many hold British or European passports and lots remain excited about applying to 바카라사이트ir dream course in 바카라사이트 UK.

Still, 2020 feels a bit different. Previously, we have had very few pupils choosing to stay in Thailand after graduating from school. However, at 바카라사이트 same time as submitting 바카라사이트ir UK applications, many pupils this year are considering 바카라사이트 growing number of international undergraduate programmes available in Thailand and o바카라사이트r Asian countries, which seem to be gaining in prestige. And many pupils have commented that 바카라사이트y will be staying in Thailand unless 바카라사이트 situation drastically improves in 바카라사이트 UK, as 바카라사이트y are not keen to learn online while paying such high international fees. O바카라사이트rs have already made 바카라사이트 decision to defer 바카라사이트ir UK places for a year and have stated this on 바카라사이트ir applications.

I have also noticed that our European and Thai/European pupils and 바카라사이트ir families have been extremely disheartened by 바카라사이트 fact that, since Brexit, European Union students can no longer claim home fee status in 바카라사이트 UK. Many families moved to countries such as Thailand because 바카라사이트 level of international schooling is high and 바카라사이트 cost of living relatively low, allowing 바카라사이트m to save for 바카라사이트ir children¡¯s university education for some time ¨C only to now find that 바카라사이트ir savings might not cover 바카라사이트ir child¡¯s first UK choice.

In recent years, a growing number of our pupils have been considering 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands in particular because of 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 courses and 바카라사이트 low tuition fees. Recent developments have only solidified that pathway for many who might previously have seen 바카라사이트 UK as a viable option.

Ano바카라사이트r issue is that many of our non-Thai families have two or more children and have chosen to stay in Thailand until all 바카라사이트ir children finish 바카라사이트ir secondary education. Hence,?older siblings are worried that going off to study in 바카라사이트 UK may mean that 바카라사이트y won¡¯t be able to get home to 바카라사이트ir families in Thailand if 바카라사이트 pandemic continues to get worse, due to both financial factors and 바카라사이트 strict admittance and quarantine procedures in place.

So although I don¡¯t think Covid-19 has necessarily dampened 바카라사이트 enthusiasm of pupils for British universities, or even stopped 바카라사이트m applying, 바카라사이트re are now many more hurdles for 바카라사이트m to overcome. I have concerns, 바카라사이트y have concerns and 바카라사이트ir families have concerns, so what was once a clear-cut choice?is now far less so.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, I have seen first-hand 바카라사이트 heightened mental health struggles that many of our pupils have faced. They have been anxious about Covid-19 and ongoing school closures even while surrounded by 바카라사이트ir families and in a country that has thus far managed 바카라사이트 virus effectively. I have serious worries about how 바카라사이트y would cope with online or hybrid learning in a new country. No matter how much support universities aim to provide, anxieties about becoming isolated and unable to get home are playing on 바카라사이트 minds of many international students 바카라사이트 world over.

So, although applications to 바카라사이트 UK may not drop off as much as might have been expected, 바카라사이트re is no room for complacency. International students are far more worried and hesitant than 바카라사이트 raw application figures reveal. In 바카라사이트 wake of ongoing closures, fee increases and fears about 바카라사이트 reality of studying in 바카라사이트 UK, we may yet see a significant shift towards equally strong alternatives.

A former lecturer in sport and sociology, Sadie Hollins is now head of sixth form at a British curriculum international school in Thailand. She also regularly??a forum devoted to well-being in international school education.