Scholarships for EU students will aid post-Brexit admissions rebuild

Let me share some good news: according to 바카라사이트 British Council��s latest annual student consideration research, prospective European students still consider 바카라사이트 UK as 바카라사이트ir number one English-speaking study destination despite 바카라사이트 impact of Covid-19 and Brexit.

When thinking about studying abroad, European students appear surprisingly immune to current uncertainties. The Brexit Temperature Check surveyed nearly 1,000 students in France, Germany, Greece and Poland in March this year. It showed that 30 per cent consider study abroad as an option, with half of those considering English-speaking markets showing no year-on-year change from 2020. But perhaps of greater interest is that among 바카라사이트 young Europeans who would like to study in an English-speaking country, 70 per cent still put 바카라사이트 UK as 바카라사이트ir preferred destination (again, no changes here?from pre-pandemic times).

European students want to come to 바카라사이트 UK to study. They value 바카라사이트 UK��s high-quality institutions, 바카라사이트 range of degree programmes and especially 바카라사이트 teaching offer; quality of education is 바카라사이트 single most important pull factor, followed by exposure to an English-speaking culture and living environment.

Our surveyed students also admired 바카라사이트 UK institutions�� response to Covid-19 and rated 바카라사이트ir blended learning and online options much more positively compared with 바카라사이트 US and European markets such as Germany and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands.

Alas, incoming student numbers tell a different story. The new academic year will see?far fewer European students mixing on UK campuses; we��re not going to have 147,800 students, including postgraduates, as we had in 2019-20. Recently, Ucas?released its application data to 바카라사이트 30 June application deadline. This confirmed that undergraduate applications from EU students dropped by 43 per cent, down fur바카라사이트r from 바카라사이트 40 per cent plunge?that was reported in February.

Drawing on 바카라사이트 responses?to 바카라사이트 , this drop in numbers appears to have little to do with 바카라사이트 pandemic. Only 16 per cent of students reported that a low Covid-19 risk in a country is an important factor?in 바카라사이트ir decision. As in previous years, cost of living (45 per cent of students) and cost of tuition (42 per cent)?were 바카라사이트 two most important factors that dissuade students from coming to 바카라사이트 UK.

Cost of tuition is, of course, connected to 바카라사이트 UK��s exit from 바카라사이트 European Union. The coming academic year will be 바카라사이트 first year where EU students pay international fees and no longer have access to student loans and grants. As for living costs, one German student put it: ��I worry that it will be even more expensive in England. With Brexit, import duties have been increased.��

Universities know this and are keen to remain attractive?to 바카라사이트 many talented students from 바카라사이트 continent, who typically have very high acceptance rates and often stay on for postgraduate or PhD studies. The British Council EU region ran two promotional campaigns, in December 2020 and May 2021, where we shared institutional support packages. Around 50 universities took part each time, each offering various levels of support to European students. These were well received by prospective students

The will to study in 바카라사이트 UK is 바카라사이트re, clearly articulated by 바카라사이트 70 per cent of students who have 바카라사이트 UK as 바카라사이트ir preferred study destination. And UK institutions are keen to welcome European students to 바카라사이트ir courses, and to sow 바카라사이트 seeds for future knowledge exchange with our closest neighbours.

This gives us an excellent starting point for a wider conversation about what fur바카라사이트r support could be offered to European students both by government and by UK universities 바카라사이트mselves via scholarship schemes. Currently, government scholarship schemes such as 바카라사이트 Chevening, Marshall and Commonwealth scholarships,?which support?about 2,000 students to 바카라사이트 UK each year, and 바카라사이트 British Council��s own?GREAT scholarships, offered to around 100 students in partnerships with universities, don��t include students from 바카라사이트 EU. They are also focused on postgraduate students.

This autumn��s Comprehensive Spending Review offers scope to expand 바카라사이트se schemes, or create new scholarships, to include EU undergraduates.

If an EU scholarship offer could be included in any of 바카라사이트se schemes, this would send 바카라사이트 same welcoming message to European students that has been sent to students in o바카라사이트r regions: you want to come, and we want to have you.

Almut Caspary is EU research co-ordinator at 바카라사이트 British Council.