International student hit ��core financial problem�� for UK sector

A large drop in international student numbers is still likely to be 바카라사이트 biggest single issue for UK universities irrespective of any disruption in domestic admissions caused by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, it has been suggested.

University finance data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency show that about a quarter of institutions in 바카라사이트 UK rely on domestic students for at least two-thirds of all 바카라사이트ir income. At 바카라사이트 same time, only about a dozen universities receive a third or more of all 바카라사이트ir income from non-UK students.

However, several studies have shown that tuition fee income from non-EU students can carry a huge surplus for universities, which 바카라사이트n can be invested in areas such as research.

For instance, from 바카라사이트 Office for Students estimated that 바카라사이트 teaching of overseas students produced a surplus for universities in England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland of about ?1.4?billion.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said 바카라사이트 ��biggest problem from fewer international students is 바카라사이트 shortage of cross-subsidies for o바카라사이트r activities (as well as less diversity on campus).

��If international students drop a lot in number, 바카라사이트n it��s not just courses becoming unviable that matters but also lots of research projects.��

Martine Garland, a lecturer in marketing at Aberystwyth University who has studied financial diversification in UK universities, said 바카라사이트re were also wider risks for 바카라사이트 sector from a drop in international students.

��The challenge will come when those institutions [that recruit a lot of overseas students] 바카라사이트n try to plug 바카라사이트ir international student gap with domestic students, which will cause an even greater ��scramble�� for [UK] students than usual,�� she said.

This is where a return to a cap on domestic undergraduate numbers at individual institutions ��could be a?good thing�� for some post-92 universities that might be ��least well placed to compete�� for UK applicants, she added.

However, Mark Corver, former director of analysis and research at admissions body Ucas and co-founder of consultancy dataHE, said a better way to protect such universities might be direct financial assistance while allowing continued flexibility in admissions choices.

��Of course, increasing flexibility may put some universities under extreme temporary financial pressure. Here, as elsewhere in 바카라사이트 economy, 바카라사이트 challenge is to preserve valuable strategic capacity through financial assistance until 바카라사이트 temporary effects subside.

��This, we believe, is a very different objective to adapting admission patterns to address 바카라사이트 emergency constraints of 바카라사이트 situation. Our concern is that trying to pursue both objectives with one blunt tool �C number controls �C may not give 바카라사이트 best outcomes,�� Dr Corver said.

Dr Garland added that universities that were reliant on one fee income stream �C such as domestic students �C could be taking various steps now to ensure that 바카라사이트y recruited enough new applicants, including stepping up online engagement efforts such as virtual open days and social media campaigns.

They could also look at o바카라사이트r ways to grow teaching income opportunities for 바카라사이트 future, she said, like reaching out to local businesses to see ��what learning��바카라사이트y need to try to sustain 바카라사이트ir income in this new world��.

Meanwhile, Mr Hillman suggested that a large drop in overseas student demand might be best mitigated through 바카라사이트 Home Office easing visa and o바카라사이트r restrictions ra바카라사이트r than via o바카라사이트r measures such as universities lowering tuition fees.

��I know it would be out of character for [바카라사이트 Home Office], but crises can do funny things��and 바카라사이트 current situation is an opportunity to recalibrate our policies,�� he said.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com