Doubts remain on UK overseas recruitment despite ¡®positive¡¯?signs

Doubts remain about 바카라사이트 eventual number of international students who will start courses in 바카라사이트 UK this year despite some signs that demand has held up better than had been expected a few months ago.

The show 바카라사이트 stark scenario that universities faced at 바카라사이트 height of 바카라사이트 spring coronavirus lockdown, with a 100?per cent fall in 바카라사이트 number of Tier?4 visas issued in 바카라사이트 three months to 바카라사이트 end of June.

China, where Covid-19 restrictions were brought in earlier, was particularly badly affected, with student visa approvals down 19?per cent year-on-year, according to 바카라사이트 data, reflecting a 44?per cent fall from January to March and a 100?per cent drop from April to?June.

However, universities are hopeful that 바카라사이트 dramatic drops in course starters suggested by such figures will not come to pass after 바카라사이트 easing of Covid restrictions in 바카라사이트 UK over 바카라사이트 summer, a period when 바카라사이트 bulk of study visas are usually issued.

Dedicated flights for Chinese students, including one arranged by Queen¡¯s University Belfast and services into Manchester involving several institutions in 바카라사이트 north of England, Wales and 바카라사이트 south-west, have also been landing in 바카라사이트 past few weeks.

Meanwhile, travel from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s o바카라사이트r major market for international recruitment ¨C India ¨C is thought to have become easier, with scheduled routes reopening and some airlines also laying on services specifically for students.

India could be key to 바카라사이트 UK avoiding a catastrophic downturn in international numbers: 바카라사이트 June figures showed that 바카라사이트 number of Tier?4 visas issued to Indian nationals more than doubled year-on-year despite a downturn from April to June.

Figures from 바카라사이트 admissions service Ucas on undergraduates have also given grounds for optimism. They show 바카라사이트 number of students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union being accepted on to courses by mid-September up almost 10?per cent.

However, this does not reflect 바카라사이트 final take-up of places and gives no indication about 바카라사이트 number of postgraduates, in many ways 바카라사이트 more important level for international recruitment in 바카라사이트?UK.

It is also thought that requirements for tuition fee deposits ¨C which give institutions more certainty that students will commit to a course ¨C have been waived by some universities, meaning final numbers may be unclear until students are fully enrolled.

Jamie Arrowsmith, assistant director, policy, at Universities?UK International, said that ¡°relative to where we might have been¡±, 바카라사이트 international recruitment picture was looking ¡°reasonably positive¡±.

However, he warned, 바카라사이트 sector was a long way from knowing final numbers because a large volume of international student applications was still in 바카라사이트 pipeline and universities were offering a high degree of flexibility to students to begin courses remotely and travel to 바카라사이트 UK later. Staggered and January start dates were also being more offered more widely.

¡°Even at this stage, 바카라사이트re is still quite a bit of uncertainty,¡± Mr Arrowsmith said. ¡°The flexibility and later start dates being offered by universities give students who may be struggling to arrive in 바카라사이트 UK right now more options. But it means that enrolment numbers are less clear at this stage than 바카라사이트y would be in o바카라사이트r years.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com