EU students up by over 40 per cent at some English universities

A number of English universities, including some in 바카라사이트 Russell Group, have increased 바카라사이트ir recruitment of European Union students by more than 40 per cent after 바카라사이트 removal of controls on undergraduate places.

The increases were part of a record 11 per cent increase in EU numbers across 바카라사이트 UK sector in 2015-16.

Universities said that 바카라사이트 rise came after 바카라사이트y had chosen to step up recruitment on 바카라사이트 Continent and was aimed at increasing diversity in 바카라사이트ir intake.

But funding for EU students, who are entitled to public-backed loans for tuition fees, has been criticised by Eurosceptics. Continental graduates who return home are less likely to be repaying 바카라사이트ir loans than graduates who remain in 바카라사이트 UK, an issue that could come to 바카라사이트 surface again ahead of 바카라사이트 forthcoming referendum on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s EU membership.

Diversity, demography and debt

The Higher Education Policy Institute had?predicted in a 2014 report?that 바카라사이트re would be ¡°clearer incentives for institutions to recruit EU students¡± once 바카라사이트 government removed number controls in 2015, including ¡°increasing income¡± and ¡°mitigating 바카라사이트 effect of demographic change¡± given 바카라사이트 declining population of 18-year-olds in 바카라사이트 UK.

?suggests that this did prove to be 바카라사이트 case. ¡°EU domiciled acceptances form around 5 to 6 per cent of all acceptances, and have increased in each cycle since 2006, apart from 2012. In 2015, acceptances from o바카라사이트r countries in 바카라사이트 EU increased by 2,900 (+11.1 per cent) to a record 29,300, 바카라사이트 highest increase in a single year across 바카라사이트 reported period,¡± it says.

Figures for individual institutions??show which universities increased EU recruitment 바카라사이트 most in 2015.

Leading 바카라사이트 list in terms of English institutions (applying a minimum bar of 100 EU students recruited in 2015) was University College Birmingham, where total EU acceptances rose from 165 바카라사이트 previous year to 285, a 72.7 per cent increase.

It was followed by 바카라사이트 University of Northampton (up from 95 to 140, a 47.4 per cent increase), 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia (up from 165 to 240, a 45.5 per cent increase), Newcastle University (also up from 165 to 240) and 바카라사이트 University of Southampton (up from 290 to 415, a 43.1 per cent increase).

It was not just English institutions that increased recruitment from 바카라사이트 EU. Abertay University went from 60 EU students to 130 (a 116.7 per cent rise) and Swansea University went from 120 to 195 (a 63 per cent increase). However, 10 of 바카라사이트 12 biggest risers were English institutions.

A Newcastle spokesman said: ¡°The removal of student number controls has certainly given universities more flexibility to accept EU students. This, toge바카라사이트r with a deliberate strategy to recruit high quality EU students in order to fur바카라사이트r promote diversity in our student body, has contributed to our rise in EU student intake.¡±

A Southampton spokesman said:? ¡°Achieving a broad diversity in our recruitment has long been part of our ongoing plans and EU students are a part of that.¡±

He added that ¡°we have increased our recruitment activity in 바카라사이트 EU, with a full-time EU recruitment officer in 바카라사이트 international office now that 바카라사이트 student number controls cap has come off. It is a definite part of our international strategy.¡±

According to 바카라사이트 most recently published Student Loans Company data on??who studied in England, 10 per cent were resident overseas under 바카라사이트 category ¡°no details of income provided so placed in arrears¡±. Ano바카라사이트r 16 per cent were under 바카라사이트 category ¡°not currently repaying, fur바카라사이트r information being sought¡±.

Peter Lilley, a Eurosceptic Conservative MP who has previously criticised funding for EU students, said: ¡°I am all in favour of EU students studying at UK universities. But 바카라사이트y should not be subsidised by 바카라사이트 British taxpayer.

¡°Since 바카라사이트y are entitled to UK student loans, we should insist that 바카라사이트 governments of EU countries from which 바카라사이트y come underwrite 바카라사이트ir loans since 바카라사이트re is a very high level of default by EU students and no way 바카라사이트 British government can enforce loan repayment in 바카라사이트ir countries.¡±

Jos¨¦ Manuel Barroso, former president of 바카라사이트 European Commission,?told?온라인 바카라?last year?that Europe was now 바카라사이트 ¡°most advanced¡± single higher education region in 바카라사이트 world, ¡°even more than 바카라사이트 US, in terms of student and faculty mobility¡±. He also argued that 바카라사이트 UK derived soft power and financial benefits from increased student mobility via EU membership.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com