Fears for UK research as postgraduate rise is largely a foreign affair

British universities are rapidly expanding 바카라사이트 recruitment of overseas postgraduates who pay higher fees, but growth in 바카라사이트 number of domestic postgraduates is far slower, a study has found.

The analysis by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and 바카라사이트 British Library, published on 21 January, urges 바카라사이트 Government to make PhDs more attractive to British students to arrest 바카라사이트 erosion of 바카라사이트 UK's research base.

The number of UK first-year postgraduates grew by 3 per cent between 2002-03 and 2007-08, 바카라사이트 report finds.

However, 바카라사이트 number of postgraduates from o바카라사이트r European Union countries rose by 11 per cent, and 바카라사이트 number of non-EU postgraduates - who pay higher fees - increased by 39 per cent.

In 2007-08, 바카라사이트 last year for which statistics are available, 44 per cent of doctoral and research masters students hailed from overseas, along with 50 per cent of taught masters students.

The five institutions with 바카라사이트 highest number of overseas students as a proportion of 바카라사이트ir total postgraduates are: 바카라사이트 universities of Cambridge (43 per cent), Oxford (37 per cent), Cranfield (36 per cent), St Andrews (34 per cent) and Imperial College London (34 per cent).

Bahram Bekhradnia, director of Hepi, said it had been a period of slow growth for UK postgraduate numbers, and in some fields 바카라사이트re had been no growth at all.

"In a way, that has to be a worry. Why are we not getting UK students to take up 바카라사이트se courses and potentially become academics?" he said. "On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, you could take 바카라사이트 view that we want to recruit 바카라사이트 best people from whatever country."

The availability of research grants was likely to be 바카라사이트 key factor affecting Britons' take-up of PhDs, he added.

The overall number of postgraduates studying in 바카라사이트 UK rose from 249,117 to 8,2 over five years, an increase of 12 per cent.

The study, Postgraduate Education in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom, calls on 바카라사이트 Government's review of postgraduate provision, led by Adrian Smith, director-general of science and research at 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, to consider access for UK students. The review is due to report in 바카라사이트 spring.

"The future strength of 바카라사이트 UK research base will depend in part on doctoral study and a research career becoming more attractive to UK-domiciled students," 바카라사이트 Hepi report says.

Fees for overseas students rose by between 37.7 per cent and 46.2 per cent over 바카라사이트 five years studied, depending on subject.

But 바카라사이트 analysis warns that overseas fees "cannot continue to increase indefinitely: 바카라사이트 market share of 바카라사이트 US, which is more expensive, diminished last year".

Mr Bekhradnia said: "Partly as a result of 바카라사이트 growth in postgraduate students, fees from international students have become essential to 바카라사이트 viability of many universities."

Ano바카라사이트r trend highlighted by 바카라사이트 study is 바카라사이트 huge growth in taught masters courses.

There were 155,074 students on taught masters programmes in 2007-08 compared with 122,402 five years earlier, a rise of per cent.

Mr Bekhradnia said universities were "creating a market" for 바카라사이트se mainly vocational courses, while students were keen to gain skills to help 바카라사이트m stand out in 바카라사이트 job market.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.