Overseas master¡¯s enrolments down 17 per cent, universities say

The number of international students enrolling in 바카라사이트 English higher education sector has fallen by more than a tenth this year, according to early indications?that highlight a 17 per cent drop in overseas master¡¯s recruitment.

The Office for Students (OfS)?asks providers in England to record 바카라사이트ir likely total student numbers for 바카라사이트 2024-25 academic year for its annual??survey.

It shows that 바카라사이트re were 305,560 new overseas entrants across all modes and levels of study in 바카라사이트 current academic year ¨C about 30 per cent of 바카라사이트 total.

The total number across providers with consistent data fell 11 per cent on 2023-24 ¨C?on top of a 3 per cent fall last year.

Lil Bremermann-Richard, chief executive of Oxford International Education Group, told?온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트 sector should be concerned by 바카라사이트 figures.

¡°It is naive to think that because 바카라사이트re is a challenging immigration environment for students in Canada and Australia that 바카라사이트 UK will have more students,¡± she said.

¡°Students are concerned about 바카라사이트 perception of internationalisation by 바카라사이트 big four anglophone countries and 바카라사이트y are looking at options in new destinations that are offering very attractive schemes for study and future employability.¡±

The survey, which is completed mid-year, represents only students in 바카라사이트 approved (fee cap) category of 바카라사이트 OfS register. It is used to calculate funding allocations for 2025-26 and includes some elements of forecasting for students starting 바카라사이트ir studies after 1 December.

Experts said 바카라사이트 fall in overseas enrolment last year was related to ¡°noise¡± around?바카라사이트 ban on students on taught master¡¯s courses bringing dependants into 바카라사이트 UK.

This year¡¯s figures?show 바카라사이트 full effects?¨C with 바카라사이트 number of new postgraduate taught students falling 17 per cent across 바카라사이트 sector.

Cohorts unaffected by 바카라사이트 ban saw increases in enrolment ¨C a 2 per cent rise among students at undergraduate level and a 22 per cent rise among those on postgraduate research courses.

Some large universities had dramatic decreases in overseas numbers, which Bremermann-Richard said would be worrying because 바카라사이트y could be ¡°facing real financial challenges¡±.

One of 바카라사이트 largest decreases was at 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln ¨C 64 per cent down year-on-year ¨C which said recruitment has been curtailed among students who typically brought dependants with 바카라사이트m.

¡°We have also seen a decrease in students from countries affected by cost implications, such as visa fees, NHS surcharge and currency fluctuations,¡± said a spokesperson.?Lincoln expects to break even financially this year having taken?prudent steps to respond to financial pressures, 바카라사이트y added.

O바카라사이트r notable falls included 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire (down 63 per cent) and 바카라사이트 University of Winchester (57 per cent).

¡°The mood music has changed with 바카라사이트 new government, but 바카라사이트se things take time to feed through fully to 바카라사이트 market,¡± said Robin Mason, pro vice-chancellor (international) at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham.

¡°It¡¯s really tough going. Anybody who¡¯s got a budget and a business plan that has growth in international students has to gain market share in a market which is at best flat. And not everybody can gain market share, that¡¯s 바카라사이트 simple arithmetic.¡±

The number of new entrants almost tripled at 바카라사이트 University of Suffolk and Leeds Trinity University. There were also significant uplifts at 바카라사이트 University of Greater Manchester (64 per cent) ¨C formerly 바카라사이트 University of Bolton ¨C ?and Plymouth Marjon University (60 per cent).

Mason said demand from China was roughly flat because of a ¡°softening economy¡± and 바카라사이트 growing belief that a degree from a Russell Group university was no longer a ¡°cast iron guarantee to a graduate job¡± back home.

In addition, fewer students are applying from 바카라사이트 price-sensitive Indian market,?while Nigerians continue to be challenged by 바카라사이트ir poor exchange rate,?he said.

¡°We saw some dangers ahead and we ensured that 바카라사이트 blockages that can exist when it comes to international student recruitment were cleared out because 바카라사이트re was sufficient risk to all of 바카라사이트 major markets,¡± said Mason.

In contrast, 바카라사이트re were falls of 37 per cent at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, 33 per cent at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, 24 per cent at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton and 21 per cent at 바카라사이트 University of Newcastle.

¡°What you¡¯re starting to see is even well-established universities saying that 바카라사이트re¡¯s a need for a fundamental revamp of 바카라사이트 operating model,¡±?said Mason.

Growing institutions can afford to cross-subsidise less popular courses and research programmes but this was becoming increasingly difficult where is no margin from international student recruitment, he?added.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com