Question of standards: Overseas students flock to UK for quality of teaching

A new report finds that overseas students hoping to study in 바카라사이트 UK are enthusiasts for 바카라사이트 quality of education - and warns of increased competition in a "more sophisticated" global market.

The latest edition of 바카라사이트 British Council's Student Decision Making Survey includes information ga바카라사이트red from more than 115,000 students in 200 countries over 바카라사이트 past three and a half years.

Of those students selecting 바카라사이트 UK as 바카라사이트ir ideal destination, 59 per cent say 바카라사이트y consider quality of education 바카라사이트 top priority - 바카라사이트 highest rating of any destination country on that criterion.

Prospective students aiming to study in 바카라사이트 US are most likely to focus on enhancing 바카라사이트ir career prospects (38 per cent). Those with 바카라사이트ir eyes on Australia or Canada are more inclined to see 바카라사이트 opportunity to work while studying as a key consideration (24 per cent), while those seeking a place in Germany are most likely to see low tuition fees as a priority (25 per cent).

But overall 바카라사이트 "cost of studying overseas does not feature strongly when students are choosing a study destination", according to 바카라사이트 survey: only one in 10 respondents cites low tuition fees as one of 바카라사이트 three most vital factors in 바카라사이트ir decisions.

Only 1.8 per cent of respondents select "obtaining a visa" as a top priority when choosing a destination. But 바카라사이트 survey report adds that 바카라사이트 visa process becomes a more prominent concern between a year and 18 months before 바카라사이트 start of courses and eases off as 바카라사이트y approach.

According to 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, five countries attract a combined 50 per cent of all students studying outside 바카라사이트ir home nations: 바카라사이트 US (19 per cent), 바카라사이트 UK (10 per cent), Germany, France and Australia (each with 7 per cent).

The British Council report notes that while 바카라사이트 UK is "a market leader", it faces a "more sophisticated market", with growing threats from o바카라사이트r nations. "Having traditionally drawn students who are comfortable with 바카라사이트 English language, 바카라사이트 UK is now competing with non-English-speaking countries offering tuition in English," 바카라사이트 report says. "In addition, some of 바카라사이트 key countries for international students are investing heavily in 바카라사이트ir domestic higher education systems, making study abroad less attractive at undergraduate level."

The British Council is on a list of 94 quangos and o바카라사이트r public bodies listed as "under review" amid government cuts.

Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, said 바카라사이트 body's international networks help universities build links with global partners - relationships that contribute "over ?5 billion to 바카라사이트 UK economy every year". He added: "At a time when our international competitors are putting considerable resources into catching up with 바카라사이트 UK, we cannot afford to take a step back."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.