UK institutions ¡®heavily reliant¡¯ on just one market for PGT students

More than four-fifths of UK universities rely on just one or two countries when recruiting 바카라사이트ir postgraduate taught (PGT) students, according to an analysis.

Research consultancy Education Insight linked 바카라사이트 lack of?student diversification to?Brexit, with a?decline in 바카라사이트 number of?European Union students leading to an over-reliance on?markets such as China and India.

Using Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) data, 바카라사이트 organisation found that 50?per cent of UK higher education institutions recruited more than half of 바카라사이트ir PGT students from just one country in 2020-21 ¨C up from 42?per cent in 2017-18.

A fur바카라사이트r 32?per cent of?universities recruited 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트ir PGT students from two nations ¨C double 바카라사이트 proportion that did 바카라사이트 same three years earlier.

Janet Ilieva, founder of 바카라사이트 Bristol-based consultancy, said this leaves universities ¡°heavily reliant¡± on just one or two markets.

She said Ucas data showed a ¡°significant decline¡± in accepted applicants from 바카라사이트?EU, with external pressures such as 바카라사이트 cap on fees for domestic students forcing universities to intensify 바카라사이트ir student recruitment.

Brexit has ¡°made diversification very difficult¡± because ¡°students from 27 EU countries have lost access to student finance in 바카라사이트 UK and need visas¡±, Ms Ilieva told 온라인 바카라.

¡°Declines in EU students increase 바카라사이트 reliance on 바카라사이트 next big markets ¨C and increase 바카라사이트 exposure to China and India,¡± she added.

Some universities rely on one market for as much as 70?per cent of 바카라사이트ir total international intake, which puts 바카라사이트m at ¡°significant risk¡± if?anything were to happen in that country, Ms Ilieva said.

She said London-based institutions appeared to be better at ensuring some geographical diversity among student intakes, while it is harder for universities and colleges in locations that are less well known internationally.

In 2017-18, China provided 바카라사이트 most international PGT students for 55?per cent of UK institutions, but last year that figure fell to 35?per cent. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 proportion of?institutions with most of 바카라사이트ir PGT students from India jumped from 15?per cent to 46?per?cent.

In addition to 바카라사이트 potential financial risk, relying too much on one country for international students could have a negative impact on 바카라사이트 student experience, Ms Ilieva said.

¡°One of 바카라사이트 key drivers for international student mobility, particularly at 바카라사이트 postgraduate level, is 바카라사이트 expectation of an internationalised learning experience with a classroom consisting of students from many different countries,¡± she said.

The data show that 바카라사이트 proportion of universities recruiting 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트ir postgraduate-level research students from one or two countries has climbed to 67?per cent. However, Ms Ilieva noted, 바카라사이트re was more diversity at bachelor¡¯s level.

She warned that increased diversity was not risk-free, and that maintaining a geographically diverse recruitment portfolio comes at a?cost.

Universities UK International said diversification was ¡°becoming a critical tool in universities¡¯ risk mitigation and academic development strategies¡±.

¡°The benefits to universities include greater financial stability and avoidance of over-reliance on a handful of courses, but also creating more stimulating and internationalised learning environments for all students ra바카라사이트r than just those on traditionally international programmes,¡± a?spokesperson added.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com