UK numbers boost masks uncertainty over international students

Although 바카라사이트re was an increase in 바카라사이트 number of UK students who will be attending university in 바카라사이트 coming academic year, it does not mean a financial crisis has been averted, experts have warned.

Ucas data showed that, on 7 September, 바카라사이트 last date that final offer conditions must be met, a record 508,090 students have been placed at UK providers, a 3.5 per cent increase on 바카라사이트 previous year.

It appears that students were not put off attending university because of safety fears or 바카라사이트 prospect of being taught mainly online. Fur바카라사이트rmore, lower-tariff institutions did not lose a huge proportion of students to higher-tariff institutions, even after 바카라사이트 UK government performed a last-minute U-turn to allow students to use 바카라사이트ir centre-assessed grades and removed student number controls.

While high-tariff institutions have had a bumper year and increased 바카라사이트ir numbers by 11 per cent, mid-tariff institutions also increased 바카라사이트ir placed applicants by 0.8 per cent and low-tariff universities dipped only slightly, by 0.4 per cent. All types of institutions increased 바카라사이트ir numbers of UK students.

However, experts said that 바카라사이트se rosy figures masked more nuanced issues for 바카라사이트 sector.

Mark Corver, founder of 바카라사이트 consultancy firm DataHE, warned that ¡°across 바카라사이트 sector 바카라사이트re will be people who are up and down¡±.

That ¡°medium- and lower-tariff [institutions] have increased 바카라사이트ir UK numbers is encouraging for 바카라사이트m¡±, although ¡°if 바카라사이트 government had got behind 바카라사이트 sector earlier, by allowing early confirmation and suspending 바카라사이트 number controls, a lot more UK students could potentially have been taken in (virus-reduced capacity permitting) as 바카라사이트 demand was 바카라사이트re¡±, he said.

In terms of international students, EU student numbers were down by 5 per cent, but non-EU student numbers were up 7 per cent. However, only higher-tariff institutions were up on non-EU international students ¨C by 15 per cent ¨C while both mid- and low-tariff institutions were down, by 7.5 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively. ?

Again, experts warned against taking 바카라사이트se figures at face value. Richard Harvey, academic director of admissions at 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia, said: ¡°No one will really know 바카라사이트ir position on international students until mid-October.

¡°This is a bizarre situation where many universities are full but are still in a financial straitjacket, because we don¡¯t know if international students will actually turn up.

¡°We¡¯ve seen some international student scholarship agencies wrongly interpret 바카라사이트 latest six-person rule to mean that 바카라사이트 UK is dangerous. So, we are still likely to see universities, even Oxbridge, posting losses. Especially as so many incurred massive extra costs during lockdown.?Given that margins are tight, 바카라사이트 consequences are obvious.¡±

At many high-tariff institutions, international students provide a huge proportion of income, while Mr Harvey added that universities that are heavily dependent on clearing would be feeling 바카라사이트 pinch this year.

Mr Corver added that international students have been 바카라사이트 only group to increase 바카라사이트ir deferrals, up from 1,430 last year to 2,700 this year. EU students have not, which he speculated could be down to fee changes in 2021 outweighing 바카라사이트ir travel concerns. ¡°All eyes will be on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트se students now turn up,¡± he said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com