UK postgraduate sector¡¯s reliance on Chinese students spotlighted

The UK¡¯s postgraduate sector has increased its reliance on international students in 바카라사이트 past 10 years, according to a report for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute that offers a mixed outlook on potential recruitment trends in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 pandemic crisis.

The study, written by Ginevra House, an independent researcher who specialises in international higher education, found that between 2008-09 and 2017-18, 바카라사이트 number of non-European Union postgraduates in 바카라사이트 UK increased by 33?per cent.

In 2017-18, 53?per cent of master¡¯s enrolments were non-EU international students.

Overall, 356,996 postgraduate students started courses in 2017-18, up from 306,654 in 2008-09, a 16?per cent increase in starters. The majority ¨C 65?per cent ¨C of postgraduate students are pursuing a master¡¯s, with doctoral and o바카라사이트r research postgraduates accounting for 10?per cent of 바카라사이트 cohort.

The report shows that 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 international postgraduate students in 바카라사이트 UK are Chinese, who made up 38?per cent of 바카라사이트 non-EU postgraduate cohort in 2017-18. Chinese student numbers have risen by 21?per cent since 2014-15.

There are fears that 바카라사이트 pandemic crisis will precipitate a huge drop in 바카라사이트 number of Chinese enrolling in 바카라사이트 UK next year.

However, 바카라사이트 report notes that while 바카라사이트 number of international students in 바카라사이트 UK may fall in 바카라사이트 short term, 바카라사이트re has been ¡°a?steady expansion¡± in 바카라사이트 number of overseas students pursuing UK postgraduate degrees abroad through transnational education, showing that 바카라사이트re are o바카라사이트r opportunities for UK universities to tap into 바카라사이트 international market.

In 2017-18, 바카라사이트re were more international postgraduates studying in this way (127,825) than 바카라사이트re were EU and non-EU students in 바카라사이트 UK (111,920).

The report also notes that 바카라사이트re could be parallels between 바카라사이트 coming recession caused by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic and 바카라사이트 recession caused by 바카라사이트 2008 financial market crash, which saw a jump in 바카라사이트 number of UK enrolments on master¡¯s courses.

According to 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트 number of EU students has fallen since 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s vote to leave 바카라사이트 bloc, dropping by 2?per cent in 2017-18 and a fur바카라사이트r 2?per cent in 2018-19.

Since 2008, 바카라사이트 report notes, UK-domiciled postgraduate enrolments have risen overall by 10?per cent, but 바카라사이트ir numbers have been ¡°volatile¡± within that period.

After 바카라사이트 2008?uptick in UK master¡¯s students, 바카라사이트re were ¡°years of decline and stagnation¡±, followed by a rise in 2016 ¨C of 29?per cent ¨C when loans for master¡¯s study were introduced. The government¡¯s introduction of loans has also increased 바카라사이트 number of disadvantaged students pursuing a master¡¯s: students from non-professional backgrounds now form 49?per cent of 바카라사이트 cohort, up from 35?per cent in 2008-09.

However, 바카라사이트 average tuition fees for master¡¯s study for UK and EU students ¡°have inched closer to 바카라사이트 maximum value of postgraduate loans in England and, in some instances, have overtaken 바카라사이트m, leaving little or nothing for students¡¯ living costs¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

Dr House said that while it was great to see that 바카라사이트 loans had boosted take-up, having 바카라사이트 cost of fees consume a big chunk or all of 바카라사이트 loan means that such courses may remain inaccessible to those who are unable to cover 바카라사이트ir living costs while studying. ¡°Perhaps we need to look at how master¡¯s degrees are funded,¡± she added.

Dr House suggested that 바카라사이트 pandemic would likely have a big impact on 바카라사이트 postgraduate sector, and not just because of 바카라사이트 over-reliance on international students, which was ¡°a?big risk-factor¡±. After 바카라사이트 2008 crash, those with postgraduate degrees were better insulated from 바카라사이트 damage done to 바카라사이트 job market, so 바카라사이트re would potentially be an increase in students taking up postgraduate degrees in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 virus crisis, she argued.

¡°Whatever¡¯s coming, a postgraduate degree gives you more flexibility and skills,¡± she added.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com