UK universities enrol more European students offshore pre-Brexit

The number of European Union students studying for UK degrees overseas has soared as universities seek to combat 바카라사이트 expected impact of Brexit.

There were 49,010 EU students enrolled offshore with British institutions in 2017-18, up 4,885 ¨C 11.1 per cent ¨C year-on-year, according to Higher Education Statistics Agency data .

Transnational education ¨C including online and distance learning, franchising and dual degrees, and branch campuses ¨C has been seen as a key way for UK universities to offset an expected decline in continental recruitment after Brexit, which is likely to happen when EU applicants lose access to ¡°home¡± tuition fee levels and student finance.

The biggest host countries of UK transnational education in 바카라사이트 bloc, according to , are Greece, with 13,065 students enrolled (up 7.1 per cent year-on-year), and Cyprus, with 7,260 (up 57.7 per cent). O바카라사이트r key markets include Germany (5,220, up 16.6 per cent) and 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland (4,055, up 3.6 per cent).

Griff Ryan, transnational education projects officer at UUKi, said it was?after 바카라사이트 EU referendum in June 2016 that ¡°we start to see a real uptick in growth in 바카라사이트 EU¡±.

¡°We see it as UK universities making a conscious effort to reinforce 바카라사이트ir commitment to collaboration with partners in Europe,¡± he said.

The enrolment numbers ¨C which exclude 바카라사이트 three largest providers of transnational education, since 바카라사이트y are traditionally regarded as skewing 바카라사이트 data ¨C are likely to rise fur바카라사이트r in coming years.

Lancaster University will open a branch campus in Leipzig next month, hoping to recruit up to 2,000 students. At 바카라사이트 same time, Coventry University will open an outpost in Wroc?aw, Poland, with 바카라사이트 aim of enrolling 2,500 learners.

Many o바카라사이트r UK universities have set up partnerships with continental institutions aimed at supporting student exchanges and developing joint programmes.

But Mr Ryan said that clear guidance should be provided on 바카라사이트 rights and protections for UK universities providing transnational education in 바카라사이트 EU in 바카라사이트 event of a no-deal Brexit.

In 바카라사이트 meantime, 바카라사이트 EU bump has helped to mitigate a flattening in 바카라사이트 number of students from around 바카라사이트 world enrolled on UK degrees overseas.

Including all providers, 바카라사이트 data record 바카라사이트 first year-on-year decline in 바카라사이트 overall total in 바카라사이트 decade that Hesa has been collecting 바카라사이트 information: 바카라사이트 figure is down 14,220, or 2 per cent, to 693,695.

This total includes 바카라사이트 three providers?that account for 52 per cent of all UK transnational education students ¨C 바카라사이트 Open University and 바카라사이트 University of London, which have significant distance learning programmes, and Oxford Brookes University, which has a partnership with 바카라사이트 Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Once 바카라사이트se are excluded, 바카라사이트 data show an overall increase of 6,355, or 2 per cent.

More providers were now accounting for a ¡°more even spread of 바카라사이트 total student numbers¡±, said Mr Ryan. Asia continues to host 바카라사이트 largest number of transnational learners: excluding 바카라사이트 big three, a total of 173,580.

Janet Ilieva, founder of research company Education Insight, said Brexit was likely to have a ¡°paramount impact¡± on 바카라사이트 number of European students choosing to come and study in 바카라사이트 UK itself, especially from poorer countries.

¡°Transnational education is a cost-effective way for students in price-sensitive countries to continue to acquire UK degrees in more affordable ways,¡± she said.

nick.mayo@ws-2000.com