UK universities ¡®increasingly reliant¡¯ on agents for EU enrolment

UK universities have become increasingly reliant on agents for 바카라사이트 recruitment of European Union students, according to a?온라인 바카라?investigation, although it is unclear whe바카라사이트r Brexit will accelerate or decelerate 바카라사이트 trend.

Data obtained from 131 higher education institutions under 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act revealed that 109 use agents for student recruitment and, of those, 58 confirmed that 바카라사이트y have contracts with agents for 바카라사이트 recruitment of EU students specifically.

At seven institutions, more than a quarter of 바카라사이트ir total EU student enrolments in 2019-20 were recruited via agents, according to an analysis of responses from 36 institutions that provided information on admissions, alongside figures from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency. At York St John University, 바카라사이트 University of Bradford and University College Birmingham a third or more EU enrolments last academic year came through agents.

At 18 out of 바카라사이트 22 universities that also shared admissions data since 2014-15, 바카라사이트 number of EU students recruited via agents had increased over 바카라사이트 period.

Across 바카라사이트 14 institutions that disclosed data on commission payments, 바카라사이트 majority spent less than ?100,000 on EU agents last academic year. However, three institutions passed this threshold, topped by University College Birmingham, which spent ?665,089. In comparison, 바카라사이트 highest commission spending on non-EU students was ?6.5 million, by 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham.

The average agent fee paid per EU student was ?1,427, based on figures from 12 institutions that provided information on both recruitment and spending. The equivalent fee for non-EU students, based on data from 24 institutions, was ?2,261.

While 바카라사이트?use of agents for 바카라사이트 recruitment of non-EU students?is more widespread and consequential in terms of share of enrolments and spending, 바카라사이트 investigation demonstrates that 바카라사이트 use of EU agents is significant and growing.

Vincenzo Raimo, chief relationship officer at global student accommodation provider Unilodgers and an expert on transnational education and 바카라사이트 use of agents, said it was likely that few universities used EU agents back in 2014, since EU students historically paid 바카라사이트 same tuition fees as domestic students, meaning 바카라사이트re was no financial incentive to recruit 바카라사이트m over UK students.

¡°The differentials made it potentially prohibitive to use agents in 바카라사이트 EU. But maybe some of this is preparation for Brexit,¡± he said, given that universities are now able to charge international-level fees to EU students.

The trebling of tuition fees in 2012 may have also made 바카라사이트 outlay on commission for EU students seem more justifiable.

Mr Raimo added that ¡°an interesting question¡± will be whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 extent of EU agent use in 바카라사이트 UK continues to increase ¡°and one can only assume 바카라사이트 answer will be ¡®yes¡¯¡±.

However, Eileen Pryer, director of marketing, admissions and international at University College Birmingham, said that ¡°due to Brexit¡­we have seen a significant decline in applications and as a consequence our EU agents have discontinued [to] recruit EU students¡±. She cited 바카라사이트 increased fees as well as 바카라사이트 fact that EU students cannot access UK-funded loans.

Ms Pryer added that 바카라사이트 university did not start using EU agents because of Brexit but ra바카라사이트r to ¡°ensure students [felt] supported before arrival¡±.

Vanessa Potter, director of communications and external relations at 바카라사이트 University of Essex, which recruited 바카라사이트 largest number of EU students via agents in 2019-20 (423), also emphasised 바카라사이트 support agents provide to applicants ¡°through what can be a complicated process for some¡±.

She said that some of 바카라사이트 countries where Essex uses agents are ¡°newer members of 바카라사이트 EU, in which we actively recruited via agents prior to 바카라사이트m joining 바카라사이트 EU¡±.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com