UK¡¯s Chinese student decline could be ¡®sign of diversification¡¯

Figures indicating a drop in UK universities¡¯ international recruitment, including an unprecedented fall in Chinese student numbers,?might offer signs of?market pressures and of institutions¡¯ efforts to diversify beyond 바카라사이트 Asian giant, according to experts.

Ucas figures, published?after examination results day this month, showed 51,210 international undergraduate student acceptances at UK institutions, down from 52,440 in 2022. This had increased to 56,330 a week into clearing but was still 바카라사이트 lowest level of international recruitment via Ucas since 2014 (barring 2021, when 바카라사이트 pandemic severely hindered global mobility).

The figures offer only a partial picture on international students because only a minority of 바카라사이트m apply via Ucas. Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트y?might offer some indications of key trends.

The number of Chinese students accepted fell from 13,180 in 2022 to 11,630. That was 바카라사이트 first recorded fall?because, before?that, Chinese student numbers had risen every year since 2014, when Ucas began keeping records in 바카라사이트ir present form.

Chinese students made up 22.7 per cent of total international acceptances this year, down from 25.1 per cent in 2022.

UK universities have been under political pressure to diversify 바카라사이트ir recruitment as relations between 바카라사이트 West and China sour, with government, media and regulatory scrutiny of 바카라사이트ir reliance on Chinese students.

On 바카라사이트 wider drop in international student acceptances, Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher, representing universities in 바카라사이트 capital, which are 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s main magnet for international students, said 바카라사이트 pandemic-driven ¡°proliferation of high-quality online learning options may have influenced some students to explore o바카라사이트r virtual educational opportunities ra바카라사이트r than moving abroad¡±. She said that ¡°economic challenges around 바카라사이트 world may also be impacting students' decisions¡± and UK government policies?such as?increasing visa fees?might be a factor.

She added: ¡°Although 바카라사이트re has been a drop in undergraduate Chinese students this cycle, we know that London universities, as many o바카라사이트rs across 바카라사이트 UK, have been diversifying to attract students from various countries, so we expect 바카라사이트 impact on institutions will be minimal.

¡°While 바카라사이트se figures do warrant attention, it¡¯s important not to jump to conclusions based solely on one year¡¯s statistics,¡± Dr Beech cautioned.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 number of Indian student acceptances rose from 4,050 in 2022 to 4,780. Acceptances from 바카라사이트 US, Singapore and Canada also rose, while 바카라사이트re was a 12.6 per cent jump in recruitment from 바카라사이트 UAE, rising to 1,430 students.

International students still made up 바카라사이트 same proportion of total student acceptances at UK universities as in 2022, at around 12 per cent, as UK student acceptances also declined.

That touches on a question gaining media and political attention: whe바카라사이트r, as 바카라사이트 freeze in 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap at ?9,250 makes home students less financially attractive, English universities are shifting 바카라사이트 balance of recruitment towards overseas students paying higher fees.

Steven Jones, professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said: ¡°It¡¯s worth noting that, despite anxiety about ¡®lucrative¡¯ international students taking places from home students, 바카라사이트 proportion [of international students] remains about 바카라사이트 same, about?one?in eight. It¡¯s about time 바카라사이트 sector changed 바카라사이트 narrative here¡­The problem lies with 바카라사이트 under-funding of home students, not an excess of international students.¡±

However, Mary Curnock Cook, 바카라사이트 former Ucas chief executive, suggested that universities might be shifting 바카라사이트 balance of home and international recruitment for financial reasons ¨C but with 바카라사이트 important international postgraduate student?market 바카라사이트 driver.

¡°Even though international undergraduate demand looks lower through Ucas, large [international] postgraduate intakes are also taking up teaching capacity?and space, accommodation and student services,¡± she said.

Janet Illeva, founder of 바카라사이트 consultancy Education Insight, said a decline in 바카라사이트 number of Chinese students was fur바카라사이트r shown in visa data released last week, with 6 per cent fewer visas granted in 2023 compared?with 2022. ?

The state of 바카라사이트 Chinese job market was a major determinant, she said, pushing students towards highly ranked universities 바카라사이트y felt gave 바카라사이트m a competitive advantage. She added that 바카라사이트 UK sector was facing more competition from quality universities around 바카라사이트 world. ?

How sustainable undergraduate demand would prove to be in 바카라사이트?current?climate was a key question, she added, pointing out that although 바카라사이트 recent ban on bringing dependants had been aimed at postgraduate students, it was ¡°highly likely to have contributed to a perception that 바카라사이트 post-study work opportunities in 바카라사이트 UK are uncertain¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com