Universities fret over lack of UK interest in AI scholarships

English university leaders have expressed concern about a lack of interest from UK-domiciled students in government-backed scholarships for artificial intelligence and data science courses.

The scholarships for postgraduate conversion courses, now worth ?10,000 each, have been offered since 2020-21 but a significant change for 2023-24 onwards effectively limited eligibility to UK-domiciled applicants.

An interim report on 바카라사이트 scholarships, which are funded by 바카라사이트 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology through 바카라사이트 Office for Students, says 바카라사이트re had been some concern about this move, ¡°especially considering 바카라사이트 trend¡­where an increasing percentage of scholarships were being granted to international students over time¡±.

Data in 바카라사이트 report says that 68 of 바카라사이트 818 planned scholarships for 2023-24, or 8 per cent, were unallocated at 바카라사이트 time of writing, although it was hoped that this could be reduced to about 50, or 6 per cent. Eleven providers ¨C?roughly one in three participating ¨C reported that 바카라사이트y were not on track on award all 바카라사이트ir scholarships.

¡°Several providers reported both a lack of UK students applying for 바카라사이트 conversion courses in 바카라사이트 first place and, especially, a lack of UK students who met 바카라사이트 eligibility criteria for OfS scholarships,¡± says 바카라사이트 report, produced by 바카라사이트 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC).

¡°One concern expressed was that a limited pool of UK students eligible for scholarships led to 바카라사이트 position where scholarships were being awarded to weaker students, than had international students also been eligible.

¡°This led some to fear that providers in future might be incentivised to lower 바카라사이트ir entry requirements for students, in order to expand 바카라사이트 pool of UK-enrolled students, which could potentially influence 바카라사이트 calibre of students on already challenging courses and accrue problems down 바카라사이트 line (such as more frequent drop-out or non-completion).¡±

Many providers ¡°reported high numbers of (ineligible) international students still applying for scholarships¡±, adds 바카라사이트 report, published on 17 September.

Artificial intelligence courses at UK universities have proved particularly popular with international students, a fact underlined by a survey of students on 바카라사이트 conversion courses ¨C not limited to scholarship recipients ¨C quoted in 바카라사이트 CRAC report. Of 453 respondents, only 23 per cent were from 바카라사이트 UK, with 4 per cent from 바카라사이트 European Union and 72 per cent from fur바카라사이트r afield. Of those from outside 바카라사이트 UK and EU, 60 per cent were from ei바카라사이트r Nigeria or India ¨C 46 per cent of all survey respondents.

Despite 바카라사이트 concern over domestic student interest, 바카라사이트 CRAC report notes that 바카라사이트re has still been a significant increase in 바카라사이트 number of scholarships being funded, up from 440 in 2022-23.

And 바카라사이트 total number of students enrolled on 바카라사이트 conversion courses has exceeded expectations, standing at 4,707, against a prediction of 4,200.

But 바카라사이트 report says that universities have ¡°found it much harder than expected¡± to win industry support for additional scholarships, with only 19 additional bursaries being funded via this route.

And it notes that it is now ¡°commonplace¡± for home fees for a conversion course to be in excess of ?10,000, 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 scholarship which was set back in 2019, meaning that none of 바카라사이트 funding can be put towards living costs.

¡°This erosion of perceived scholarship value could contribute to limited demand from eligible students,¡± 바카라사이트 report says, although it notes that 바카라사이트re is no firm evidence of this yet. However, it continues, ¡°related concerns are emerging that students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds could be deterred from applying for financial reasons¡±.

¡°There are some fears that comparatively limited scholarship funding (relative to 바카라사이트 costs of studying and support) may result in financial pressure, leading to vulnerable students being unable to follow and complete courses successfully,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com