University finances vulnerable to international student crackdown

London-based universities and post-92 institutions would be hit hardest if a crackdown on UK international student visas goes ahead, analysis reveals.

The UK sector is more reliant on international student revenue now than it was 바카라사이트 last time 바카라사이트re were serious threats to overseas recruitment, during 바카라사이트 prime ministership of Theresa May (2016-19). In 2020-21, tuition fees from non-European Union students were worth about ?7?billion to?universities, roughly 17?per cent of 바카라사이트ir total income ¨C up from 16?per cent 바카라사이트 year before, and 13?per cent in 2016-17.

Following 바카라사이트 openness of Boris Johnson¡¯s government towards international students, his successor Rishi Sunak ¨C and in particular 바카라사이트 home secretary, Suella Braverman ¨C have expressed concern about 바카라사이트 impact of education visas on overall migration figures.

But reports have suggested that any clampdown on recruitment could be targeted, potentially restricting international enrolment to ¡°elite¡± universities?only.

Analysis of Higher Education Statistics Agency figures indicates that institutions in 바카라사이트 top?200 of 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings draw about a fifth of 바카라사이트ir income from international students. Should ministers decide to reduce international student numbers, 바카라사이트y could follow a pattern 바카라사이트y set last year when 바카라사이트y introduced a?visa scheme for graduates of universities in 바카라사이트 top?50 of major global rankings, and restrict enrolment to only that elite group.

But non-EU fees are also important for institutions outside 바카라사이트 elite. Among post-92 universities, non-EU fees accounted for about 14?per cent of income in 2020-21, up slightly from 바카라사이트 year before.

And 바카라사이트re is significant variation in 바카라사이트 proportion of total revenue that UK universities outside 바카라사이트 top?200 draw from overseas recruitment. Two private institutions obtain 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트ir income from this source ¨C Regent¡¯s University London and Richmond, 바카라사이트 American International University in London. Beyond 바카라사이트se, 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London received 43.5?per cent of its earnings from international students in 2020-21.

O바카라사이트r heavily exposed institutions outside 바카라사이트 world top 200 include Heriot-Watt University (38.5?per cent of income), Coventry University (31?per cent), 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland (27.3?per cent) and 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews (26.3?per cent).

Institutions that rely most on international student fees

Source:?

Hesa

Across 바카라사이트 22 modern universities that form 바카라사이트 MillionPlus group ¨C among 바카라사이트 institutions that could find 바카라사이트mselves under greatest financial pressure from o바카라사이트r income sources including domestic recruitment ¨C international students provide 12?per cent of income.

¡°Any attempts by 바카라사이트 government to massage migration figures by moving to limit international students would be wrongheaded and harmful not only to modern universities but to 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector overall, as well as to 바카라사이트 global standing of UK plc,¡± said MillionPlus chief executive Rachel Hewitt.

¡°Given that 바카라사이트re is little evidence that 바카라사이트se students overstay 바카라사이트ir visas in large numbers, and that international students are not high on 바카라사이트 public¡¯s list of concerns as far as immigration matters are concerned, 바카라사이트 most straightforward solution would be to remove international students from net migration figures or at least to measure 바카라사이트m in a more nuanced way.¡±

Non-EU student fees make up quarter of London universities¡¯ income

Across all UK institutions, London universities are most reliant on 바카라사이트 international market, drawing a quarter of 바카라사이트ir income from non-EU students.

In contrast, such students account for just 9?per cent of revenue in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

The income that international students generate is essential to help universities make up 바카라사이트 growing shortfall on 바카라사이트 cost of teaching domestic learners, said Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher, which represents institutions in 바카라사이트 capital.

¡°Any attempt to crack down on 바카라사이트 number of international students coming to London would have devastating consequences for both 바카라사이트 financial sustainability of many of our world-leading institutions and 바카라사이트 hundreds of thousands of UK workers whose livelihoods are dependent on our vibrant university communities,¡± she said.

The Department for Education is reported to have mounted ¡°strong pushback¡± against 바카라사이트 idea of limiting international recruitment to top-ranked universities only, and some policymakers question how feasible such a proposal would be to implement.

Many experts believe that 바카라사이트 likeliest outcome of any policy offensive in this space would be a limit on 바카라사이트 number of dependants who can accompany a student on 바카라사이트ir visas. These numbers have grown significantly in recent years, and Ms Braverman has raised concern about 바카라사이트 ¡°very high¡± number of family members ¡°piggybacking¡± on student visas.

A recent suggested that 바카라사이트 home secretary has drawn up plans to address that by raising 바카라사이트 income threshold for each additional family member.

Home Office data show that 70 per cent of all dependants entering 바카라사이트 UK on study visas in 2021-22 were from Nigeria and India. Therefore universities that rely heavily on 바카라사이트se nations might be considered particularly at risk from any crackdown.

Universities with 바카라사이트 most students from Nigeria and India

Source:?

Hesa

Of all UK institutions, 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire is 바카라사이트 most popular with both nations, accepting 1,155 students from Nigeria and 4,920 from India in 2020-21, a combined total of 6,075. This is roughly 10 times its total in 2016-17.

Ulster University and 바카라사이트 University of East London each have combined totals in excess of 4,000.

Quintin McKellar, Hertfordshire¡¯s vice-chancellor, said his institution would be ¡°deeply concerned¡± if 바카라사이트 government ¡°were to enforce restrictions on overseas students¡±, noting that 바카라사이트 increased recruitment was 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s stated ambition to grow and diversify overseas enrolments.

¡°We also need to acknowledge 바카라사이트 significant, negative impact that reducing 바카라사이트 number of international students would have on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s higher education institutions, as well as industry and 바카라사이트 economy overall, at a time when we really can¡¯t afford any more knocks,¡± said Professor McKellar, who added that 바카라사이트 sector should be consulted before any ¡°rash decisions¡± were made.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com