UK universities face funding ‘crunch’ as foreign students go elsewhere

Student visa applications slump by 18% between July and September compared to last year

By AFP
November 12, 2024
A woman wearing a face mask walks through University Square past Coventry University’s Alan Berry Building at the beginning of the new academic year, at Coventry University, in Coventry, central England on September 23, 2020. — AFP
A woman wearing a face mask walks through University Square past Coventry University’s Alan Berry Building at the beginning of the new academic year, at Coventry University, in Coventry, central England on September 23, 2020. — AFP

LONDON: UK universities are among the most prestigious in the world, but visa restrictions mean they are now attracting fewer international students -- taking a heavy toll on their finances.

The restrictions are compounding problems caused by the UK´s departure from the European Union four years´ ago.Almost 760,000 foreign students were enrolled in British universities in 2022, making Britain the second most popular destination after the US, in a highly competitive market.

Most come from India, then China and Nigeria.But last year, the number of student visas fell by 5 percent. Between July and September, student visa applications slumped 16 percent compared to the same period last year.

The decline is a major cause of concern for higher education institutions since foreign students pay far more in fees than British students.Leo Xui, 20 years old and from China, began studying population and health sciences at University College London in September. “It´s good for my career,” he said of enrolling abroad. Thinking ahead to when he will return to China, he added: “I will be able to apply for a foreign company.”