UK Paves New Pathways for International Students
By Milan Korcok
As the global marketplace for post-secondary education becomes more competitive, The UK is repolishing its brand as “provider of choice” for the world’s cohort of five million students studying in countries other than their own.
Building on an International Education Strategy devised in 2019 and updated since, the UK government has committed to hosting at least 600,000 international students per year by 2030 (already achieved) ; improving their options for study and work in the UK; better identifying financial aid and scholarship offers; enhancing pathways to student-visa and immigration; developing more and better free trade agreements with priority source countries and their educational institutions; and expanding trans-national education exports including online and blended learning models.
Already in place is an allowance for undergraduate and master’s students to remain and work in the country for up to two years (with no restrictions on the type of work or salary limits), and doctoral graduates for up to three years. Under previous UK work rules graduates could remain for only four months.
The immediate priority countries outlined in the IES strategy are India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Nigeria, with other important regional markets including Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, Europe, China and Hong Kong. Since initiation of the first phase of the International Education Strategy in 2019, UK higher education schools have already seen a doubling of Indian student numbers from 27,505 in 2018 to 2019 school year to 55,465 in 2019/2020.
In prefacing the IES initiative—the Secretaries of State for Education and International Trade emphasized: “Whilst the changing market offers many opportunities to the UK, our ambitious competitors are also galvanized to action. It is becoming ever more globalised, specialised and competitive… We must rise to meet this challenge.” Added Damian Hinds, MP and Secretary of Education at the time: “UK education is punching above its weight, but below its potential.”
According to UK’s Higher Education Status Agency (HESA), in 2019/20 UK institutions of higher education were hosting142,985 students were from EU countries, and among non-EU countries the largest cohorts were 139,130 from China; 52,465 from India, and 19,940 from the US.
Who are the competitors?
American colleges and universities have long led the international education marketplace, peaking at 1.095 million students in 2018/19. But that trajectory changed sharply in 2016/2017 as student-visa requirements and immigration/career pathways were tightened and growing reports of domestic civil disturbances and personal safety issues dominated international headlines. In the 2020/21 school year, international student enrolments in US colleges and universities dipped below one million (914,095) for the first time since 2015, a 15 percent drop since the previous year. Reference Open Doors/Institute for International Education/II, updated to November, 2021.
Coincidentally, the Canadian government announced a 27 percent increase in new national study-permit applications in 2021 over the pre-pandemic 2019 year. And Australia, though it suffered catastrophic drops in international student enrolments due to stringent COVID restraints, expected a strong resurgence of applicants—primarily from the **ASEAN/Pacific region. Australia recently offered to rebate student visa-application fees to help regain its position as one of the top four countries hosting the most international students (US, Australia, Canada and UK). **Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand.
Educational “exports” are highly valued contributors to any nation’s economy. According to Washington DC-based NAFSA (National Association of Foreign Students Advisors) international students contributed* some $28 billion to the US economy in the 2020- 2021 academic year-- down from over $40 billion in the pre-pandemic 2018-2019 year. *A calculation based on tuitions, fees, accommodations, telecommunications, travel, health insurance, daily spending in local communities and associated job creation.
The UK have already met the target set out in its International Education Strategy to attract at least 600,000 international higher education students 10 years early.
What’s the incentive for students? As leaders of the strategy have emphasized, “UK has a world class education offering, a global reputation and a strong presence in international markets…. four universities in the world top 10 (QS ranking) and 18 in the top 100.” And not to underestimate: “though the top public schools have garnered recognition past our shores, we can now boast some of the best state schools in the world.”
Milan Korcok is a national award wining medical writer who has been covering international medical and travel health issues for leading professionals journal in the United States, Canada, and the UK for many years. He works and resides in Florida.