Thursday 14 January 2016

Gordon Slaven, the British Council’s Director of Higher Education, commented:

“These latest figures show that international [non-EU] students have never been so crucial to UK higher education. A year on year decrease of British students (by two per cent) and EU students (by one per cent) means that the one per cent growth of students coming from around the world is essential for the sustainability and continued excellence of our universities. Furthermore, at post-graduate level we have grown even more dependent on overseas students, as they now represent the majority [non-EU =46%; EU = 12%; UK = 42%] of full time students taking those courses.

“However, given that international students make such a vital academic, cultural and economic contribution to the UK, it is alarming that the UK’s one per cent growth is so small, when compared to our competitors. In the same period, [2013/14 – 2014/15] the USA saw ten per cent growth, Australia had eight per cent, Canada 11 per cent and Germany saw a seven per cent year on year growth of new international students. There is now a clear trend of the UK’s global market share declining compared with other countries, and we need to take urgent steps to address, and stem this decline. Other countries are currently gaining at the UK’s expense and the government and sector must work together to ensure that our world class higher education system remains attractive and accessible to every ambitious young person in the world.”

Ends

Notes to Editor

The OECD published figures in November 2015 showing that the UK’s global market share of internationally mobile students has fallen from 13 per cent in 2012 to ten per cent in 2013.

For more information please contact Tim Sowula, British Council Senior Press Officer, on 0207 389 4871 or tim.sowula@britishcouncil.org

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide.

We work in more than 100 countries and our 8,000 staff – including 2,000 teachers – work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year by teaching English, sharing the arts and delivering education and society programmes.

We are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter. A core publicly-funded grant provides less than 20 per cent of our turnover which last year was £864 million. The rest of our revenues are earned from services which customers around the world pay for, through education and development contracts and from partnerships with public and private organisations. All our work is in pursuit of our charitable purpose and supports prosperity and security for the UK and globally.

For more information, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org. You can also keep in touch with the British Council through http://twitter.com/britishcouncil 

 
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