fbpx
Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
8th Jul 2020

Survey: EU students much less likely to study in UK without home fee status

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • More than half of EU students surveyed in June by Study.eu who had intended to study in the UK say that if tuition fees increase by 50% or more in the UK in 2021/22, they will “definitely not” study there
  • If EU students had to pay the same amount of tuition as students from outside the European Union – almost a 100% increase over what they pay currently – 84% said they would “definitely not” study in the UK
  • The most popular alternate destination to the UK is the Netherlands, followed by Germany, France, and Ireland

In a series of annual announcements throughout the Brexit process, the UK had moved to protect home fee status for EU students – under which EU nationals are eligible for the same tuition rates and financial supports available to domestic students.

As we reported recently, however, England’s Minister of State for Universities announced last month that EU, EEA, and Swiss students planning to begin studies at English universities will no longer be eligible for home fee status as of August 2021. In a related development, study choice platform Study.eu has just released the findings of a survey that asked EU students what they will do when “home fees” and public student loans are no longer available to them.   

The survey was conducted 23–28 June among 2,500 EU respondents who had plans to study in the UK for a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

More than half of EU students said they would be adversely affected by the lack of public loans to help finance their education, and significant proportions said they would no longer consider studying in the UK if fees were increased by 50% or more.

More than 8 in 10 will not pay

Students were asked to respond to the following scenarios: (1) a 10% increase in fees, (2) a 25% increase in fees, (3) a 50% increase in fees, and (4) a 100% increase, which would bring fees to virtually the same amount that non-EU international students currently pay.

If they had to pay the same fees as non-EU international students (i.e., the 100% scenario), 84% of responding EU students would “definitely” not study in the UK, and 14% would be “much less likely.” Study.eu notes that “this could mean a loss of 120,000 students based on recent enrolments, or 25% of all non-UK students.”

If fees were raised by 50%, six in ten students (61%) said they would definitely not study in the UK and a further 33% would be much less likely.

Even a 10% increase would still be worrisome for UK universities, with 6 in 10 students saying they would be less likely to study in the UK if fees were just that much higher.

How tuition fee levels in English universities would impact EU student choice. Source: Study.eu
How tuition fee levels in English universities would impact EU student choice. Source: Study.eu

Commenting on the findings, Study.eu CEO Gerrit Bruno Blöss said,

“This is a lose-lose situation for everyone. It is unfortunate that the political process leads to such negative consequences for students and universities. We hope that some other solution can be found that would promote student mobility between the UK and the EU.

Where would they go?

EU students were asked which other destinations they would consider if higher education in the UK became unaffordable, and most chose alternate destinations in Europe. Nearly half (49%) said they would choose the Netherlands, followed by Germany (36%). Another 19% chose France and 16% Ireland.

Alternate study destinations indicated by EU students. Source: Study.edu
Alternate study destinations indicated by EU students. Source: Study.edu

How will UK universities cope?

Mr Blöss notes that the UK government’s late-June announcement of home fees being rescinded would not have come as a surprise to universities. He said they will have considered a range of strategies in response.  “

“Most universities have been overhauling their marketing and recruitment campaigns for a while. After all, the announcement did not come unexpectedly. Some may shift focus to more affluent origin countries. At the same time, some are planning to open satellite campuses in continental Europe, to offer degree programmes in trans-national education settings. A few institutions are also evaluating potential legal loopholes to charge different fees.”

He added,

“Britain’s universities have a lot to offer, but they are facing strong competition on the continent. If they want to continue to attract students from the EU, they will need to communicate their excellent value proposition and make it clear that EU students are still welcome.”

For additional background please see:

Most Recent

  • UK Home Office launches Graduate Route review Read More
  • Germany expands in-study work opportunities for foreign students Read More
  • Survey findings underscore the link between English proficiency and career success Read More

Most Popular

  • Canada’s foreign enrolment grew by more than 30% in 2022 Read More
  • Measuring cost of study and cost of living across study destinations Read More
  • Recruiting in the Emirates: Big goals, world-class education, and new scholarships Read More

Because you found this article interesting

UK Home Office launches Graduate Route review The UK Home Secretary James Cleverly officially triggered the government’s review of the post-study work rights Graduate Route...
Read more
Germany expands in-study work opportunities for foreign students Germany is continuing to implement a phased series of new measures contained in newly enacted legislation, the Skilled...
Read more
Survey findings underscore the link between English proficiency and career success New research from Pearson shows that English language learners see mastery of English as vital to their career...
Read more
US stakeholders share priorities for a national international education strategy The US remains the only leading study destination without a national strategy for international education, and calls for...
Read more
Market snapshot: A guide to international student recruitment in Vietnam FAST FACTS Capital: Hanoi Population: 99,200 million (2024) Youth population: 17% of the population is aged 17–25 Median...
Read more
British Columbia releases details of new Provincial Attestation Letter system under Canada’s international student cap British Columbia is Canada’s westernmost province, and a leading destination for international students within Canada. On 1 March,...
Read more
New Zealand: Foreign enrolments climbed steadily through 2023 but full recovery will take years While all study abroad destinations felt the economic bite of losing international students in the pandemic, New Zealand...
Read more
UK: Post-study work rights worth billions but current policies leading to weaker enrolments this year A new analysis released by Universities UK indicates that the UK’s 2019 announcement of extended post-study work rights...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links