At the end of 2017, we posed the question that was likely to be uppermost in the minds of homestay accommodation providers – how many international students will be coming to study in the UK in 2018? Concern among both further education and international student hosts is only to be expected…
It had been reported that some international student numbers had declined, notably those from India. The year had also continued to see issues surrounding international student visa applications, tuition fees and eligibility for post study employment. But how concerned should we be?
The latest report from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) – trusted source of HE data and analysis – shows that international student numbers for 2016/17 remained resilient and mostly unchanged from the previous year. In some cases, the number of students – from both within and outside the EU – had increased over a 2 year period.
Although it is true that most students starting their first year of studies in 2016/17 would have applied for their course prior to June 2016 – the month of the EU Referendum when UK voted to leave the EU – the percentage from EU countries at UK colleges remained the same at 6 per cent. The proportion of students registered from non-EU countries was 13 per cent, also the same as in 2015/16.
Application to study in the UK went hand in hand with choosing a homestay
It’s positive news at a time when there is a fear that an increasing numbers of international students will no longer consider applying to a UK university or FE college to continue their education. For the younger international student, an application to study in the UK often went hand in hand with also choosing the comfort and safety of an affordable homestay option rather than risk high street estate agents if they missed getting a room at a halls of residence.
Many would be living away from home from the first time and a hosted homestay enables young students to experience English life and culture first-hand in a friendly and welcoming family-style setting. Research carried out by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and the Higher Education Academy (HEA) found that students themselves believe in the “lifetime” benefits beyond the years of their formal education. The survey indicated that the student’s experience of studying / living abroad with other people, “provides them with a better worldview, makes them more aware of cultural sensitivities and helps them develop a global network”.
Rising trend for EU student applications over the last five years
It’s a view that’s also reflected in the present HESA report, which shows a rising trend for EU student applications over the last five years. Between 2012/13 and 2016/17 there was an overall 8 per cent increase with Italy showing the largest percentage rise at an incredible 62 per cent from 8,310 to 13,455. Other notable increases were students from France – up from 11,695 to 13,560 – nearly equalling Germany at 13,735 – and a rise in Spanish students from 6,065 to 8,820.
Changes in international student numbers were to be found in the percentage of non-EU students from particular countries between 2015/16 and 2016/17. But while there was a small decrease of less than 1 per cent, over the same period there was no change for first year students from non-EU countries. HESA points out that Home Office figures – roughly during the same period (Sep 2016 – Sep 2017) – show there were 224,392 study-related visas granted, an increase of 8 per cent.
EU students remain eligible for financial support 2018 to 2019
One of the most significant changes in 2016/17 was the number of students from China, which at nearly 1 in 3 of all non-EU students, was much larger than from any other overseas country. Over a five year period, the percentage of Chinese students had also increased by 14 per cent from 83,730 in 2012/13 to 95,090 in 2016/17. However, over the same period the biggest rise was registered by students from Hong Kong at 28 per cent, up from 13,065 to 16,680.
The figures are in stark contrast with the dramatic drop in numbers from Nigeria and India, with Nigeria seeing the largest percentage reduction – 27 per cent or 4,720 fewer student applications in 2016/17 compared to 2012/13. Following just behind, student numbers from India had dropped by more than a quarter (26 per cent) to 16,550 from 22,375 over the same 5 year period despite having the fourth largest number of students in the UK.
It remains to be seen how international students from other EU and non-EU countries will view making an application to study in the UK in the period beyond the March 2019 Brexit deadline. In April 2017, the government confirmed that EU students will continue to remain eligible for financial support in the academic year 2018 to 2019. Currently, however, the fee status of EU students for 2019 entry onwards has yet to be determined.