Migration and Higher Education

An overseas perspective

Pat Killingley

Director Higher Education

February 2012

UK Higher Education currently:

435,235 international students in the UK

13% global market share (2nd after US’s 16%)

17% of student body in the UK

20%+ of UK academics are international

Value of international HE to the UK economy is £14.1bn per year

International students in UK HE 2011/12

Students by domicile, level of study and mode of study 2011/12

Postgraduate Undergraduate

Domicile Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time All students

UK 132785 226010 1212025 490590 2061410

Non-UK 176640 33070 199950 25575 435235

Other EU 37090 12375 73660 9430 132550

Non-EU 139550 20695 126295 16145 302680

Total 309425 259080 1411975 516165 2496645

Source: HESA Student Record 2011/12

Top ten non-EU countries of domicile in 2011/12 for HE students in UK Higher Education Institutions

Country of domicile 2010/11 2011/12 % changeChina 67325 78715 16.9%India 39090 29900 -23.5% Nigeria 17585 17620 0.2% United States 15555 16335 5.0% Malaysia 13900 14545 4.6%Hong Kong 10440 11335 8.6% Saudi Arabia 10270 9860 -4.0%Pakistan 10185 8820 -13.4% Thailand 5945 6235 4.9%Canada 5905 6115 3.5%All other non-EU countries 101915 103205 1.3% Total non-EU domicile 298110 302680 1.5% Source: HESA Student Record 2010/11, 2011/12

Top non-EU sending countries 2011-12

- has a global network of 191 offices in over 100 countries specialist education teams in all regions of the world

- has worked with HEIs in the UK and overseas, supporting their international work for over 70 years

- reaches 10,000 education policy makers & institutions,+ 250 million students and alumni across the world every year

British CouncilUK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, creating international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries

British Council and international students- promotion of UK study opportunities through the Education UK brand and Education UK website, social media and publications  http://www.educationuk.org/

- 200 Education UK exhibitions in overseas countries every year

- UK Alumni international networks

- Services for International Education Marketing to support UK institutions https://siem.britishcouncil.org/

- education market intelligence on global and country education markets http://ihe.britishcouncil.org/ihe-exchange

- Education Agents’ training programmes

British Council and student visa issuesContribution to the evidence base- Student perception survey (‘Student Insight’ series)- Agent perceptions survey- Media monitoring in-country

Overseas communications & campaigns- Education UK website, social media, publications, exhibitions- media response and press releases- agent communications and briefings

- visa ‘roadshows’

UK positioning and reputation management- Relationship building with overseas politicians, ministries, sector agencies, scholarship bodies, institutions, schools, agents, media

Student perceptions and motivations overseasWhy students choose the UK:1. Quality of education2. Career prospects3. Experience of the UKOpportunity to work while studying and post study work is in 5th place, but particularly important to Indian students

What are the most important visa issues?1. Ease of obtaining a visa2. Length of time required for processing (80% thought 2 weeks fair)3. Transparency of application process4. Cost

Most difficult countries to get a visa?USA (43%); UK (23%)

Views of international students in the UKNational Union of Students: International Students’ Employability Survey (January-March 2012)

1,200 responses from international students in the UK

Main reason for studying in the UK ‘to increase global job prospects’

‘significant … outrage and disappointment at the closure of the post study work visa’

As a result 62% of South Asian respondents would not recommend UK study to a friend

14% of those who are working, or wish to work, while studying, are not confident that they understand the visa regulations

Education agents’ perceptions overseas

British Council Surveys (1): 200 Agents in 20 countries (2): 2000 Agents (countries not specified)

Do you understand the UK visa system? Do you need more information?

- 50% understood; 50% did not understand; all needed more information

Are recent visa changes discouraging students from applying to the UK?

- 66% said yes

• British Council analysis. Data sources: HESA; IIE, Opendoors (2012); AEI (2013 - referring to November data for 2012).

Annual growth rates in US, UK and Australia