Managing the uptick of international student applications in the UK

“The explosion of international applications has intensified the number of verification checks needed and made for a challenging landscape”

The UK has long been an attractive place to study for international students and, as the latest figures show, the trend looks set to continue. However, managing the implications of the UK meeting international student targets a decade before the deadline has undoubtedly piled pressure on university admission teams.

The explosion of international applications in the wake of the introduction of the new Graduate Route Visa, plus a general widening of the recruitment net, has intensified the number of verification checks needed and made for a challenging landscape.

Read More

The unforeseen consequences of restricting the migration of student dependents

“Whilst understanding the UK government’s objective to control migration, the potential repercussions of curtailing this route could be substantial”

The recent announcement by the Home Office regarding the restriction of family migration for international students arriving in the UK, from January 2024, has gained significant attention in the context of rising migration figures.

The latest statistics from the ONS confirmed that net migration has peaked to 606,000 in the 12 months to December 2022; far higher than the government’s target – although the largest increase in these figures is down to visas being issued under the Ukraine Schemes and British National (Overseas) route.

Read More

Impact of UK visa & IHS fee hikes on international students

“A four-year course student will have to budget up to £3,100 for the IHS surcharge alone in the UK – a significant difference from the current £1,880”

The UK has always been a dream leading destination for many students in different parts of the world. Every year, thousands of international students apply to UK institutions, and besides securing admission, they also need to obtain a student visa.

Generally, anyone travelling to reside in the UK for an extended period must pay an immigration health surcharge, an upfront fee paid to access the National Health Service, the government-funded medical and healthcare services for residents in the UK. So, that’s an additional mandatory expense to cover. How much an international student will pay for visa application and IHS surcharge, depend on their study duration.

Read More

Leveraging data science and human expertise for student success

“Our industry is undergoing a transformation driven by data science and technology, enabling us to offer more tailored recommendations and fast-track the student application process”

For many ambitious students, pursuing a global education is a life-changing decision. It opens doors to new opportunities, broadens perspectives and equips them with the skills and knowledge to thrive in an increasingly globalised world.

Yet with so many study options available, and access to both in-person support and online support, how can students confidently navigate this journey and make informed decisions that set them up for success?

For me, working in international education over the past 20 years has been a great privilege, and these days it feels like an even bigger responsibility.

Read More

How girls’ education is the next great driver of human capital

“It is absurd that half of the world’s eight billion population, being women and girls, are still treated as discretionary human capital”

In a world where the rate of population growth is steadily declining, it is alarming that so much human capital potential is wasted due to a lack of embracing girls in education. Visionary governments, supported by NewGlobe, are overcoming this wasted opportunity – by transforming their entire public education systems.

World Population Day, July 11, aims to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues. A theme for this year’s event is “how to safeguard health and rights of women and girls”, one that should draw attention towards education as both a fundamental human right and a means to uphold and advocate for one’s rights.

With more than eight billion people in the world, it is absurd that half this population, being women and girls, are still treated as discretionary human capital – and it is costing the world. World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap report finds that “globally, women account for only 38 percent of human capital wealth versus 62 percent for men. In low- and lower-middle income countries, women account for a third or less of human capital wealth.”

Read More

The impact of charting a new path in university rankings

“Any methodological evolution for an exercise of this size and scale will inevitably yield significant shifts in outcome”

Across the rapidly evolving higher education landscape, universities worldwide stand as pillars of innovation, leadership, and societal transformation.

At QS, our mission is to empower motivated people anywhere in the world to fulfil their potential through educational achievement, international mobility and career development. For two decades, this mission has been driven by analysing and illuminating institutional excellence and supporting international students in their decision-making process.

Read More

From wellbeing to study experience: what do EU/international students think?

“One in five EU/international students have still considered dropping out of university”

The UK Student Wellbeing Survey, an independent large-scale study commissioned by Studiosity, reported its findings in mid-June. This work seeks to add another important platform for students to share their voice, thoughts, feelings and expectations of study and university life.

From the research among 2,050 students, we can now share the findings derived from over 450 EU/international students at universities in the UK.

Read More

ChatGPT in the classroom

“Much has been written about the potential for digital tools to modernise teaching and learning, but as yet, we haven’t seen whole-scale digital disruption and transformation”

Generative artificial intelligence, of which ChatGPT is perhaps the most famous example (although there are many others), has, in the few short months it’s been widely accessible, completely transformed the way we understand the potential of technology in our lives. It has brought into stark contrast the balance between the power for good, and the power for, well, less than ideal, in rapid technology advances.

There have also been suggestions that generative AI challenges those areas of creation that, some claim, are central in defining our humanity: for example, the creation of art, music and literature. Algorithms can do all of these things and, in increasing instances, in ways that can’t be easily distinguished from original human endeavour.

So, what does this mean for education?

Read More

Is Britain’s higher education brand at risk?

“Both short and long-term financial planning could bolster Brand Britain’s higher education offering”

Competition is fierce in the global industry built on attracting international students into higher education. And it’s little wonder.

Recent financial forecasts have predicted that the spending associated with international students is set to increase from an estimated US$196 billion in 2019 to $433 billion by 2030.

When universities across the world are still recovering financially from the additional investments they made during the pandemic, the fees income overseas students bring in can provide a much needed buffer against budgetary shortfalls.

With so much at stake, protecting this revenue is a key priority for the sector.

Read More

The global classroom: TEFL and the digital revolution

“As technology’s role in TEFL grows, so too does the necessity for teachers to be proficient in its use”

Teaching English as a Foreign Language presents an exciting opportunity to journey across cultures, facilitating linguistic proficiency while experiencing life in a foreign land. With the rising digitisation of education, technology is reshaping the global classroom, leading to dynamic opportunities for TEFL teachers and learners alike.

In this new age, TEFL has been enhanced by technological tools that enable remote learning, promote learner engagement, and ensure instructional effectiveness. Online language learning platforms, for example, offer an array of resources – grammar exercises, vocabulary quizzes, and pronunciation guides – that can supplement classroom instruction. This combination of traditional classroom teaching with digital tools has revolutionised TEFL, creating a blended learning environment that offers the best of both worlds.

Read More