Large decline in foreign students in Scottish universities

The number of foreign students in Scottish universities decreased by about 10,000 last year, showing new figures.

Foreign student numbers decline after reaching an all -time high level in the previous year – their tuition fees provide an important source of funds for universities.

The latest figures from HesA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) show that there were 73,915 students from outside the UK, which was a year ago 83,795 below 12%.

Statistics also suggest that Scotland universities had 173,795 students from Scotland.

The number of European Union students in Scotland fell by half as Britain left the European Union in 2019 and continued to fall into the current figures, to just 10,430.

Meanwhile, the share of foreign students was growing by one in 20 in the 1990s, more than one in four in recent years.

The largest number of foreign students in Scotland is from China.

It fell from 19,000 in 2022/23 to 17,565 last year.

India’s students fell from 12,235 and Nigerian students fell from 9,415 to 5,985.

Pakistan’s number of students increased from 5,075 to 5,540

Dundi University, Which recently announced £ 35m Black Hole in its financeInternational students saw a decline of 27% – from 4,570 to 3,335.

Glasgow University saw a decline of 15% from 15,200 to 12,935 in foreign students.

However, the University of Edinburgh, Who has also announced financial shortageManaged to increase the number of foreign students by 16,625.

Scottish students get “free tuition” in Scottish universities, meaning that undergraduates do not have to pay the fee for their courses if they can protect one of the limited places.

However, universities have long claimed that the money received from the Scottish government has not coordinated with inflation and is lower per student than similar institutions in England, which comes from tuition fees.

Scottish University, such as most of the UK, has been on a recruitment drive to attract students from other parts of the world, charging them much more than UK students – from about £ 10,000 to £ 40,000 per year.

For people with a prestigious reputation, including the old universities of Scotland, the share of foreign students has increased by 40%.

This has led to a dispute – about the quality of learning, standards of English language capacity and increase in demand for student housing.

If the demand for places falls away, then this vulnerability has also brought.

A growing concern about universities including Glasgow and Edinburgh was seen in the innings recruited in other countries due to a lot of dependent on Chinese students.

Nigeria was a new goal, which was encouraged by the UK government.

But the market there depends on the strength of the Nigerian currency, which fell rapidly and cut the number of people who could risk coming to the UK.

Other factors, such as tight visa restrictions and strong competition from other countries, have fallen further.

Earlier this week, a senior person from Dundi University told the MSP that insolvency was a “real possibility” as the institution tried to deal with £ 35M funding black holes.

The acting chairman of the Court Trisia BE said without financial assistance from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) that the university would get out of money by the end of June.

Last week, the university announced that 632 jobs would be cut, about one-fifth workforce.

It states that the increase in factor and national insurance contribution, including “serious decline” in international student recruitment, was convicted for deficit.

However, it said that internal factors, including “insufficient financial discipline and control” and “poor capital plan and investment decisions”, also contributed to the situation.

University and College Union (UCU) Scotland said that staff was being made to pay the price for “arrogant management failure”.

The University of Edinburgh has also planned a cut of £ 140 meters to deal with serious financial difficulties.

The university principal and vice -chancellor, Professor Sir Peter Maithison, said in a message to the employees that “radical action” would require the institution to ensure “permanent reduction” to help the institution deal with falling income and high bills.

The fall in income was partially convicted on the number of international students coming to the UK.