UK Universities Increasing Recruitment of International Students

Recently it was announced that Edinburgh University has made the decision that 50% of places at the institution will go to international students. This news comes as a number of research has proven that UK Universities have come to rely on international student’s tuition fees. Studies have shown that not only do international students contribute to the diversity of campus life but have contributed an estimated  £3.5 billion in fee income from non-EU students in 2012-13. 

International Students to cover 50% of Edinburgh University

If Edinburgh University follow through with their plan of allowing international students to cover half of their placements, it will make the University the second biggest international recruiter amongst the mainstream universities in the UK. The Beaveronline published an article stating that the London School of Economics are the number one university to sponsor international students. Sir Timothy O’Shea, Edinburgh’s vice-chancellor, has made it clear that recruiting 50% of international students is a long-term plan and not a target. In the Edinburgh’s University’s  Strategic plan for 2012/12 it states that it wants to:

“Increase our headcount of non-EU international students by at least 2,000”.

Back in April 2014, Universities UK published figures which showed the substantial contribution international students in the  higher education sector has to the UK economy. Mike Boxall, a higher education expert from PA Consulting, has stated that international students are attractive to UK Universities because they can be charged unlimited tuition fees.

According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency the number of international students in the UK has ‘boomed’ in the last 30 years. Statistics have shown:

  • In the early 80s fewer than 50,000 students attending Universities in the UK were international. By 2013 the number of international students in the UK was 425,000. This figure made up 18% of the total student population in the UK.
  • 41% of Edinburgh’s 28,000 students were international in the year 2012/13.
  • The London School of Economics (LSE) holds the highest proportion of international students with 67% of their student population being international.

Tier 4 of the Points Based System: the Changes

The Tier 4 Student and Child categories under the points based system are for those international students who wish to come to the UK to study and experience life and culture in the UK. The following changes are being made to the category:

  • Tier 4 (General) Students applying for a visa or an extension of stay who want to undertake a course at a Higher Education Institution in a discipline set out in Appendix 6 of the Rules are required to hold a valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Counter-Proliferation Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This is stated under Paragraphs 245ZV(da) and 245ZX(ea) of the Immigration Rules.
  • The Immigration Rules are being amended to clarify  that a new ATAS certificate must be obtained if the course content changes, the course end date is postponed significantly, or if the student wants to start a new course that requires ATAS clearance.

Successful UK Tier 4 Student Visa Applications & Appeals

Our team of experienced and professionally qualified immigration solicitors and barristers based in London will be able to guide you through the process of making a student visa application step by step and limit the possibility of failure by complying with the strict letter of law.

We also undertake a great deal of appeal work before the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and have a successful track record of successful results for our clients. We have the experience and the knowledge required to take your case forward successfully. If you have had a student visa refused, contact us to discuss your case so that we can provide you with a case assessment.

Call Now Button search previous next tag category expand menu location phone mail time cart zoom edit close