Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 4
4
EU students paying international student rates can provide a new and potentially lucrative income stream...
Conclusion
EU students paying international student rates can provide a new and potentially lucrative income stream for Scottish universities, though this new income stream may face the same risks posed to fees from international students. Although applications from EU students have dropped by about 40% for 2021–22 (that year being the first year that EU students will pay the new rates), this is a lower drop than many in the sector had feared, and Scottish universities will now receive four to five times more income per EU student than was previously the case. That said, it is important that, following Brexit, Scotland is still able to attract the brightest and best from the EU. 4 Universities and Scotland This is not only because EU students tend to gravitate towards vital STEM subjects (which can otherwise be difficult to recruit for), but also because EU students are more likely to stay on in Scottish academia/research once they graduate than other international students. These students can play a key role in our economic recovery following the pandemic. The UK Government should launch a new or expanded scholarship scheme to encourage the most talented EU students to study in the UK and Scotland. This would help heal UK-EU divides following Brexit, assist in combating falling EU student numbers in Scotland and provide a new pathway to attract and retain the brightest and best from the EU. In addition, the UK Government should increase funding to Study UK in order to increase their capacity to target EU students who may be hesitant to study in the UK. (Paragraph 62) Student welfare, experience and opportunities
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The UK Government is absolutely committed to supporting the UK higher education sector, and to increasing the number of international students and academics that come here. This is demonstrated in the migration statistics which were recently published. In 2021, there were 432,279 Sponsored study visas granted (to both main applicants and their dependants), 89% (203,313) more than the previous year and 52% (147,558) higher than 2019. Of the 432,279 Sponsored visas granted, 13,128 (3%) were under Tier 4 rules and 419,151 (97%) were under the new Student and Child Student routes introduced on the 5th October 2020.1 1 Please note that year-on-year changes may have been impacted by changes to travel plans and patterns due to the pandemic. The number of Sponsored study visas granted in 2021, is the highest on record with the substantial increase representing both a recovery from lower numbers during the Covid-19 pandemic but also an increase on the pre-pandemic period. It is 41% higher than the previous record of 307,394 which occurred in the year ending June 2010. to ensure the UK is as attractive as possible to genuine international students. As part of these changes we launched the Student and Child Student route in October 2020 and the Graduate route in July 2021. The new routes are streamlined, simplified, and provide clearer pathways for students and graduates who want to progress through their academic career and seek employment in the UK via a skilled work route after their studies. international students across the UK during Covid-19, providing certainty to students and the sector by enabling distance and blended learning for international students until April next year; ensuring that Covid-related absences will not count against students; and ensuring reporting and compliance assessment requirements do not place unnecessary burden on sponsors whose students defer their studies, or withdraw from a course, as a result of the pandemic. We shall submit our response to the Committee’s Report on Immigration and Scotland shortly.