Recommendation 42

The Scottish Funding Council says it is clear that universities in Scotland “need” international students as a source of income in order to remain financially sustainable and to support other areas of their operation.103 Throughout our inquiry we have heard similar messages from our witnesses. In the view of Professor Rebecca Lunn, Head of the Centre for Ground Engineering and Energy Geosciences, University of Strathclyde, cross- subsidy of teaching from international fees “leaves us in rather a vulnerable position”.104 Matt Crilly, President of NUS Scotland told us that institutions “should not be relying on a marketised system of exorbitant tuition fees from international students”.105