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THREAD - The UK university system and its overreliance on overseas students, particularly from China. All figures taken from my report for @ukonward today unless otherwise stated.
Since the 1980s, overseas students have gone from a niche source of funds to a core part of HE balance sheets. Since 1994/5, overseas places have risen 7-fold, from 65,000 to 460,000. UK places have risen 50% over that time.
This has brought benefits, but it has had unintended consequences. First, it leaves the sector horribly exposed to the pandemic. Non-EU income totalled £5.8 billion last year and is 40% of additional income expected in the next 4 years.
Second, overseas students increasingly dominate the best unis/courses, crowding out UK students. At Oxbridge state school admissions have decline over 20 years as overseas places rocketed. Student growth on the high-value courses is hugely skewed towards overseas students.
Third, overseas student flows have become dominated by students from one country, China. Since 1994/5, the number of full-time Chinese students has risen 75-times over, to 115,435 last year. 20% of postgraduates at UK universities are now from China.
This means there are now more Chinese students at UK universities than from the rest of the G7 or from the entirety of the Commonwealth.
Not only that, but more full-time students now travel to study at UK unis from China than from the East Midlands, or from Yorkshire.
Not only that, but more full-time students now travel to study at UK unis from China than from the East Midlands, or from Yorkshire.
This dependency on China should worry us right now. @AmbLiuXiaoMing has warned Chinese students in the UK to "leverage your strength" and "serve your motherland".
China has warned students not to study in Australia due to trade/security tensions. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chinese-students-in-britain-told-to-serve-motherland-522kffm2f
China has warned students not to study in Australia due to trade/security tensions. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chinese-students-in-britain-told-to-serve-motherland-522kffm2f
