25 UK universities make a third of income from overseas students

In just two days' time, thousands of students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will get their A-level results - with many scrambling for places at university. (Subscribe: bit.ly/C4_News...)
But it’s a tense time for universities, too. The next few weeks could make or break their finances.
Analysis by our FactCheck team lays bare one of their greatest vulnerabilities - their reliance on students from overseas.
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[@akbarmohammed4eva]

International students are seen as Cash Cows, since they pay for everything. Entire cities across UK are dependent on these students for their economy.

[@stephan6372]

Other than Oxford and Cambridge name another city that makes its most income from foreign students?

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

​@@stephan6372Glasgow, Warwickshire, Manchester, Edinburgh (although to be honest, Edinburgh is beautiful enough to attract tourism on its own)

[@-Eternal-Damnation-]

​@@stephan6372there are more than just those 2 cities which are known as University towns

[@MrGrifft]

​@@stephan6372 ​Newcastle and Bristol have 2x massive universities each. Northumbria University - Total students 33500 - foreign 7705 (23%). INTL students pay £19000 a year just in university fees.

[@DonR-zb2cm]

And they still come over it’s baffling. My entire University was full of International students it was hard to find a single person that spoke fluent English. It’s sad because education is not taken seriously anymore the international students are used as cash cows and Uk citizens are not being looked at or given opportunities just because they pay less tuition fees. The system is messed up

[@alikhan-ri5ye]

£22k is just the university fee.You have to pay visa fee, accommodation rent,food, NHS fees whether you use them or not.Annual cost per year for an international student could be close to £35k.Why not go to a country where people are more welcoming like USA/canada/Germany/Aus/NZ, also these countries allow families to come along and have job prospects.

[@maalikserebryakov]

Tide is turning in germany too. pakistanis and arab migrants are quickly earning heavy hatred from the entirety of europe.

[@Deeekingmaker]

The US? Lol

[@hannah60000]

Like when British students opted to travel abroad. Of course, scholarships and funding aside.

[@YouTuberJames92610]

Many students from my country now go to China, Japan or South Korea. Uk/USA are no longer in their short list, especially after recent hostilities against the immigrants. Parents don't want to send their kids to a country where their kids are not welcome.

[@Prospero-z1s]

Off you go. I was a mature student 20 years ago and shared a landing with 11 Chinese guys, lovely patriotic people who love their country and can't wait to get back. I saw none of the illegal boat type qpeople there mainly because African and Muslims from poor nations lack the intellect to undertake a degree. Nobody objects to peaceful Chinese people who aren't here to live off our benefits like 68% of Muslim men and 78% of Muslim women. Facts I'm afraid, we know you hate those.

[@isaacho8230]

International students, like all legal immigrants, don’t have access to public funds. They also have to pre-pay for the NHS for every year their visas last in their application. This means, if they work and earn above the personal allowance, they would have to pay additional contributions into the state. For students specifically, they would also have to have six months of living costs available in their bank statements when they make their application to prove that they can support themselves. This means no cost to the taxpayer.

[@severayede5800]

THIS right here is a key series of facts that too many people don't want to hear about because it doesn't fit a certain narrative class.

[@claretblue2509]

Still driving our rents up though.

[@claretblue2509]

Don’t know why you speak like they were forced to come. They were well aware of this before they immigrated.

[@isaacho8230]

@@claretblue2509 I am not saying it’s unfair. I am just saying that they aren’t supported by the taxpayers in any shape or form.

[@justgeneric2876]

Students are entitled to buy property or they were, which is why it is quite the prevalent system in place.

[@FlowerWho92]

I hate how casually we now say max 9k ish for one year when it was a third of that price per year a decade ago.

[@jeffreynanatakyicollins101]

A lot of things was cheaper a decade ago. It’s called inflation

[@charlesmartin9724]

More like two decades ago. I'm 29 now and 10 years ago the price of uni was still about 7k a year.

[@mrmeldrew693]

I'm in my 30s and tuition was £1100 a year for me. Middle sister, (three years younger) paid £3500 a year. Youngest sister, (six years younger) paid £9000 a year. I was also paying 0.5% interest for most of the time I was paying my loan off.....they aren't.

[@Summitic]

Why study in the UK if you could study in Germany, france, italy, sweden where University Education is almost free !

[@Summitic]

​@@jeffreynanatakyicollins101inflation does not multiply things by 3. Tuition fees for international students are reaching up to 12k a year in mediocre universities in the UK.

[@nickr3971]

To all international students trust me - Don’t make the mistake of going there. I am already regretting.

[@Quantum_Whisper_Thread]

Which university are you studying?

[@TrungNguyen-xk5rx]

Agreed. Me too. Graduated 10y ago in UK. Should’ve gone to US instead

[@hudycat]

Many international students are studying elsewhere now for example in Georgia especially medical students

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

Agreed, should have gone to Germany.

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

@@ianclose123 mostly it is for status, a degree from the UK or the US elevates one's worth in the eyes of your fellow countrymen back home. A colonial hangover, it seems. It also adds international credence to your CV and proves that you are well heeled and upwardly mobile in an international world.

[@williammok3602]

Sad to Say, UK had no choice, education is pretty much the only competitive "industry"left

[@Shaara1]

Well, the name of UK unis is drawing foreigners in. It looks good on the cv in other countries. Students pay for the fact that it is British. But the actual education, knowledge that universities offer, is negligible. Not to use a stronger word.

[@moneymanifestation9505]

Just say British people aren't smart enough 😂have you heard how you people talk😂can you sea a bunch of council kids going college 😂😂it will never happen

[@KeyzKieran]

Yep, once our uni's quality goes down. The smartest people will go elsewhere and the UK will just become a history tourist island.

[@andybrice2711]

@@williammok3602 My only major concern is the pressure it puts on housing. If a university wants to invite hundreds more people to live in an already crowded area, it should be expected to build enough accommodation for them first. (And not by converting existing homes.)

[@tokomac7728]

not any more

[@fordwych70]

God, he really talks like a politician. How about lowering the salaries of vice chancellors? Just an idea.

[@thomashamilton564]

100% - outrageous that they pay their staff as little as they can get away with while pumping up their own salaries!

[@neiljohnuk]

Typical VC, obfuscating and claiming it's a 'political decision'.

[@EthanZoid]

Because 1 person salary in a 100-500 million economy is the answer to all your problems? 😂

[@thomashamilton564]

@@EthanZoid do you think that’s a good argument? The UK economy is about 3trillion. Let’s ignore every decision that affects that number by less than 0.1% - sounds like prudent management.

[@Doomedcreatures]

I know Chinese people who have come to study (in london ). who are really annoyed their whole class is all Chinese students. they have come for a UK experience. they dont think its worth it now

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

Same with Indians 😂😂

[@the80386]

the problem is even more acute with indians. many tertiary colleges in canada and australia have 90% or more indian students (including the tutors in some cases). it becomes hard to determine whether you're in canada or india.

[@DonR-zb2cm]

London University is literally full of Chinese, Indians and Shrilankans. No British citizens

[@domcox]

Some unis charging 9k for a two day a week course. The whole systems broken

[@nesnibila4888]

yeah, my course was like that

[@Sumi_S]

Bro us uni students arnt complaining Why would you want more days at uni?

[@ChronicCraftsman]

No one forces anyone to come to the UK to study, the people that come here are completely aware of the cost of the course they chose and the other costs to live here.

[@nesnibila4888]

@@ChronicCraftsman i paid that as a uk resident

[@gingerssmelllikecabbageand8708]

I agree , in 2005 i done a 2yrs introduction course in construction studies.frees were £1,500 per year. Work one year as a drafts man then 2008,crash and then left construction industry. Went into healthcare again nil fees, through university,work hard, built a house myself, didn’t want a large mortgage, that took me 4years to do. At 40 I wanted to give construction a go again, the problem I’ve noticed and this is not specifically related to construction, but courses have modules that really none reflective of the industry. I then went on indeed and looked at Recruitment requirements for jobs in construction,I could see the university curriculum and job requirements were not marrying up. University wanted to charge me £12,000 for a year long top up course, in the end I decided to reduce my hours at work to 28hrs so per week, so I can continue to pay the bills. Learn, MS project, primavera 6, blue beam(estimating package), Revit, auto cad,NRM 1,2,3 and NHBC regulations and health and safety regulations and procedures. I’ll put a total of £4000 into computers and software and teach myself over 2.5yrs. I’ll probably have ageism to face then, but I find university modules and courses and not fully preparing for the real world.

[@manojchowdhary4208]

So Britain wants International students with higher fee payments, but not their families. 😂😂

[@ItsJustRyan89]

Why do they need to bring their family?

[@olivermoore7020]

​@thebaneofyourexistence.3377 Its quite normal for people to do postgraduate degrees at an advanced stage of life (e.g. in their 30s, married with kids), especially if they come from developing counties.

[@kenp291]

@@ItsJustRyan89 It's Post Graduate (mature students), who are often married, sometimes with children.

[@sameaulahad2824]

@@ItsJustRyan89 you would, you white do all the time. Texas was a main example. Asked to come and work by the Mexican government then bought their families over and took the land. Why you scared it’s your turn to taste it?

[@ItsJustRyan89]

@@kenp291 it’s only a few months, they don’t need to go through all that fuss

[@alipaf2002]

So basically international students from poor countries pay 3 times more

[@jintype2984]

cant be from poor countries if they can afford £30k a year for studying

[@redlanka2504]

​@jintype2984 most are from. India China South Asian nations Africa....not from Europeans. Ure bad at stats

[@Clean2113]

They can't. That's why alot work cash in hand

[@stevenobinator2229]

2X BONEHEAD

[@sonusayeed6907]

@@jintype2984 upto 22K, I know its hard to believe for an english person who has to pay their parents rent for staying in the same house. Only to then ship them off to an old age home paid for by the state, as they are seen as a burden...., but foreign parents save up all their lives so they can give their kids a better education and chance at a better life than they had. In return those foreign kids go onto achieve great things knowing only too well the sacrifices that were made for them. Later they look after their parents in their old age...An alien culture indeed!

[@cdc7735]

As a UK undergraduate student in 2018-21 (non Russell Group, mid ranking) the thing that shocked me most about international students was how poor their English was (nearly all of them spoke rudimentary English and couldn’t hold a conversation). These were mainly Hong Kong / Chinese students who simply couldn’t follow what the lecturer was saying. Unsurprisingly, their grades tended to be very poor and when I was paired up with one of them for a presentation I just had to do the whole thing myself. To qualify for university, international students have to sit an English proficiency exam. I have no idea what form the assessment takes, but it must be very easy, and of course the likes of Leeds Beckett will be incentivised to coach foreign students through it and ensure they pass so they can get the students’ fees. I feel sorry for these students, they and their parents are being conned out of thousands of pounds for an increasingly poor level of education. It’s also no good for the other British students who are sat in lectures where large numbers of their peers are silent and unable to contribute to the lecture. The government has to get a grip on this, because they dictate what universities can charge UK students. If that means some of the worst universities have to close, so be it. Their main function is to educate people, and some are doing a phenomenally poor job of it.

[@hitcatd4]

it's a university, you're supoosed to go there to learn

[@lashhhhh]

Not whole world is fluent in english. Congrats on realising that there are other languages in the world.

[@Omenhachi]

I know how you feel cdc, i had to do a whole media thing by myself, it was an intense project and was truly one of the most stressful things ive ever done - they could not speak English at all and spent most of the lectures on TikTok and having to have basic things explained to them multiple times over. The teaching staff were clearly unprepared and with how many were in the class, they could have maybe had an interpreter or something because they could not follow what the lecturers were saying. I had no choice who I was partnered up with either and I reaaaaaaaaally wanted to make it work but it took so much more than it needed to. Luckily, we DID manage to get it done, but it was so much unnecessary stress lol. I know these people in the replies are talking at you like you should feel bad but but it's a real problem and I totally get where you're coming from

[@Omenhachi]

just to put it in perspective as well, there were about 15 chinese/hk students to 4 natives and 2 from brazil and spain, the brazilian girl and spanish guy were completely fine but the chinese/hk were really holding stuff back for everyone lol

[@the_godfatherTV]

Your country is poor, that's why they rely on external funding of international students to sustain their universities. If these students were screened out, u wouldn't have any standing university in the UK to attend. Let that sink in. Keep English proficiency aside, the idea is for economic growth.

[@pragueexpat5106]

It's a consequence of turning education into just another business, it's happening in U.S and Australia too, I wonder if it's just a coincidence that it's happening only (as far as I know) in the Anglo-sphere or if there is some shared cultural thing going on..

[@justgeneric2876]

Its because in Asia higher education is not as well paid as it is in the west. Generally course costs are much less so the profit margins are much smaller.

[@skycloud4802]

Education should be free, or at the very least heavily subsidised. I can't afford university, but I wish I could (can't afford to drop hours, or the extortionate fees).

[@thedreamer3454]

When has higher education not been a business lol?

[@peacem8574]

​@@skycloud4802 No it shouldn't,because it shouldn't be a requirement in the first place. The big companies should be the ones to provide training.

[@ijeomageorge8683]

And their citizens won’t go to school

[@warrengosling]

Wait... immigrants propping up a critical part of the British economy?? SHOCKER!

[@hourbee5535]

Starmer needs to reverse course and start stamping approvals on student visas immediately

[@jintype2984]

Universities are a scam, many of them should close down. They're just a back door to mass immigration. Not a critical part of the economy.

[@kingayman5225]

The saddest part is these students are counted in the final immigration figure that everyone cries about but don’t understand. And the far right call illegal. International students are literally golden tourists, a cash cow. The fact we limit how much they can work here when studying is stupid. Not only could we be collecting tuition and VAT but also income tax.

[@chester6343]

@@kingayman5225 erm, students bringing their parents as dependants has been on the board for the immigration conversation for a long time, catch up. Farage has been talking about it for ages.

[@SA-ff9uc]

Mostly just visa farms.

[@GaryWillman]

The UK is so broken. It has been like watching a train crash in slow motion

[@AdamRiddle-c3l]

Says the scum who cause all this

[@EddieTheH]

The train crashed in a tunnel and they keep sending in more trains to try and find it!!!

[@ZenKaizen7]

When people are in financial dire need, they become irrational, and vote equally irrationally. 😉

[@Megalodon1-u6j]

It's not just UK, but all the world...

[@schrodingerscat1863]

30 years of dreadful mismanagement and self interest has driven the UK to penury. We should be an economic powerhouse but instead greed and incompetence has pretty much bankrupted us.

[@Anarchy4Angels]

I used to work in a Uni finance department, I've been expecting English Uni's to go bankrupt for a while now, it's not a surprise.

[@soggymoggytravels]

Exactly. I've heard uni financing being described as essentially a pyramid scheme.

[@vikasseth9544]

Tuition fees + Visa fees + Living expenses + Rent. even on conservative target the annual expense would be about £32,000/year. For a 4 year degree course the total expenses would be £128000. If you are coming from India the the amount you spend in INR is ₹1,376,0000. Is it worth it??? With that much of capital one can start a business

[@Mojo-vu4hr]

and u should at least buy property with that Joey if not anything I see my friends who started working then when I went to uni today all of them are in 1000+ plus crore category without degrees giving jobs to others while im still getting adjusted to indian system again

[@khweziza5397]

The way international students are treated by UK is horrible. Left a bad taste in my mouth about the country. I was hoping to settle here, but I'm not so sure anymore because my experience studying here was so disheartening.

[@claretblue2509]

Free to leave at any time.

[@washeranddryer-fu2ld]

Free to complain as much as they want and still stay here too :)​@@claretblue2509

[@theotryhard8651]

What was your experience of mistreatment?

[@dareemmanuel6079]

@@claretblue2509 you sound like a broken record now. Calma.

[@azure4100]

UK don't deserve international students. Not after the race riots.

[@lukategames9985]

Something often not mentioned is that UK universities lost billions in EU research grants post Brexit.

[@kirishima638]

Ssssh we’re not allowed to talk about that

[@user-ug8wx5er1w]

Money that we had to give to the EU so they could give it back to us??

[@t.fairuz29]

"Lost" to research grants? This is how I know this is coming from someone who barely reads. Money is required to fund research (and most funded research is for STEM subjects) which is necessary to improve industries like medical care, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals etc. I'm from a third world country, and we were brainwashed into thinking how superior the West is. That's why I came here as an international student, wasting (and yeah seems I did waste it) my life savings and a chunk of money from my family only to find people as stupid as those back home. I'm so tired of the specific brand of ignorance I'm finding here, which seems to be more "informed", reliability of source and validity of information be damned, and more stubborn. It's exhausting, I'm exhausted.

[@bb5979]

Dont want dirty EU money

[@rainbowlyniscool]

@@t.fairuz29you misunderstood them. What they’re saying is that as we left the EU the billions of £s in grants for research they were going to supply got cancelled as we left the EU.

[@richardd9938]

I know a solution to raise money for universities, Professor Slee: Cut the salaries of Chancellors & Vice Chancellors and all the overpaid Uni Officials

[@AsgharALI12126]

And increase price of local Britisher fees same like international student 🤪🤪🤪

[@richardd9938]

@sultangaming8886 I'd prefer it if they abolish all tuition fees for those who couldnt afford and only charge it off the kids of rich parents, the richer the more money

[@Johannes13452J]

2/3 universities in the UK would collapse without international students.

[@nicolasvenezuelaverde1184]

Raise your hand if you are not using your degree ✋

[@jaymz010]

✋🏾……Do I get a refund?

[@robertbannocks6750]

Do you never think. If you were not taught to think critically, no matter what subject you studied, you should ask for a refund and try another university.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

I studied electronic engineering back in the 1980's and at the time it was a growing industry in the UK and seemingly a good bet. By the time I graduated I could see many electronics firms closing down and moving to the far east. So the degree I studied became pretty much useless to me and I went into IT after training myself to code so rather than designing computers I ended up writing software for them. Successive governments have driven this county into the ground economically. While the far east offered tax incentives and invested heavily in the infrastructure high tech companies needed UK governments just sat back and let it all go. In the 80's we were at the forefront of these industries and within a decade it had pretty much all gone.

[@Mojo-vu4hr]

but library experience in uk uni is amazing life one does it right

[@sneakymove]

U r probably overqualified for your job that your employer don't give a damn about your qualification to do the job. Your colleagues probably have no degree.

[@Dogfacedbloke]

How absurd it is nowadays to imagine that our universities would be dedicated to educating the citizens of our country as opposed to making as much profit as possible selling services to foreigners and plunging our own younger generation into lifelong debt.

[@anfieldreds_1892]

university has always been an international concept unlike primary and international school. it’s been like this since first ever university in world in Morocco

[@stefantom4]

Trust me when I say that they aren't offering any worthwhile service to those foreigners and are exploiting them just as much if not more than your own local students who get more financial, social, academic and psychological support than international students. Foreign students are self financed and have to work extra hard to keep up and adapt to the uk way of studying. The courses themselves, when bad, suck for everyone and waste everyone's time and put everyone in debt, not just British students. At least the British students don't pay up front or get their visa ripped up if they miss a couple lessons.

[@Bombaclaaaaat-i2r]

The higher ups and the administration staff need to be paid of course!!!

[@therewdy4038]

How big would the unemployment line be if the unis closed?

[@DonR-zb2cm]

I’m telling you the Uk is a shambles right now. UK citizens are being overlooked because Universities are more focused on making a profit it’s disgusting. All you have to do is go visit a lot of these unis to see what’s going on

[@UKHK_Learning]

I was a self-funded International student pursuing an MBA and a PhD in the UK since 2017. I was surprised that the UK government does not support the local people for higher education when the majority of the local families couldn’t afford £9000+ per year’s tuition fees in the universities. What’s wrong with the UK Education Ministry or the Home Office if they fully funded the EU for Bachelor’s degrees before the BREXIT? That’s why the UK universities relied heavily on the income from international students and risked their reputation to cooperate with disqualified ‘suppliers’.

[@indeera2447]

Why can't these people save for their kids' education from their birth..I come from a small island and indian culture, where people save money for their education and assets.. It's just called "simple living and high thinking"..

[@iamyou6555]

@@indeera2447it’s because they’re too busy getting drunk and hammered every weekend splashing all the cash rather than care for their kids future

[@Honest_John]

They can get student loans to cover the fees

[@ZenKaizen7]

@@iamyou6555save for the kids? Better private schools have been now taxed too…

[@heinzmonster]

​@@indeera2447 What an incredibly informed comment

[@thomashamilton564]

Leeds Beckett University offers a BA (Hons) International Tourism Management which has entry requirements of 88 UCAS points (equivalent to CCD at A-level). These kinds of courses and institutions should be shut down and made to repay the students that have been conned out of 50k for utterly worthless degrees. That money could have been put to far better use in the economy. We need a systemic shift away from university requirements for jobs and a stronger emphasis on difficult and rigorous subjects and courses at universities.

[@maalikserebryakov]

😂😂😂😂 what kind of joke degree is that.

[@Wingcrawler]

@@thomashamilton564 the students chose it though

[@thomashamilton564]

@@Wingcrawler sure - but I don't expect 18 year olds who are anxious to just go to University like their friends to make the best financial choices. The PRA and the FCA regulate financial companies to make sure they give good advice. Universities should be forced to do the same - dropping 60k at 18 on a useless product is a huge decision and Universities should be forced to be clear around the prospects for each course. Something like a "Projected lifetime earnings multiplier" as a result of the course. For some courses (such as the one above) it's likely that the number will be below 1...

[@Mojo-vu4hr]

they just create degrees and shut them at will, remember students from Angola had nowhere to go after 1st year just cos there hole module was discontinued suddenly!

[@agfagaevart]

that's a worthwile degree! David Beckham / Coronation Street Studies is not.

[@slavaukraini1991]

Tuition fees voted in by MPs who got a free education, never forget that.

[@dondraper2488]

Nothing wrong with that…. The students have visas,pay their way and are no doubt here legally.

[@thomashamilton564]

The issue was around the 100,000 dependents that they bring with them...

[@pauljrechezona3126]

​@@thomashamilton564 you can't expect a mother to abandon her child can you?

[@thomashamilton564]

@@pauljrechezona3126 what about the father?

[@muzamiljabbar6066]

​@thomashamilton564 usually they don't and if they have to, It's a jackpot for visa and immigration as they have to pay huge visa fees along with income limit.

[@robertbannocks6750]

@@pauljrechezona3126 the she can wait to study until that child is able to look after itself,

[@Jim90117]

Imagine paying £22k for a British Uni education... unless it's Oxbridge, what a waste of money...

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

For Oxbridge it is even more than £22000 per annum, more like £60000 per annum if not more for international students.

[@agfagaevart]

depends what uni.

[@EvelynCarr-e3t]

Answer is simple the british students fee for university need to be increased to make up the lost from international students

[@-Eternal-Damnation-]

Oh cheers mate, guess I'll just doable my student dept then shall I, as I'm just about to start a degree 😂. Let me guess, you already have a degree don't you.

[@DonR-zb2cm]

A lot of these students are coming from low income families and they go to University with a hope getting a good job afterwards to help out at home. Unless there’s a scheme that guarantees British students with opportunities after University increasing tuition fees won’t work. But something definitely needs to be done because there’s way too many international students coming over every year

[@FarleyHavelock_III]

​@@-Eternal-Damnation-sorry mate, eventually someone's going to have to hold the L when the money starts to run out

[@danim5373]

That's beyond dumb

[@falconmate]

Universities are one of the things that the UK does right! Cambridge and Oxford are top of the world Universities, with Imperial, UCL, Warwick being high ranking universities. We MUST have our universities prosper otherwise the UK would lose one of the few things it does right

[@Maxillz]

Remember when university was free and these companies didn't milk UK and international students for tens of thousands of pounds?

[@solidbanjobanjo9367]

The white students of those times, entitled that they were expected everyone else to foot the bill for them while they drank and eventually avoided certain job opportunities that would require them to payback the money so kindly lent to them in the first place

[@mhl8396]

Uni should be free to UK students, like it used to be Edit: I feel that along with making it free, they should reform what degrees mean, and people studying vocational subjects, should not be doing degrees, so fewer people would be going to uni. This would be more affordable

[@TmcksnT]

who will pay for free gender studies degrees? not me

[@mhl8396]

@TmcksnT we could afford to pay for it if they only offered academic degrees for people studying academic subjects. Vocational subjects should not be taught in that fashion. I'm not sure which category gender studies comes under!

[@TmcksnT]

@@mhl8396 I'm not paying. we don't need government distorting the market some more with foreign loan and tax revenue funding. if young people value education, they'll pay for it

[@TmcksnT]

these are the same young people that turned their noses up at the idea of national service

[@ZenKaizen7]

Agree should be free. But, no money 💴

[@andybrice2711]

Here's what I don't understand: If immigration is too high, and our public services can't sustain it. Then why don't we just raise the price of visas? Then we'd get slightly fewer people and slightly more revenue. Supply and demand.

[@andybrice2711]

@hakanozaslan9571 Hmm. I’m not sure the regulations are that strict though. Maybe they are more so now. But until last year we were still handing out hundreds of thousands of dependent visas.

[@ndt2046]

Red herring. International students pay in more to the system than they take out: they pay for access to NHS services, are disproportionately young anyway (hence not really putting a strain on the system), and pay far above the economic cost of their degrees, i.e. effectively subsidising local students. You can of course raise the price of visas and UK health insurance. In fact it's been done many times over the past decade. But that's exactly part of what's leading to students incentivised to look elsewhere for their education. Higher prices, less demand.

[@andybrice2711]

@@ndt2046 I think that's generally true for the students themselves. But we were also accepting hundreds of thousands of their dependent family members. I'm not convinced that was economically justifiable at all. Especially in areas which already have a shortage of housing.

[@ndt2046]

@@andybrice2711 it's been the policy for decades that dependents (spouse and children only) have to be accounted for in all the previously mentioned fees. They pay on a per head basis. And they are only PhD students who can do so as of a few years ago. You are arguing based on vibes not facts. You seem to imagine a stream of freeloaders bringing an entire village just for one student. The real freeloaders abusing the NHS and living on the dole, you can have a look around you.

[@andybrice2711]

@@ndt2046 I’m really not sure that’s accurate though. For instance, as I understand it, a dependent visa costs around £4K for 5 years. But a child’s education costs around £8K per year. So that’s surely a large shortfall in the education budget? And even if it is only PhD students. The number jumped from ~10K to ~100K in a few years. That needs some explaining. The backlog from the pandemic doesn’t account for a tenfold increase. And even if the books did balance. I just don’t think it’s reasonable that universities should be allowed to import that many people if there’s already a local housing shortage.

[@grahamcook9289]

Why would students want to bring family members to the UK? If you a UK student goes to 'uni' they don't take family members with them. It's a blatant abuse.

[@paddy8254]

But if you're in your late 20's and have a family and want to study a 1 year masters degree in data science so you can go home after and get a better job, you may well want to bring your 2 toddlers with you. The dependents were mostly coming over with Postgraduate students who are older than 21.

[@grahamcook9289]

@@paddy8254 Who references to prove that? The bulk of these student visas with dependents were using it as a backdoor to enter the UK. More illegal mass immigration. More two-tier double standards. If you millions to greedy useless HE chancellors, then you can break the law. Write about it online and end up going straight to jail for 3 years!!!!!!!

[@hirenvadher1782]

British and International students would be better off studying at Japanese Universities. They have very low fees compared to U.K. universities, Admission fees are £1800 and Tuition fees vary between £3520 and £3900 per year. The quality of education is far more exceptional compared to U.K universities as well. For example, the “Tokyo Institute of Technology” has a better Mechanical Engineering department compared to even a top University like Imperial College London.

[@ayshiaarmani]

But do they teach in English?

[@hirenvadher1782]

@@ayshiaarmani at the “Tokyo Institute of Technology” for example, only a very few undergraduate program’s are taught in English but all Masters and PHD’s are taught in English. At many of the other universities, e.g. The University of Tokyo, Sophia University, Hokkaido University, Osaka University, Waseda University and Nagoya University, many if not all undergraduate, Masters and PHD’s are taught in English.

[@realcirno1750]

@@hirenvadher1782 not even close to being true

[@nalungaagnes1884]

Germany in terms of universities is the best. Some states have free university education. Even us in Baden Wurttemberg that pay, pay way less than a UK university. And I study in English. I might not like it here but I must give credit to Germany

[@jshsjsnsk]

Why don't you like it there? ​@@nalungaagnes1884

[@benji928]

Just come to Southampton and see for yourself, the uni is dominated by Chinese students.

[@rajeshx1983]

Mostly funded by chinese government😂😂😂

[@the80386]

@@rajeshx1983 at least their government understands the importance of higher education and considers the cost as investment, compared to UK which considers it a burden. and the results in research and industrial development speaks for itself.

[@onlineonlineaccount2368]

Foreign students are essential to the UK university business model and allow domestic British students to attend well funded UK universities......bingo and that the core of it all. UK Uni's need students from China, India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ghana, Brazil etc. These countries with increasing middle class who have alot finance to spend to go to top universities in the country. Next to that you also have students from EU nations, Australia, US, Canada who are here aswell. UK unis also depend on students from the commonwealth of which some nations i mentioned already as they pay more for courses and which is a profit based model for UK unis and also a form of soft power for the UK. To promote higer education in foreign countries.

[@SuryaPrakashKumar-k5t]

Even in the beginning of the 20th century student were coming to study but such protest were not taking place why they all are only want to coming in Europe and country settled by europe like USA ,Canada , Australia everyone agree that European make a good country

[@robertbannocks6750]

Nope the universities took the easy way out and offered a back door route to immigration against the wishes of the UK native people. There is no reason for UK universities to be dependent on these people. Our eduation system for our people.

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

​@@robertbannocks6750exactly, British Unis for the British people!! Kick out all the Asian and African students, the American and Australian students, if the choose to study in the UK, are quite welcome.

[@chester6343]

So in essence if faced with the choice universities are more likely to pick a migrant over a national. Is that really a good thing? Is having educational institutions acting on financial incentives rather than merit a good thing. In short, no.

[@Clean2113]

Middlesbrough and Sunderland sent its English applicants to Newcastle uni. Nobody has reported on it though.

[@kenp291]

That's not how it works. It's not a mutually exclusive choice.

[@shabzix5659]

Universities need money to run,so it is a win win situation. Home students are more of a burden to the tax payer than international ones. Most home students need the loan and not all get to repay it.

[@chester6343]

@@shabzix5659 realllllyy, people who are likely to live here their entire lives and eventually get spanked by IHT are more of a burden to the taxpayer, okay. But anyway, that's not even what matters and it's where you're so off base, people are willing to pay to get rid of the migrants, it's not all about money. That's how bad it's gotten.

[@user-bi8ko7kc6h]

No, there’re limits of how many international students they would take. And they separated the application queue for national and international students.

[@rezzoh_hrts]

The definition of an own goal. Well done 👍🏻

[@donlatinohits]

This is a clear case of If you don't want the radicality to enter illegally, they will pay thier way in.

[@mohm7047]

The other definition of an own goal is the Brexit vote, closing off trade barriers with the EU.

[@rezzoh_hrts]

@@mohm7047 okay

[@agfagaevart]

@@mohm7047 no, that was Chickens Voting for Christmas.

[@D-A-H8585]

As a general rule, whatever Channel 4 say is happening, then either it is not happening or the opposite is happening.

[@mingweicheese3709]

International students subsidise domestic students, enriches culture, bring in talent and knowledge. In return, uk unis provide world class education, prestige, opportunities and networks. Could’ve been a win-win. But hey ho, turns out highly educated citizens don’t vote for incompetent politicians so universities must go. Hope labour ends tory’s war on higher education, aspiration, productivity and social mobility

[@Clean2113]

We need to educate our own. You know as well as me that most who do masters in IT etc endup working in security. Uni is not needed for most. Nursing degrees don't need uni degrees it's hands on. Spent more time in placement than uni.

[@mingweicheese3709]

@@Clean2113 In uk higher ed you can only “educate our own” with subsidisation paid by international students, hence the crisis. You can have domestic apprenticeships without dismantling a net contributor sector which is also a key export.

[@kenp291]

@@Clean2113 That's actually not true. The surveys of where International students go after graduating at UK universities shows the majority return home. Many, many others go into high skilled roles, in advanced sectors.

[@shabzix5659]

​@Theysopretty2 to educate our own,we need money and the money is coming from international students. The UK has no manufacturing industry, so what we can export are services.Education is one of those services that we provide to outsiders. Without international students,university fees will be so expensive for home students and only the rich will afford to go. There is an argument that you don't need a degree to do most jobs,but the truth is that employers are still seeking graduates. Without a degree,there are still many jobs you won't even be able to apply to.So until that situation is changed, a degree is still necessary for social mobility.

[@meme4one]

Social mobility is available without a degree and is far from a given with a degree.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

In Bristol the Chinese and Arab students pay £450 a week just for their lodgings. They buy Audi's and BMWs. 4:53 Draw huge sums of cash to spend. Bristol now has 30,000 Chinese people. Kings College London alone has 9,200 Chinese students.

[@Fr33zeBurn]

what's your point?

[@VA-lo4ul]

Useless degrees such as Modern Languages, Creative Writing and Film Studies should be closed for good. Such degrees are designed for the most incompetent and disengaged students (and taught by equally incompetent “professors”!).

[@AnandaKrishnasami]

Many Indian students live together illegally to reduce the rent. But there is no such rule in uk. It is illegal. It should be deported. Their intention is to marry the citizen to get a green card. also working illegally. It is a regular sight that reduces the employment prospects of UK citizens

[@uselessoldman7964]

I live here in Leeds and we have a lot of foreign students although I would guess (well over) more than half of them from China. Its summer recess but they are still here so to are their parents family and friends the streets are full of them as are the shops, NO shortage of cash their hands full of expensive purchases. I have nothing against the Chinese lovely people and with them we now have an abundance of Chinese/oriental/Thai supermarkets, street cafes and good variety of oriental restaurants. I also meet a lot of Chinese girls with WHITE British guys no problems with their integration or their ability to speak English, they are all model immigrants !!!!!! unlike some. I understand the Political issues with regards back home, its a touchy if not taboo subject and not one ANY of them like to discuss in public but open when away from potential eves dropping Chinese secret Police and YES they do exist in our Cities, more than our Government would ever like to admit. Without the Chinese I am sure ALL out main Universities would go bust, after all where did all the finance come from to build our revamped Cities full of modern luxury Student Digs cos Leeds is FULL OF THEM even knocked down House of Frazer Department store and built YET MORE.

[@robertbannocks6750]

Then you are a fool. Leeds needs to have a sustainable economy that is not reliant on these people. Chinease students cluster together and do not mix. This happens the world over. No wonder they do not get a guenuine experience. All Chinease students should study the Tineman Square masaca compulsorally before beginning any course at a UK University.

[@andybrice2711]

Overseas students may well contribute to the economy. But they also put pressure on housing. If universities want to import hundreds of thousands of people. They should have to ensure that accommodation is built for them first. (And not by converting existing homes.)

[@edd60]

So who should build these houses when you mention about "pressure" is it the government or citizens themselves who should build these houses?

[@andybrice2711]

@@edd60 Well if a university wants to issue 100 more student visas in an area where there’s already a housing shortage, then I think that should be contingent on building 100 new residences first. The university probably wouldn’t do it themselves. They’d probably make a deal with a property developer. And maybe the government could invest in it too if it’s deemed to be especially good for the local economy.

[@edd60]

@@andybrice2711 Its time to wake up and invest rather than depend on the government for housing. Long are the days when housing was predominantly the preserve of government. The citizens too need to see housing as an investment. The problem is not is not about oversees student. Its about people seeing it as an investment rather than them draining the economy.

[@500BHP]

And don't forget the UK student gets tuition fee loan, maintenance loan, grant for dependants, disability students allowance, adult dependant grant. No grant is meant to be paid back plus majority do not pay back tuition fee loan as well and eventually it gets written off. I know people who owe over £50000 in student loans and will never pay it back.

[@crypticTV]

1:00 Local vs international 1:35 Reduced applications 2:00 uni funding 3:00 42 billion pounds 3:50 Political footballs 5:30 No increase in fees Cash Cows Uni towns

[@snessy444]

There's a fine line between financial viability and international bribery.

[@sigilpop]

Let me guess, the globalists sending migrants in hordes.

[@robertbannocks6750]

Nope it should be a right for British people not foreigners.

[@klang180]

Yes they do but the issue isn't tuition fees it's central funding. This is one of our greatest industries and public services we have and yet we don't fund it properly. Universities therefore seek international students to make up the shortfall.

[@hushpuppykl]

I read law in the UK back in ‘89-‘91 as a foreign student. We were treated very well. My polytechnic even held an early graduation just for us. Was so darn nice. After the graduation ceremony we were hosted to a nice luncheon. Free flowing wine. Locals paid under £1k whilst we paid about £4k. The UK needs foreign students. Simple fact. But looking at what the UK is like now, it’s a lousy environment for a student.

[@Tibs562]

@@hushpuppykl The UK doesn't need foreign students. The Universities do.

[@agfagaevart]

5:20 I think Vice Chancellors need a pay cut! 4 - 500k per year on average. that would save a lot.

[@paddy8254]

There are a chunk of Universities that bring in over £1billion in revenue. They're complicated institutions with many different missions and competing demands. Some VCs are paid too much I agree, but let me ask you, if you wanted someone to run a complicated £1 billion revenue company how much would you be willing to pay to get the best leaders?

[@agfagaevart]

@@paddy8254 I would be willing to pay the lecturers / technicians / cleaners / people on the ground working - much much more. VC salaries would be secondary!

[@BBQAndButter]

My daughter spent a semester abroad attending U of East Anglia. It was cheaper than school in the US and she was able to get healthcare coverage.

[@maneshipocrates]

That healthcare is paid by UK tax payers. Usually no healthcare is free.

[@sirgo0se97]

Ey UEA gang, it’s a nice uni if a bit brutalistic in some areas

[@robertbannocks6750]

@@sirgo0se97 they are one of the ones in trouble, That daugher should have been charged the market rate for access to the NHS not the subsidised cost they pay.

[@srinidhikarthikbs981]

Imagine imposing restrictions on legal immigration and letting illegal immigration continue.

[@AhmedAli-wt2qh]

Those who can pay £30k plus a year, can go to USA, Canada, Germany, Aus/NZ for study, with their families. These countries allow settlement in those countries as well and no other country has riots over immigrants like in UK. Farage whose family is from Germany and Steven Lenon whose family is from Ireland, can raise funds for the university students, so there is no financial loss.

[@AhmedAli-wt2qh]

@@lukaszb6892 Spain doesnt want British tourists.The french dont like north africans and German AFD, Dutch Geert Wilders, none of them dared to chase the international students in the streets. Germany now is following Tony Blair's highly skilled migrant visa program from 2001.German women like the British are not breading enough and German health care is in dire straights like the NHS. And huge German aging population has no pension, not even a house.Like UK, Germany is desperate for immigrant skilled workers and bringing over students to train them.🤣🤣

[@AhmedAli-wt2qh]

@@lukaszb6892 Children of immigrants like Steven Lenon and Tate and Farage's kids, if they ever come to power, wouldnt lift a finger to reduce immigration. I think you forgot the lies written on the side of Brexit buses, which farage disowned soon after.

[@AhmedAli-wt2qh]

@@lukaszb6892 lol, spain has issues with british tourists, french has north africans living there.German AFD cant fill the gap in their skill sector with their rhetoric. The population of all these 3 countries are aging fast and the native women dont like to breed.

[@AhmedAli-wt2qh]

@@lukaszb6892 Steven Lenon is born to irish immigrants, andrew tate born to west indian immigrants, farage's wife is German. They are all similar to the welsh born rowandan.

[@belfastclrq]

Considering some of those foreign students will become leaders in their own countries, in international organizations, and in other places where good memories about the UK could be useful for the country, you'd expect they would be treated decently.

[@geeksworkshop]

What are you going on about? Are you thinking of Oxford and the other top places back in the 1950s

[@maalikserebryakov]

@@geeksworkshop Im sure one of the random chinese dudes scuffling about in bristol uni is going to become the next Xi Jinping

[@amnbvcxz8650]

No, they’re using it as a chance to immigrate to the UK, especially if they’re wealthy but from poor 3rd world countries. Why would they want to go back to their home countries if they have the opportunity to settle in the UK.

[@robertbannocks6750]

Yep the memories of the disfunctional public transport system, rip of rents, electricity, and water prices, not to mention the recent riots, yep they are going to be a great asset. Its time to cure the educaton system of its addiction to charging for UNWANTED back door immigration and base their finances on UK student.

[@1234ksn]

As a parent of the so called foreign student who has lived and contributed to this country for past 7 years the 400% markup for international students will ensure I can only decide between food and education. that figure of 22000 is wa off. we are asked topay about 43000

[@unairenfamineur]

I'd say, the the brits be. they've been trying to tell us fo so long they want their country for their people, maybe we should listen. surely they don't need foreign students' money wink wink. just study elsewhere :)

[@manishg214]

Students from India and China prop up the British education system 😂

[@Fr33zeBurn]

No they prop up the dept. of Education beaurocrats, Board members and chancellor's salaries & bonuses.

[@AamirKhan-t6q5p]

I would rather invest £22000 Into some sort of business! I was an international student as well and paid £16k and learned that in a harsh way that its a waste of money to come here and study, i studied much more in my college back home than in my university here 😂😂😂!!!! Absolute trash!!

[@iwatch756]

In 2012, Conservatives removed the post study visa PSW for that year. The coward who did that, a close friend of all the weak pms who came after that, david was till in the conservative govt in 2024. No matter the narrative, the entire government has been anti any kind of immigration for more than a decade now. In spite of being degree holders, the employment visa sponsorship situation for graduates not of UK, EU; is a catch 22 that is inherently racist. Expats are all the UK locals who always want to move to the US and tax-free ME, but any POC even educated in the UK paying 4 times that price is considered a risk. When statistically, the immigrants who study and work there contribute just as much, if not more, to the economy. The funny thing is, the sly freeloaders still illegally live and reproduce there, while educated UK international grads slip away. Guess who loses?😂

[@DZ60]

It’s always been rediculous to me that anyone would ever consider charging such absurd amounts for an education. It’s an absolute joke.

[@Cappellano]

Raising the price of international student fees will inevitably reduce immigration, as only those who are wealthy or are bright enough to receive a full scholarship can afford to study here. In a way, it serves as a form of quality control that will benefit the UK, both economically and intellectually.

[@thedreamer3454]

They pay 22k lol that's 66k for a degree. So how much would h rise It to?

[@adam7802]

I want to agree but we have people spending thousands of pounds to smugglers to get boats across the channel... 🤣

[@sirgo0se97]

So you want to reduce a part of immigration that is consistently beneficial to the economy. If fewer foreign students come to pay these bs fees that means the unis will either have to make even more cuts or share the burden onto local students. Comment sections really are a hotbed of genius ideas huh.

[@Omar-kl3xp]

People that are paying already £22k per year only for education without counting visa ,accommodations and other expenses are already in the upper middle class to rich category, raising the price will just make most people move to different countries universities which would make UK university bankrupt.

[@anastasiap962]

Envy? 😂 We pay around 35-40k annually in the UK for education , accommodation, NHC, visa, current expenses, and we’re more motivated and study a way much better. We’re reach even now in comparison with you always nagging Brits 😜

[@chrisyoungdesign1342]

My partner is from abroad and she's paying an astronomical amount of money for her PhD and yes nothing she got was for free she had to pay for access to NHS, and to prove she had income her living costs alone were much higher than for a UK student. So the whole policy for in general is so backwards as he said it was more political then practical, students study is hardly stop the boats as they are doing it the legal way and if you think its easy for them to stay here think again its actually harder then those crossing the channel to stay here it feels like the legal route is tighter then the illegal option. Years ago the university sector was funded by the government mostly and then labour made it more accessible but introduced tuition fees, my degree cost me over the 3 years nothing because I qualified to pay nothing but I had the loan which is now paid off. if we want to address the issue of funding is put more money into it from the taxpayer, whether people like it education is the bedrock of any successful economy.

[@rickyyip9850]

"she's paying an astronomical amount of money for her PhD": as an international student who just finished PhD, I'd say your partner is either rich or has a rich family, in which case you don't need to be too worried, or she is just not too bright and should really consider somewhere which offer her fundings.

[@LouisChristyMaxwell]

Studying in uk is waste of money

[@pippip8744]

80-90% of UK students at University shouldn't even be there. University degrees are mostly not worth the paper they are written on.

[@paddy8254]

In 2023 government figures found that 87.7% of working age graduates were employed but only 69.7% of non-graduates had a job. In 2023 government figures found that 67% of working age graduates were in high skilled employment vs 23.7% o of non-graduates In 2023 government figures found that average salaries for working age graduates were 40K vs 29.5K for non graduates In 2023 government figures found that 60% of all graduate job vacancies don't have subject specific requirements meaning they're open to all graduates. So the stats show that a degree is really one of the best ways to set yourself up to succeed in the job market at the moment.

[@pippip8744]

@@paddy8254 now do the same, but use just IQ instead.

[@pippip8744]

@@paddy8254 do the same but use IQ as the proxy instead.

[@pippip8744]

​@@paddy8254 do the same but use Eye Cue instead. Spelling required to get past filter on third attempt

[@pokemonjt]

Yes, and if the far right have it thier way, we would have no universitys, research, businesses, takeaways, taxis, hospitals, .the list is endless

[@Pixelheist]

I can't tell if you're joking or not

[@AdamRiddle-c3l]

lol, they’re literally mentally ill

[@mark-yj5sg]

Importing plantation workers is hardly an ideal solution in the long run. Why don’t Brits do those jobs, they always used to before the government took this short term fix approach

[@susancurtis1651]

@pokemonjt …. No that is the far left’s agenda. To be a patriot and to love one’s own country, customs and countrymen , is not far right, it is just common sense, natural and survival. Look at nature, birds of a feather flock together. Why? because it is far safer and they have commonality and for their well being, happiness and harmony. The same goes for the animal kingdom too and after all we are all taught that we are evolved animals.

[@susancurtis1651]

No that is the far left agenda. To be a patriot and to love one’s own country, customs and countrymen , is not far right, it is just common sense and survival. Look at nature, birds of a feather flock together. Why? because it is far safer and they have commonality and for their well being, happiness and harmony.

[@willng247]

International students will soon be staying home.

[@gee_emm]

Wow. It’s almost like we actually DO need foreigners to come into the country, to contribute to the economy…

[@littlerollingwheels]

We should change this and start putting British people first, then perhaps we wouldn't need to import so many from abroad

[@gee_emm]

@@littlerollingwheels Lol. Worker shortages. Falling fertility rates. An ageing population. More people choosing to be child free. Income from students spending eye watering amounts on fees alone, never mind accommodation, goods and services. Is it lost on you that wealthier people tend to have fewer children? Have you no grasp of economics whatsoever?

[@ant4686]

​@@littlerollingwheelsLegal migrants are what help the UK and Brits stay afloat. They pay twice as much for the NHS compared to regular Brits, in addition to paying taxes that boost the economy. Let me give you an example: A foreign company like Google comes to the UK. They are looking for the most talented people in the world to hire. If they find a Brit, great. If not, they seek out top specialists from abroad and bring them to the UK. The foreign company pays taxes, the worker pays taxes and double for the NHS, and they spend their well-earned salary, injecting money into the UK economy. A regular Brit only gains from this. Look at the US. They welcome talented specialists with open arms, and their GDP per capita is almost double that of the UK.

[@sneckotheveggieavenger9380]

Yeah, legal foreigners who can integrate and not randos on boats

[@gee_emm]

@@sneckotheveggieavenger9380 Entering the country via unusual means to seek asylum, is not illegal. You are not here illegally if your asylum claim is ongoing. Regardless, the subject at hand was foreign students not asylum seekers. Do try to keep up.

[@kaaa111]

a massive rip off, it used to cost 3000 a year and everything was fine as it was so nothing justifies +9k a year

[@alegontaxon749]

Lots of Universities in japan korea russia, china india, are developing well . Ppl who are planing to do undergraduate and postgraduate degrees can go to these countries as they are not like UK...

[@maalikserebryakov]

I might just do that. I will go to Japan and study in the soul reaper academy

[@seasonmists]

The domestic students are paying so little. Their parents are loaded but the kids still apply for student loans. Increase their fees seems to be the only way.

[@capri4682]

This just means universities has to scale down in size

[@bb5979]

Or improve education for our own people. Many people in the UK have no path to uni.

[@robertbannocks6750]

yes and get rid of the many micky mouse universities that have sprung up,

[@irumwahid9857]

Education is not free anywhere, overseas students also have to pay the country where they came from. The good thing is they get more valuable degrees and settlement chances as well. So I think it's ok to pay if you have money for your bright future.

[@bobgoodi-jd4dx]

You all being scammed!

[@unionjackjackson4352]

So what’s the problem exactly? Universities are all about politics these days with the majority of students taking courses that are pointless and don’t result in employment.

[@firstspar]

News presenter did a great job and great interviewer too. Pressed the guest but not overly aggressive.

[@joemacy2776]

I'm in the US, and universities here have no limitations on how much tuition they can charge. Universities here can basically charge as much tuition as people can afford. I think capping tuition fees here in the US would be very beneficial for increasing accessible to higher education. As of now though, it's not looking like it's gonna happen any time soon.

[@Clean2113]

We need more hands on education like nvq style education. Uni really isnt needed for most.

[@shabzix5659]

First employers need to stop seeking graduates in every job available, and then people will realise that they can still do better without a degree. Until that is addressed,for many,a degree is a hope to social mobility.

[@justgeneric2876]

@@shabzix5659 Like tescos, Waitrose, Aldi why do supermarkets need degree graduates?

[@gee_emm]

People with degrees earn more on average and enriched by education. Uni should be free for all home students, just as school is.

[@maalikserebryakov]

@@justgeneric2876 There should be a shelfstacking degree Year 1 - Mathematical Methods in Shelfstacking Year 2 - Computer Aided Shelf Stacking Year 3 - Placement year under the tutelage of a master shelf stacker

[@maalikserebryakov]

@@gee_emmwhat a bunch of liberal copium

[@MBReader410]

It’s gone too far. UK universities should primarily serve the UK population.

[@ZenKaizen7]

With whose money? Govt is scraping the bottom of the pot! International students pay for your concessionary uni fees of £9000. Actual price of uni is much more of govt doesn’t pay

[@robertbannocks6750]

@@ZenKaizen7 You are forgetting the cost to the NHS of having these people here, the increased rents and house prices, the cost of educating their unwanted brood and having more stress on public services and transport. Immigration is a ponzy scheme. It will go pop. I looks like it is doing so.

[@davidgow2505]

Foreign student income for courses like economics, business studies, language studies and law and the STEM fields allow universities in the UK to attract fee paying foreign students to then fund all subjects and departments. Foreign students are essential to the UK university business model and allow domestic British students to attend well funded UK universities. The deceased in foreign students means that UK universities effectively face a funding crisis which impacts all areas of university education. When overseas foreign students graduate they should be permitted to stay in the UK where they are able to contribute to the UK economy and where that means attaining visas for partners and family members then that should be proactively encouraged.

[@onlineonlineaccount2368]

@davidgow2505 ..Foreign students are essential to the UK university business model and allow domestic British students to attend well funded UK universities......bingo and that the core of it all. UK Uni's need students from China, India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ghana, Brazil etc. These countries with increasing middle class who have alot finance to spend to go to top universities in the country. Next to that you also have students from EU nations, Australia, US, Canada who are here aswell. UK unis also depend on students from the commonwealth of which some nations i mentioned already as they pay more for courses and which is a profit based model for UK unis and also a form of soft power for the UK. To promote higer education in foreign countries.

[@robertbannocks6750]

They are not essential at all. Not only are they not wanted Universities can full their places with native British people.

[@just_lazhar]

I am now an international student for a foundation course in London, and thank god I took it to see how the reality here is, agencies to study in here sell you dreams of how a UK degree would drastically boost your CV regardless of what university you attend, that is correct for your fellow countryman maybe, not internationally, not even the UK itself! you are not limited by your academic skills, but by the money you can pay!!!! my seat in an elite university back home (ENSIA, Algeria) is still available, for FREE. Nah UK unis, you ain't getting more of the money that my parents worked hard for, WOMP WOMP.

[@Summitic]

If you wanna waste your money and get scammed.... study in the United Kingdom.

[@HappyBabushka]

Most unis are glorified colleges now and the money they make from each student is staggering for how much they invest into courses. My course got so bad there wasnt enough pcs for students in working order on some lessons

[@MostlyLoveOfMusic]

higher education should be free at point of use

[@robertbannocks6750]

Only for the children of native British people

[@BlackGriffin195]

And the UK taxpayer picks up the bill for the housing, medical and health costs, education costs of their children and eventually the entire costs of their settlement in the UK whether or not we want them or they ever make a contribution. Universities have become factories, they are no longer places of learning but profit incentivised corporations.

[@robertbannocks6750]

Exactly anyone who says foreigners contribute more than they cost is simply lying.

[@heinzmonster]

Im a bit perplexed that the UK, who has about 1% of the global population and some of the highest regarded higher education in the world, is so shocked that so many of its students don't come from the UK. It would be like turkey complaining about how its cosmetic surgery industry is propped up by tourists.

[@singlendhot8628]

As long as they have no guaranteed path to permanent residence and their dependents are not allowed anything but a tourist visa, I see no problem with International students.

[@amnbvcxz8650]

But it essentially became a business of selling wealthy kids from overseas countries (Africa and Asia) an opportunity to get the visa and immigrate to the uk. I used to study in london and 3/4 of students looked international. Being european i was a tiny minority. because universities try to max out the profits from each student place held. Also, almost all of those students will settle in uk permanently, due to finding jobs and fitting the diversity quotas

[@juliusfishman7222]

So basically scam them out of their money worth despite they're basically propping up your economy and paying for your children's education. Lol let's see how that goes soon enough

[@adventuresofa9jaguy322]

Paid almost £5K for IHS. Been to the GP just once in the last 3 yrs and was told to exercise more. 0 prescriptions lol

[@premkhan3969]

Why would you come to the UK when you can go anywhere in the world to study which is more welcoming.

[@victorpiscotta7560]

Bro it's the uk's fault it's Tommy Robinson and his thugs of far right idiots and Nigel farge, branding international students as illegals I Mean who do you think started the riots. it was Tommy Robinson

[@LukeofSmeg]

I was at a music college in London that nearly closed because of David Cameron f-ing around on this. None of the international students brought family over, I don't doubt that it does happen, but it is extremely rare. Most of the international students spent alot of money here, some worked here part time as well. We can sit and say it's bad my college was over reliant on international students, but the reality is places would close down without them giving native Brits less opportunities as a result.

[@dareemmanuel6079]

But we are the leeches and contribute nothing to the economy 😂

[@claretblue2509]

Nobody forced you to come.

[@washeranddryer-fu2ld]

​@@claretblue2509tell that to the hundreds of years of colonialism 😂😂

[@claretblue2509]

@@washeranddryer-fu2ld Let’s be honest, if it weren’t for colonialism you would still be living in a mud hut with no electricity, sick because you’d have no healthcare, stupid because you’d have no education and bored because you’d have no technology.

[@adam7802]

@@washeranddryer-fu2ld Tell who? Nobody is alive to talk about it. We are in the 21st century, come join us old timer.

[@alegontaxon749]

​@@claretblue2509UK monarch will understand....😂 as long as it is active... they and their country will be held accountable as Germany was held accountable for WWII and paid off...

[@MD-qy4fo]

Ha ha they paying £22k towards tution fees also vat ,Taxes ,£7k rent avg per year.travelung in UK and bringing tourism.Eating while staying there increasing Asda Tesco sales.buying clothes for their familys back home increasing sales of M&S primark H&M river island also doing low skill jobs ,.what else u need

[@anastasiap962]

Those who can’t afford 9k per year are just envy this who can pay 20+k per year

[@marktrinidad7650]

Why pay for overpriced tuition fees if at the end of the day you get back at Lagos.

[@onlineonlineaccount2368]

@marktrinidad7650....Hahah most Nigerian foreign students plan is to stay in the UK sir. More job-ops then in Lagos or Nigeria for that matter. There millions of Nigerians with bachlors and master degrees workless in Nigeria as we speak of now.

[@Summitic]

Here is a better question: why study in the UK if you could study in germany or france or italy or sweden etc. where public universities are almost free !

[@maalikserebryakov]

@@Summitic Because it doesn’t feel as magical We all grew up watching harry potter and we need to fulfil The hogwarts fantasy also english Girls are hotter than german girls

[@Summitic]

​@@maalikserebryakov You sound like someone who would be rejected by Sasquatch let alone English or German girls ! 😅😂

[@peacem8574]

​@@maalikserebryakov English girls hot ?! 🤡🤡😂 You need glasses.

[@warmachineuk]

British universities are world class, which is why foreigners want to come. International students pay their own way, thereby subsidise domestic students, then go home with an understanding of British culture, meaning soft power. We want to restrict this because? Oh, that’s why! Tories want to be in power at all costs, not caring what they destroy in the meantime. Even actual sources of British pride. The sooner Labour dump this lunacy the better.

[@hb3393]

Comparing England's (not Wales or Scotland) treatment of native university students compared to other European countries like the Netherlands or Denmark is deeply depressing. £9k is too much for a degree programme that will plunge grads into neverending interest repayments and ultimately invalidate any diploma they graduate with. As for international students it's crazy. The majority of these students are incredibly wealthy Chinese students who see this as a form of golden visa, it's been an enormous demographic shift since Brexit. My kids will be studying on the continent or not at all

[@vkdrk]

As a foreigner living and working in the UK, I understand the appeal of studying in the UK because of its university reputation (historically). It looks better on your CV when you move back to your home country, but my question is, are those degrees actually that great or are they just online courses at this point? There are 2 major universities in Bristol with a total student population of over 66k. Do all these students have unlimited access to all university facilities to do research and daily face to face lessons or do most of them study online? It sounds unfair that students born here need to pay 9k/year to study online because universities are full like that.

[@peacem8574]

Who tf wants to go study in the UK?! I would much more prefer to not get stabbed. 😂

[@t.fairuz29]

Please also mention how much the standard of teaching has fallen. Nowadays Uni teachers barely pay attention in class about what they're teaching. I've had one who just came to class and read off the slides, seemed frustrated when asked questions. I received minimal guidance and support from my super about my dissertation. They're all focused on research, which is fine, but not at the cost of sub-par teaching. So, not only did we pay 3-4 times more than local students, which most of us have made peace with....we paid 10 times more than what the quality of teaching warrants. Shameful. No offence intended to the people of the country. Clearly the syndicate of universities and the government are co-conspirators in this commercialized education racket.

[@Striker885]

I dont understand, what has changed about teaching from 30 yrs ago until now that demands so much money?? Theyre fiscal requirements are so great its ridiculous

[@thomashamilton564]

I imagine the answer is something along the lines of "competition". University A builds a new sports hall and campus attracting students, so University B has to do the same to get the same income. An issue of quantity over quality.

[@maalikserebryakov]

@@thomashamilton564students would be very attracted to a university with excellent research standing and low tuition fees has any uni manager considered that

[@deusexmachinawl]

@@Striker885 nothing has changed, before the government was subsiding the money, now we pay. Like saying that health care is cheap.. yes until is not private.. it is quite simple

[@t.fairuz29]

It's gotten worse. Now there's less teaching and more "research", so most uni teachers phone it in.

[@Striker885]

@@thomashamilton564 I think you make the most compeling point. It's almost like FOMO, that's crazy.