Britain’s universities are struggling with ‘shortage’ of money! Know what is the reason

Study in UK: British universities have started facing shortage of money, the main reason for which is the policies made by the government regarding international students. Britain’s universities are counted among the most prestigious institutions in the world. But due to visa restrictions, now less number of foreign students are coming here to study. Because of this, universities are suffering financial losses. This problem has increased further since Britain’s separation from the European Union four years ago.
In 2022, 7,60,000 foreign students were studying in British universities. Britain has been the second most popular country after America when it comes to studying abroad. Most of the students coming to study in Britain are from India, China and Nigeria. Lakhs of students from these countries were coming to study in Britain. But since last year there has been a five percent decline in student visas. Between July and September this year, student visa applications declined by 16% compared to the same period last year.

Foreign students pay more fees than British students

The decline in student numbers is a matter of concern for British universities, as foreign students pay higher fees than British students. Leo Zui, 20, is from China. She began studying population and health sciences at University College London in September. “It’s good for my career,” he/she said of enrolling abroad. his/her fee is 31,000 pounds (Rs 33 lakh). British students studying in England’s universities have been paying a maximum fee of 9,250 pounds (Rs 10 lakh) since 2017.

British universities are dependent on foreign students

The Labor government has announced that from next year British students studying in England will have to pay fees of £ 9,535. Universities are happy with the government’s decision. Universities UK (UUK), representing 141 British higher education institutions, warned at its conference in September that funding per student was at its lowest level since 2004. It is estimated that due to inflation the fee of £9,250 is now worth less than £6,000, causing losses in teaching and research.

“We are all feeling the financial pinch,” UUK chair Sally Mapstone told the conference. To bridge the budget gap, universities have admitted more foreign students, so much so that many are financially dependent on them. More than half of students at the London University of the Arts and Cranfield University, a science and engineering institute just north of the British capital, are foreigners, according to a parliamentary report.

The Financial Times reported earlier this year that some universities, including York, had eased their eligibility criteria to attract more students from abroad. Ever since foreign students have stopped coming to study in these universities, they have been facing financial difficulties.