University leaders are warning of financial turmoil in British higher education after new figures suggested a collapse in international student numbers would deprive the sector of vital income and undermine its future.<\/p>\n
The sector\u2019s leaders called on the government to rethink the levy on international student fees imposed under Keir Starmer, as a former universities minister warned there was a risk of a university \u201cgoing under\u201d because of the financial crisis.<\/p>\n
While UK sixth-formers enjoyed improved A-level results<\/a>, and a record 194,800 English 18-year-olds were accepted by their first choice of university, vice-chancellors who spoke to the Guardian said it would not be enough to stave off further erosion in staff numbers and courses.<\/p>\n Figures published by the Home Office show student visa applications<\/a> to the end of July fell 11% compared with the previous year. With summer visa applications coming before the start of the academic year in autumn, the gloomy figures mean many UK universities will see significant losses if the trend continues, with some fearing international enrolments dropping by 30%.<\/p>\n Students at Harris academy in Wimbledon collect their A-level results on Thursday. Photograph: Isabel Infantes\/Reuters<\/p>\n Prof Shitij Kapur, the vice-chancellor of King\u2019s College London, said the fall in international student numbers was \u201cin line with the pessimistic expectations\u201d and may also reflect a drop in postgraduate applications earlier this year.<\/p>\n Kapur said: \u201cThe critical thing is what this cycle will entail, which does not become clear till about October. The simple rubric is that every five international students impact one university job. And these falling numbers will invariably impact the financial health and staff complement of universities.<\/p>\n \u201cThe silver lining in this gloomy picture is that the strength and desire to go to universities amongst our school leavers remains as strong as ever despite concerns about the loan schemes and graduate jobs, as you can see today.\u201d<\/p>\n Successive governments froze domestic undergraduate fees at \u00a39,250 between 2017 and 2025, allowing inflation to erode their value by a third. Subsequent increases will be largely wiped out by universities paying a \u00a3925 levy on each international student.<\/p>\n Students celebrate their results at Barking and Dagenham college in Romford on Thursday. Photograph: Yui Mok\/PA<\/p>\n David Willetts, the Conservative former universities minister and an architect of higher tuition fees, said universities were undoubtedly \u201cunder increasing financial pressure and that\u2019s mainly because of the freeze in fees for eight years\u201d.<\/p>\n Willetts added: \u201cThere is indeed a risk of a university going under [through] financial crisis but what worries me more is just all the cutting back on the quality of the education experience of the students and I think we have an obligation to students to ensure their courses are properly funded, including by putting up fees so that the resource goes in.\u201d<\/p>\n