What is International Student Future in UK?

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Mohsin's picture

In my opinion the situation for international student is very uncertain and the future is at high risk.

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I don't think so at all. On the contrary, I think that whilst the future for UK students is very uncertain, what with the increase in fees and the restructuring of the whole Higher Education system, international students' future seems much more stable.

With budget cuts hitting universities and colleges, a number of them are actually increasing their international student numbers as they provide such a good revenue stream. Whilst this may not be the best of reasons, money is so important in Higher Education. However, these increases are also being matched by new regulations that are going to force universities to prove that studying there is 'worth' the money. 

What makes you think that international students' future is at 'high risk'? 

What about visa changes? Arent they going to make it much harder for international students to get to UK?

In terms of coming to the UK to study, the visa changes have generally been exaggerated. It is important to remember that:

- It is a misconception that a cap on the number of international student visas is being introduced. This was proposed at first, but was quickly dropped.

- Students studying postgraduate courses can still get UK visas for their families during their time of study.

- Students do not need to return home between courses if they are studying more than one in the UK. For example, you can study an undergraduate degree and then stay in the UK for the summer if you are going on to study a postgraduate course as well.

The changes are basically to cut out fake students. However, even so there are still lots of important figures fighting against any cuts at all. 

yeah dude,there is no PSW,do u think it is possible for an international student to search for a job within 3 months??? so students gotta take high risks...

Yeah the PSW cuts are pretty bad. Especially seeing as jobs are harder to get at the moment anyways. 

I think the future of international students in the UK is not more uncertain than the one they would face if they were in the United States, for example. Even with the visa cuts and higher tuition fees, U.K. universities are generally more welcoming than U.S. universities, which sometimes offer no financial aid at all to foreigners, and ban foreigners' admissions to some graduate programs in medicine, dentistry, etc.

While I do concede on the grad medicine, dentistry etc. front, I have to say that, in terms of finaid (for ug), US is actually a -lot- more welcoming than UK. If you check out the Private Universities in the US (mainly liberal arts colleges), you'll find that they're more willing to hand out a LOT of finaid (and sometimes even a full ride) to international students. And that's not counting the top universities which consider an application from an international student apart from their ability to pay as well as provide them with all the aid they need (i.e. Princeton, Harvard etc.)

 In UK, however, I distinctly get the impression that, unless you qualify for a scholarship (which usually ranges from about 1000 to 3000pounds - barely enough for the 10,000-11,000pounds/year tuition fees - and handed out to maybe 3 students/scholarship), you're not going to get any help financially.

But I'll admit, the tuition fees for the US is way more than that of UK's, lol.

That's an interesting comparison. With the growing cost of tuition fees i'm sure there will be more government subsidies in the near future to give students in the UK better financial support, there are always scholarships in place for international students provided by various networks.

I feel like we create our own future where ever we are and what ever the circumstances Cool