The World of Higher Education From 36,000 to 12,000: Tracking the Decline in EU Students Post-Brexit with Paul Wakeling
Nov 28, 2024
Join Paul Wakeling, a Professor of Education at the University of York, as he explores the dramatic decline in EU student enrollments at UK universities post-Brexit. The numbers plummeted from 36,000 to just 12,000, prompting a discussion about the financial impact and shifts in recruitment strategies. Paul highlights how modern universities faced the sharpest losses while prestigious institutions fared better. He also reflects on the loss of classroom diversity and the broader cultural implications of reduced student mobility.
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Two-Decade Growth Before Brexit
- EU student enrolment in the UK doubled over two decades to about 36,000 before Brexit.
- They represented roughly one-third of all non-UK international students, making the UK a top EU destination.
Policy Shift Was Immediate And Massive
- In January 2020 EU students lost domestic status and UK state funding overnight.
- That change made many students face fees of ~£20,000 instead of low or loan-funded domestic fees.
Doubling Intake Caused Headaches
- Paul Wakeling described doubling his department's international intake during COVID, causing operational headaches.
- He used this to illustrate unexpected post-Brexit recruitment dynamics colliding with the pandemic.