Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Brexit had little impact on foreign students studying in UK

Britain's decision to leave the EU has had little impact on international students decision to study in the UK, a recent survey has found.

The International Student Survey 2017 was conducted by the student recruitment and retention solutions company Hobsons in January and February 2017.


Brexit has had made no difference to 68.5 per cent of students, while only 12.7 per cent said they were less interested in UK study.

The survey of 27,955 prospective international students, who were considering studying in the UK, found that high- quality teaching is the single most important factor for prospective international students when choosing a university, course or destination country.

The remaining 11.3 per cent said Brexit made them more interested in the UK.

The results indicate a softening of the initial negative reaction to the June 2016 EU referendum when 43 per cent said the decision had affected their choice of study destination.

The survey cites campaigns such as #WeAreInternational for helping to shape positive perceptions of the UK as a welcoming country to overseas students.

After respondents were shown news coverage of #WeAreInternational and #LondonIsOpen campaigns, almost half (46.6 per cent) felt fully persuaded that the UK is a welcoming country.

An additional 37 per cent reportedly feeling slightly persuaded and only 16% said they felt no persuasion at all.

The #WeAreInternational campaign, founded and developed by the University of Sheffield and its Students Union, was relaunched following the EU referendum result.

So far, over 160 universities, education institutions and international organisations have backed it.

"UK universities have always been international in their outlook and communities, and that will never change," Malcolm Butler, Director of Global Engagement at the University of Sheffield, said.

Sheffield itself is consistently cited by international students as being a friendly and welcoming city.

However, we know that there will be times when we need to work harder to make sure that students and staff know how welcome they are in the UK.

"Here at the University of Sheffield, we are incredibly proud to have founded and led on the #WeAreInternational campaign - which is now supported by every UK university, the British Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office."

"To hear that the messages of #WeAreInternational are being well received by international students makes us even more determined to keep promoting our positive, welcoming messages."

As part of the #WeAreInternational campaign, the University of Sheffield developed a film to highlight the experiences of international students in the UK.

More For You

Air India

The Amritsar-Birmingham and Amritsar-London Gatwick routes will each increase from three to four weekly flights, while Ahmedabad-London Gatwick will go from three to five weekly flights.

Air India to increase flights between UK and India from March 30

AIR INDIA will increase flight frequencies on key routes as part of its Northern Summer schedule, effective 30 March 2025.

In the UK, the airline will add three more flights on the Delhi-London Heathrow route, increasing from 21 to 24 weekly flights using a mix of A350-900 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pablo-Escobar-merchandise-Getty

Escobar, killed by security forces in 1993, remains a figure of global interest, with his image appearing on souvenirs like T-shirts, mugs, and keychains. (Photo: Getty Images)

Colombia considers ban on Pablo Escobar merchandise

COLOMBIA’s Congress is considering a bill that would ban the sale of merchandise featuring drug lord Pablo Escobar and other convicted criminals.

The proposed law aims to curb the glorification of Escobar, who was responsible for thousands of deaths during his time leading the Medellín cartel, reported BBC.

Keep ReadingShow less
Assisted dying bill: Judge approval scrapped for expert panel safeguard

Polls show most Britons back assisted dying, with supporters calling for the law to reflect public opinion.

Assisted dying bill: Judge approval scrapped for expert panel safeguard

Eastern Eye

THE proposed new assisted dying law for terminally ill people will be amended to remove the requirement that a high court judge sign off on each case, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater said on Tuesday (11).

Opponents of assisted dying said the change would weaken the safeguards around protecting vulnerable people from being coerced or pressured into taking their own lives.

Keep ReadingShow less
Andrew Malkinson

Malkinson, 59, has been struggling financially since his release and has been on universal credit for 19 months. (Photo: X/@NotThatBigIan)

Wrongful rape conviction: Andrew Malkinson to get 'significant' compensation

ANDREW MALKINSON, who spent 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, will receive a six-figure interim compensation payment from the Ministry of Justice.

The payment comes more than a year after his conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in July 2023.

Keep ReadingShow less
IMF team visits Pakistan to assess governance and corruption reforms

The assessment will shape structural reforms and examine protections for property rights and foreign investments

IMF team visits Pakistan to assess governance and corruption reforms

Eastern Eye

A TECHNICAL team from the International Monetary Fund met Pakistan’s chief justice Yahya Afridi on Tuesday (11) to conduct a Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment under the 2024 Extended Fund Facility programme.

The IMF team is in the country for a week-long trip to scrutinise the judicial and regulatory framework tackling governance and corruption as part of a £5.6 billion loan agreed last year.

Keep ReadingShow less