In medieval times, the choice was simple. A Christian man of means could enrol at one of a handful of universities, two of which were in England. Since then, new continents have been discovered, everyone has got smarter and richer, and students have grown more demanding. How competitive are British universities today?
Although America leads the world in attracting foreign students to its campuses, Britain and Australia are not far behind. Almost 672,000 foreigners were enroled in American universities in the autumn of 2008, compared with 183,000 in Australian universities and 342,000 in British ones in 2007 (the most recent year for which data is available).
The global recession has not dented the demand for higher education abroad, especially in English-speaking countries. On November 16 a study by the New York-based Institute of International Education, reported that record numbers of international students are now studying in America, mostly from India and China. Australia has also reported strong demand from these countries and others.
Higher education, whether at home or overseas, is especially attractive at the moment because the alternative for many young people is unemployment. But it has long been recognised that the better-educated earn more. The Orga-nisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, a rich-country think-tank, recently found that — even after taking into account tuition fees, lost earnings while studying and extra taxes paid — a male graduate can expect to earn $82,000 (Rs.38.29 lakh) more over his working life than a man who had the qualifications to go to university but didn’t do so.
The number of university students in Britain rose by 5 percent between 2003 and 2007. Overseas students increased at a sharper rate, rising by more than 20 percent. Many more foreign students — those from the European Union pay the same tuition fees as their British counterparts whereas those from other countries are charged far more — are now enrolled on British campuses. A weaker pound should make the prospect more attractive. Tuition fees and accommodation at an elite institution in Britain cost international students about £18,000 (Rs.13.64 lakh) a year — roughly the same as in Australia and less than in America, where costs are closer to £24,000 (Rs.18 lakh).
But trouble is brewing. Changes to the student-visa system this year have left thousands of foreign students stranded at home and as angry as wet cats. On November 12 Gordon Brown announced a review by the Home Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. They are to pronounce by December 11.
The prime minister is right to be worried. Tuition fees paid by overseas students total more than £1.5 billion a year, money used to subsidise the teaching of British students. A report published recently by Universities UK, which represents university heads, reckons international students spend a further £2.4 billion (Rs.18,192 crore) off campus each year. One way or another, universities contribute £33.4 billion (Rs.253,172 crore) to the national economy, it concludes, including £5.3 billion of export earnings. Letting universities prosper creates winners all round.
(Excerpted and adapted from The Economist)