600k Students gain UK Degrees without entering Britain

A report has found that nearly 600,000 students gain UK degrees each year without setting foot in Britain.

According to the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), the number of people studying at British universities overseas has risen by a third over the past three years.

In total, 576,705 students were enrolled “offshore” in 2022-23, up from 432,500 in 2019-20.

This means 16% of all UK higher education students are now taking their degree abroad.

A quarter of those were classed as “distance learners”, meaning they were registered at British campuses but studying from another country.

Seven per cent were enrolled at British universities’ overseas branch campuses.

This follows a rise in the number of UK universities opening international campuses, with around 30 British institutions now offering degrees through their foreign branches.

Such institutions include the University of Westminster’s branch in Uzbekistan, the University of Salford’s campus in Bahrain, and De Montford University’s outposts in Dubai and Kazakhstan.

Many UK universities have also partnered with foreign institutions, allowing them to “validate” degrees based on local curricula as long as they meet British standards.

Experts suggest “transnational education” will likely become more popular in the coming years as UK universities grapple with a drop in lucrative international students enrolling in Britain.

Although often cheaper than degrees offered to foreign students who study in the UK, “transnational” degrees still contributed around £2.4 billion to the UK economy in 2021.

HEPI found that UK degrees awarded in other countries are also more accessible for overseas students while boosting “British influence abroad” also.

But it warned that there is currently little data about the quality of such degrees, meaning “we know very little about these students”.

It called on the Office for Students (OfS) to publish more information about the subjects studied by “transnational” students, the number who complete their degrees and whether they go on to successful careers.

Data revealed that China, Sri Lanka and Malaysia had the highest numbers of “transnational education” students studying for UK qualifications in 2023.

These countries accounted for more than 30% of “offshore” students enrolled at British universities in 2022-23.

Meanwhile, students living in EU countries accounted for just 16% of the total.

HEPI Director Nick Hillman said: “Over half a million people study for UK higher education qualifications abroad.

“That is a huge vote of confidence in our education system.

“It is vitally important both for the students and for our wider reputation that qualifications delivered overseas are of a similar quality to those delivered here in the UK, with robust feedback loops and trustworthy regulation.”

Josh Fleming, director of strategy and delivery at the OfS, said:

“The English higher education sector has a deserved reputation for excellence, and transnational education allows students around the world to benefit.

“The OfS regulates on behalf of all students at registered English universities and colleges, wherever they study.”

“These students, in England and abroad, deserve to enjoy the fantastic experience that English higher education has to offer.

“We are planning to make substantial improvements to the data we collect on transnational education.

“We’re looking forward to working with the sector to ensure this results in effective regulation that protects students and minimises burden for institutions.”