Nearly half of UK university first year students and applicants said they would be “disappointed” if the number of EU and international students drop after Brexit. A further 9% said they were “offended” by the prospect, according to research by University Partnerships Programme.
Of over one thousand respondents, 45% of first year students and applicants to universities across the UK said they would feel disappointed if fewer EU students chose to study at their institutions. At Russell Group universities that number rose to 50%.
“Meeting students from other countries is a strong factor in student experience”
Furthermore, one in five students expressed a fear of “missing out” if a reduction in international student numbers was to materialise.
Jon Wakeford, group director at UPP, said the potential impact on campus experience and student life was a driving force behind the responses.
“Students want to benefit from a rewarding student experience and it’s clear from our results this year, that meeting students from other countries is a strong factor in that,” he told The PIE News.
The report comes as UK universities begin their 2017/18 academic year, with an intake comprising of 3% fewer EU students, according to UCAS (the UK’s university admissions service).
The UPP commissioned the annual research, which asked both current students and applicants about their university experience, and their hopes for future experiences.
In it’s sixth iteration, the research also found that 44% of first year students struggle with loneliness, and 87% have issues with some aspect of social or academic university life.
