According to the news report, published last month, professors and academic unions are alleging that UK institutions are overlooking sub-par language skills due to the higher fees that international students pay.
One professor told the BBC that “70% of his recent master’s students had inadequate English”.
The report reiterates the concerns expressed by two anonymous academics at Russell Group universities that there is a “quality crisis” in English language proficiency among students due to a wide range of factors, emphasising the “generation of financial surplus above all else”.
While stakeholders speaking to The PIE News believe addressing this issue is urgent and are calling for solutions, they also acknowledge that most students manage to overcome language proficiency barriers.
“Language issues have never been a concern for our students/clients, as we strictly adhere to the English language requirements set by UK universities, and we ensure all our students meet these standards,” said Jyotan Singh, senior business development manager, SIEC.
“However, we recognise that students come from diverse backgrounds with varying levels of English proficiency; some may need additional support to enhance their language skills.”
According to Singh, while many international students perform well in standardised English tests, they might lack confidence when conversing with native English speakers or even to speak up in class.
“This challenge often stems from cultural differences or limited communication skills rather than inadequate language ability,” stated Singh.
According to Jasminder Khanna, co-founder of Gresham Global, the organisation’s partner universities are constantly reminded on how seeking loopholes to language requirements in an emerging market like India can jeopardise their ability to recruit students.
“These include concerns such as lowering entry requirements or relaxing prerequisites at competitive universities, as well as agent malpractices,” stated Khanna.
“While the competition among foreign universities to attract international students is understandable, lowering or relaxing language prerequisites can negatively affect both graduate outcomes and students’ ability to thrive and build a career.”
Initiatives such as language workshops, mentorship programs, and opportunities for cross-cultural engagement can significantly help students build their confidence
Jyotan Singh, SIEC
The BBC investigation also comes at a time when the UK Home Office is proposing to set up a new Home Office English Language Test.
The supplier could be chosen by next year, with the testing model in place by 2026, as previously reported by The PIE.
Khanna believes such initiatives could lead to greater control over assessing English language proficiency in the UK.
“While the timeline and complexities of such a project remain unclear, this initiative could provide UK border authorities with greater control over assessing the English language proficiency of international students seeking higher education opportunities in the UK,” said Khanna.
“In the interim, implementing stricter regulations and oversight of existing English language test providers could serve as a practical short-term solution to address potential concerns.”
While experts have raised concerns on how low English proficiency can impact students’ participation in seminar discussions, lectures, and more, Singh believes students improve as they continue to live and study in the UK and other countries.
“Most students tend to improve in these areas as they spend more time in the UK, gaining confidence and learning to communicate more effectively,” said Singh.
“Universities can play a vital role in supporting these students. Initiatives such as language workshops, mentorship programs, and opportunities for cross-cultural engagement can significantly help students build their confidence, improve communication skills, and feel more integrated into their academic communities.”
In markets like India, which is now the largest international student source country for UK universities, issues with English language proficiency have come to the fore amid reports of English test scams, especially fake certificates and score manipulation.
But due to India’s importance as a major student market, there are fears that institutions are looking past the problems due to the vast pool of applicants from the country.
In a recent anonymous article for The PIE, a senior international officer at a UK university wrote that “unilaterally accepting the same entry requirements from all state exam boards across a subcontinental-size nation doesn’t make sense”.
“Accepting Standard XII English as an exemption from an IELTS test feels pretty risky, but gives us a competitive advantage and widens the pool of applicants,” stated the officer.
