More than half of prospective business students responding to a recent GMAC survey said uncertainty around Brexit has made no impact on the attractiveness of Britain as a place to study, with 71% of UK business schools included reporting a year-on-year increase in applications.
Likely bolstered by a falling pound and reduced interest in other study destinations, the December 2018 survey also revealed there has been an increase in candidates’ selecting the UK as their first-choice country for their business school experience.
“It’s a success story in mobility that I hope will continue”
“The level of interest we’re seeing from international candidates in UK business schools is a major factor in the overall global stability we’re observing in graduate management education,” said Sangeet Chowfla, GMAC president and CEO.
“It’s also a success story in mobility that I hope will continue in the UK as Brexit continues to unfold.
“If we are to maintain a healthy climate for aspiring candidates, we need to make it possible for people from different regions and backgrounds to study and work in the location they desire,” he added.
The survey findings also show that consideration of the UK as a study destination is driven by the reputation of the UK educational system, candidates’ desire to develop an international network, and desire to improve their chances of having an international career.
But while the majority of international candidates said Britain leaving the EU had no effect on their decision, EU students had doubts.
About half of non-UK Europeans said they are less likely to decide to study in the UK because of Brexit (51%).
“Most non-UK candidates overall said they consider Brexit as a detriment to the availability of student and work visas in the UK, and over time candidates’ perception of the impact of Brexit on the cost of education and living in the UK have become more negative,” the survey concluded.
