UK business schools have reported “concerning” declines in postgraduate international applications following the introduction of “challenging” government policies, a report has found. 

The Chartered Association of Business Schools found that 90 per cent of surveyed institutions reported a decline in non-European Union applications year-on-year for courses starting this autumn, with 70 per cent reporting “significant” declines.

Meanwhile, 30 per cent of the 53 business school deans surveyed witnessed declines in EU student applications for postgraduate courses for this autumn, and 15 per cent saw significantly lower applications. 

The findings illustrate the “challenging” environment facing UK universities for international recruitment, following a wave of measures introduced by the Conservative government that restricted visa access for overseas students’ dependents, which higher education leaders argued significantly restricted the UK’s international appeal.

Universities leaders recently told Times Higher Education that it will be a “tough year ahead” for universities as institutions battle over a smaller pool of international students, adding to the sector’s financial woes. 

Overall, business schools saw the biggest drop in interest from Nigerian students, with 24 institutions reporting declines. Some 21 surveyed institutions saw declining applications from India, 10 reported declines from China, four saw drops from Pakistan, and three witnessed declines from Ghana. 

And the picture continues to look bleak. For non-EU postgraduate applicants, the proportion of deans reporting lower applications for January start dates stood at 64 per cent, significantly higher than those reporting a decline for undergraduate applications for January at 18 per cent, “underlining the challenges facing business schools in international student recruitment for postgraduate courses”.

The proportion of schools reporting fewer applications from non-EU students (50 per cent) is much higher than for UK students (34 per cent), “a consequence of the UK now being seen as a less accommodating country for international students”.

Overall, for all courses starting this autumn, only 12 per cent said that applications were approximately unchanged, “highlighting a dramatic shift over the last year in international students’ interest in studying in the UK”.

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com