Popular auditing firm PwC has issued a stark warning to the UK Government that a potential 20% drop in international student enrolments next academic year could push a staggering 80% of English and Northern Irish universities into financial deficit.
In a commissioned study by Universities UK, PwC spotlighted the financial landscapes of institutions, exploring the implications of various scenarios amid the rapidly deteriorating economic climate for higher education.
The findings reveal that 40% of providers are projecting deficits in 2023-24. While most anticipate increased income due to continued expansion into international education and rising enrolments from the UK’s burgeoning young population, the looming threat remains palpable.
Vivienne Stern, the CEO of Universities UK, recently sounded the alarm, shedding light on the vulnerability of UK universities due to a sharp decline in international students following hostile rhetoric by the government. Stern warns of a potential “serious overcorrection,” attributing it to immigration policies that dissuade international students from choosing Britain for their studies.
The impact has been profound, with key countries like Nigeria and India witnessing a reported one-third decline in enrolments. Notably, prestigious universities, including Russell Group member York, are compelled to ease entry requirements to sustain overseas student numbers.
The perfect storm for the sector brews as UK universities grapple with frozen tuition fees, surging staff wage bills, and a softening in domestic student numbers.
International students, contributing nearly 20% of sector income, have become crucial to the financial well-being of universities, making a decline a severe blow.
The government’s review of the “graduate route” and a crackdown on “low-value courses” further exacerbate the challenges.
Stern contends that urgent interventions are imperative to stabilize the sector: adjusting tuition fees to inflation, increasing government teaching grants, and restoring international market confidence by curbing negative rhetoric.
Culled in by Fortune Omosola
