Is Britain still a great choice for international students?

By Ian Crichton

Every year well over a million Indians decide to pursue a global education, and almost 200,000 of these choose to study in the United Kingdom.

The path for Indian students to the UK for higher education is, of course, well established. Many notable figures in Indian history studied at one time in Britain — the author of India’s Constitution studied in London as did many of its Prime-Ministers. Nobel laureates, authors, journalists, lawyers, business leaders, medics and even Bollywood stars are part of a proud academic tradition. This journey of talent in search of education and opportunity is even known as ‘the living bridge’.

But is Britain still a great choice for Indian students?

And can Indian students feel sure of a warm welcome? Will they be able to find work after graduation? Will they be safe?

Safety

Let’s start with the hard questions first. As a father of an undergraduate daughter, I’m in no doubt that the first concern of any parent is that their child is safe. In an increasingly unsafe world, this is difficult to ensure is choice of place to study is critical.

How to judge this from a distance is not always easy. The shameful scenes of pockets of unrest in parts of Britain earlier this month didn’t just appall people in the UK, images and videos were shared around the world. This was not the tolerant, peaceful, law-abiding image on which the country prides itself.

But it was a rare exception. The police and government acted quickly to restore calm and challenge the online misinformation about a criminal case which played into disorder in the first place. Unlike problems in 2011 and those in many other countries, nobody was seriously injured and order was quickly restored. It was a reminder familiar to many countries that maintaining peace and goodwill requires vigilance.

And what we saw instead was rather a determination that a handful should not speak for the majority. Within towns and cities which are home to universities in particular, there is a redoubled emphasis on tolerance and respect. Safety measures have been revisited and students reassured, although most never saw any problems in the first place.

Community leaders, teachers, students and ordinary citizens are letting it be known that they love their peaceful friendly communities and will never let a minority disturb that. Tolerance, freedom and the rule of law remain firmly entrenched in the UK. My own daughter studies at the University of Aberdeen and — for anyone looking for the safest possible place to study — I can confirm that Scotland is an outstanding choice within what is already a very safe Great Britain.

Welcome

Which brings us to welcome. International students are not just tolerated in the U.K., they are actively welcomed.

International students make up almost a quarter of the total student population, and repeated surveys of public attitudes confirm that diverse universities are warmly welcomed. This is not just because of the economic benefits they bring but because it is well understood that living and studying alongside young people from across the world is an education in itself.

For many students, higher education is the first time in their life that they are constantly sharing ideas, teams and friendships with people from right across the globe. In an increasingly international world, cultural agility is a tremendous asset and students develop this quite naturally as they learn alongside one another. It can make the difference between securing quality work following graduation or not.

Modern Britain is already racially diverse so international students find themselves studying alongside British students of the same heritage and doing it in places that cater for cultural needs including food, religion and clothing. Ethnic diversity can vary by location though, it’s important to do your homework ahead of selecting a preferred institution to be sure of choosing a host community that meets your particular needs and preferences.

Cultural tolerance is a UK strength as is freedom of expression, despite the tensions this can sometimes cause when people disagree. But in education an open exchange of ideas is a treasured asset.

Education

And of course, a British education is respected right around the world for its quality, with many courses associated with professional bodies and industry standards recognised globally.

This is not only true of its most famous ancient universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. Every one of the UK’s universities undergoes a system of rigorous quality assurance and the knowledge it shares with students is based on the highest standards of research. This is conveyed by teachers whose own educational journey is rightly demanding and accompanied by ongoing professional development and feedback.

These are the people international graduates remember with great affection for decades to come. They are the people who inspire and challenge, who motivate students to do more than they ever imagined and support them when the journey is difficult. They light the fire of learning.

For as the great Oxford scholar John Henry Newman wrote, “The general principles of any study you may learn by books at home; but the detail, the colour, the tone, the air, the life which makes it live in us, you must catch all these from those in whom it lives already.”

And for those who need extra support with their English language, study skills or cultural acclimatisation, there are established and supportive access routes especially designed with international student success in mind. Designed with universities, international foundation and pathway programmes and even parallel international year ones, give overseas the academic assistance to thrive, and those who pursue this route also graduate with excellent degrees and career prospects.

Opportunity

Which brings me to my final thought. The pursuit of global education is rarely for its own sake alone. As a report by HSBC has recently confirmed once more, an overseas education is a big investment and just over half of parents pay for their child’s international education from their general savings, while 22% take out a loan and another 20% sell assets. They do this because they are investing in the future.

And this is where the U.K. really comes into its own. While major study destinations such as Canada and Australia are tightening their policies impacting international education, the new U.K. government has confirmed that it is committed to actively welcoming international students as a vital part of the country‘s outstanding system of university education.

Concerns raised about post-study work and the graduate route visa under the previous government have been put behind us. The advisory committee asked to review the system has said it is working as intended and the Education Minister has made clear the new Government sees international students as a welcome part of universities and the communities that host them:

“International students will always be welcome in this country,” she said. “I want to set the record straight on international students. I know there’s been some mixed messaging from governments in the past. This government will take a different approach and we will speak clearly. This new government values their contribution – to our universities, to our communities, to our country. I want Britain to welcome those who want to come to these shores to study, and meet the requirements to do so.”

What is more, Britain is a country of low unemployment where skills and talent are urgently needed, especially in healthcare and STEM subjects. The country is a base for most of the major multinational companies and for industries of every kind, as well as globally respected employers such as the National Health Service where salaries are often higher than in international graduates’ home countries.

After two years of post-study work, graduates with particular shortage skills or who are thriving in their careers are eligible to apply to stay for a longer period. Or they can take what they have learned and use it right across the world.

In short, despite a few days of bad headlines following a political debate around immigration, led by a government on the record as see international education as fundamental to a successful economy and our great global universities.

The UK remains a welcoming land of education and opportunity for international students. For over 500 years, its universities have evolved to offer stimulation, challenge and a ‘home from home’ for the brightest and best the world has to offer.

(Author is CEO, Study Group)

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