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Why do our most prestigious and wealthiest Unis accept so many international students ?

565 replies

Berlinerschnauzer · 31/01/2025 16:32

So said my son’s dad on learning DS2 failed to be offered a place at Cambridge…
I don’t know enough to confirm whether it’s sour grapes or he actually has a point.
Was looking at figures for Oxbridge and was surprised to find that something like 60 odd percent of students (under and post grads) are international. For undergraduates it’s nearly a quarter.
Likewise Edinburgh has 30% international students and is one of the wealthiest unis.
Unlike lower tier unis which don’t have the same deep financial pockets and have to attract foreign students to survive, surely these unis don’t. They could be attracting home grown, talented students who in years to come will contribute massively to the economy rather than returning to their home countries and taking their skills with them. My question is does ex DP have a point or is he spouting bollocks
as per usual ?

OP posts:
MumChp · 31/01/2025 16:39

Septua · 31/01/2025 16:37

Because the fees for international students subsdise the home students. Fewer internationals does not translate into more places for home students.- quite the opposite. Unis are suffering financially from attracting fewer internationals these days. Also universities thrive on exchange of ideas.

Yes it is the catch.

scotchbonnet79 · 31/01/2025 16:39

International student fees subsidise home students. 9k isn’t enough to cover course fees and hasn’t kept up with inflation.

madamweb · 31/01/2025 16:39

Septua · 31/01/2025 16:37

Because the fees for international students subsdise the home students. Fewer internationals does not translate into more places for home students.- quite the opposite. Unis are suffering financially from attracting fewer internationals these days. Also universities thrive on exchange of ideas.

I like the exchange of ideas as a concept but most of the students on my masters course had incredibly poor English skills

skippy67 · 31/01/2025 16:39

Because they pay the full fees upfront.

Meadowfinch · 31/01/2025 16:38

It's very simple. The international students subsidise the domestic students' places.

Without so many international students, fees would be much higher.

MassiveSalad22 · 31/01/2025 16:38

They pay a hell of a lot more, obviously that’s why.

madamweb · 31/01/2025 16:38

Money.

I have up on masters course because the majority of the students seemed to be only there for their student visa and would turn up to about one lecture in 10. It made for a really odd experience..there were other reasons to stop too but this was part of it.

biscuitsandbooks · 31/01/2025 16:37

As everyone has said, money money money.

Septua · 31/01/2025 16:37

Because the fees for international students subsdise the home students. Fewer internationals does not translate into more places for home students.- quite the opposite. Unis are suffering financially from attracting fewer internationals these days. Also universities thrive on exchange of ideas.

CurlewKate · 31/01/2025 16:36

Money.

Iwiicit · 31/01/2025 16:36

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WingBingo · 31/01/2025 16:35

Agreed. All about the money!

ScanningQRCode · 31/01/2025 16:35

because universities at the end of the day are a business and International students pay more money than UK students.

Iwiicit · 31/01/2025 16:35

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zdcgbjm · 31/01/2025 16:34

Surely they are wealthy because they attract the international students who pay more?

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