Business Management degrees

[Larsson11]

Hello our son is considering doing a business management degree at Birmingham Uni however after visiting was a bit put off to find out that over 50% of the students were international students - mainly from China & India. I know Uni's need the foreign cash and diversity is great but just wondered how this impacts the students experience.

What's wrong if they are from India/China?

Nothing - it's more over that having 50% seems crazy. Going to Uni is not just about learning, it's also about meeting lifelong friends and students from overseas tend naturally to stick together.

It’s fairly common particularly in business/ law/ computer science

yes it probably will impact his experience in terms of making lifelong friends etc (although not sure this is quite the thing it was compared to us being at uni) but so can a non campus uni.

How large is a typical incoming cohort, OP?
Making friends is a numbers game.

If a School has an incoming cohort of eg 600 students with 50% Overseas, that leaves 300 Home students. That’s plenty to be going on with.

It is true that Overseas students, particularly those who don’t have a comfortable level of English, may tend to stick together - but this is a trend and not a rule. Cross cultural friendships can be one of the best aspects of university. So I wouldn’t write off the Overseas cohort, either.

That's a good way of looking at. Thanks

Great chance to make friends globally and maybe an overseas internship.

Some of these responses are naive.

I would encourage your DS to go along to the open day and talk to existing students about how they are finding it. A high percentage of foreign students will impact how the course is delivered and the university experience.

@rookiemere I agree with you and would add that group work with international students whose English is not great can be a real challenge.

I am a former Russell Group admissions tutor, and in that role I specifically concentrated on integrating our large Overseas students into the mainstream of our School. I have also taught a course unit with a heavy group work component so I am familiar with the challenges mentioned by @Bigfatsquirrel They are real but not insurmountable

Another reality is that many of the most desirable degree programmes in the UK, particularly in this area, currently have a large overseas enrolment

Of course the composition of the cohort affects the university experience for all students. But I for one am certainly not naive, and stand by my original comment.

My son is also looking at business management and he has noticed this too at a few uni's - they've tended to be unis with not only good reputations but also closer to cities. I think poetryandwine has the right approach.
I'm from overseas myself and I can see how people of the same culture with no family around would be drawn to hanging around with each other - but I think there is an enough home students that if your son still liked any uni it would be OK.

At uni he will build several friendship groups. Course friends, accommodation friends, and if he joins any, club friends. I think it can be slightly easier at universities with a campus, but I don't think it makes a huge difference, and the exposure to other cultures is pretty valuable.

Yes, I'm sure he'll be ok. Maybe I am just an old fart whose uni experience was akin to the young ones. Now it just seems a bit meh!

Many many years ago I was the only Brit on my degree course. I don't think I questioned it at the time. It was what it was, and I have continued to have friends from a wide variety of countries/cultures ever since.

Is he aiming to work for an international corporation? If so an international cohort could be a good thing. As long as he makes the effort. It is far easier to be with people from the same background as you, but it will be more rewarding to understand different perspectives and attitudes and have your own assumptions challenged. In any group there will be some who want to stick to the familiar, but others who are interested in reaching out. If he makes the effort he will find Asian peers happy to reciprocate.

One of mine did a B&M conversion masters at a uni similar in the league tables to Birmingham for B&M. One third Chinese, one third other Asian (mainly Indian), one sixth African and rest UK, European, North America. He wouldn't recommend it. His experience: Chinese only wanted him in their group to tidy up their English (had lots of side meetings excluding him) and learning styles very different. Stereotyped him as lazy (a bit true). Indians and Africans more welcoming but they were generally working full time and doing course Sometimes he was the only one to turn-up to break out discussion rooms and tutorials. After 10 weeks he complained and was moved to a new group 2×UK, 2×EU, 2×US.

Quality of course was great though. He jumped after a term to a grad scheme (and wasn't that lazy by UK standards as got a distinction on his PGCE). Found the course useful for work.