UK sixth-formers are being overlooked by top UK universities, in favor of high-paying overseas students, many of whom have poorer exam results.
According to an investigation by the Sunday Times, numbers of UK undergraduates have fallen at half of the Russell Group universities since 2008, while the number of non-EU students has risen. Students from outside the EU pay up to four times more in tuition than UK students, allowing universities to make more money.
Thousands of these overseas applicants allegedly secured their place at a UK university after taking a “fast-track” admissions course, which takes a quarter of the time it takes to complete A-levels. This means students are being accepted into the likes of Manchester, Durham and Exeter without having secured the high A-level grades expected of UK students.
All the Russell Group universities that were found to have cut the number of UK undergraduates (except Oxbridge and Imperial) admit overseas students from short fast-track foundation courses. These are run by private companies who promise a “100% guaranteed university place” to all students.
This fall in the number of UK students being accepted into top UK universities is surprising, given the number of UK applicants has increased by 85,000 over the same period.
Professor Alan Smithers, of Buckingham University, said: “There should as far as possible be equivalence between the requirements demanded of British and foreign students. If that is not the case, we’ve got a clear example of discrimination.”
A spokesperson for the Russell Group said it was: “absolutely committed to ensuring talented UK students could access high-quality higher education.”
How have the number of UK students changed at top UK universities?
|
University |
Change in number of UK undergraduates between 2008/9 and 2015/16 |
Change in number of non-EU undergraduates between 2008/9 and 2015/16 |
|
<29% |
>18% |
|
|
<46% |
>56% |
|
|
<17% |
>137% |
|
|
Manchester |
<10% |
>58% |
|
<13% |
>51% |
|
|
<28% |
>15% |
Other universities to cut UK undergraduate numbers: Cardiff, East Anglia, Glasgow, Imperial College London, Kent, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, Sheffield, Southampton, St Andrews, Surrey, Sussex
Universities which have increased the number of UK undergraduates: Bristol, Durham, Exeter
Lead image: Joshua Poh (Flickr)
