Key stakeholders in the UK’s “crowded and complex” international student recruitment ecosystem need more support if the UK is to strengthen its global position in the study abroad segment, a British Council report has found.
The report, which aims to give “a pioneering overview” of the different channels through which international students enter UK undergraduate education, found that in 2021/22, almost half (46%) of all applicants submitted individual applications directly through UCAS’s online system.
However, it noted that many of these students were likely advised by agents or school counsellors.
“While traditional pathways into international higher education remain popular, this study demonstrates the increasing importance of international schools and agents in UK overseas recruitment,” said Jacqui Jenkins, global programme lead, international student mobility, British Council.
