This HEPI blog was kindly authored by Vincenzo Raimo, an independent international higher education consultant and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Reading, where he previously served as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement.
The landscape of international student recruitment in the UK has experienced a seismic shift from a period of unexpected prosperity post-Covid, to a challenging environment marked by political, financial, and societal changes. Universities that saw a surge in international enrolments due predominately to favourable external conditions and government policies are now facing a harsh reality. With the UK adopting a frostier stance towards international students, including restrictions on dependents, increased visa fees and health surcharge costs, and negative media portrayal, the January 2024 enrolment figures show a significant downturn, affecting university financial plans and leading to cutbacks and redundancies.
However, this environment has also delineated clear winners and losers, with certain universities more successfully navigating these tumultuous waters. The differentiation lies in the control and implementation of specific factors essential for attracting and retaining international students. Based on over three decades of experience in UK university international student recruitment, the last two as a consultant to a range of institutions, I have identified a range of success factors that are consistently displayed by the most successful universities. These have been grouped into an International Student Recruitment Success Factors Self-Assessment Questionnaire, which serves as a strategic guide for institutions looking to enhance their international student recruitment.
