According to the United Kingdom University Application Process Operator’s statistics, applications made to UK higher education institutions via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) by October 15 have decreased significantly by 16% from the EU countries, while numbers from non-EU nations have stayed consistent.
The 16% decline in European students equates to 850 fewer students at the same level last year — from 5,220 to 4,370 in this application round. The overall number of applications submitted by overseas applicants through the admissions service has decreased by 4%, from 22,730 for 2021 entry to 21,820 this year, indicating a similar minor reduction in figures from July.
According to UCAS, the number of applicants from outside the EU “remains static”. For the 2022 fall intake, around 17,460 applications were received, a modest decrease from the previous year’s 17,510 applications, which experienced a “dramatic 20 per cent increase.” The drop is less than the 56% drop stated by the EU service in the subsequent data released on August 10 for the 2021 admissions.
“While the recent UCAS applicant data covers a small proportion of overall student recruitment, it is encouraging to see stability in the high numbers of non-EU applicants choosing UK universities, and to see significant increases across the devolved administrations”, said Jamie Arrowsmith, Assistant Director Policy and Global Engagement, Universities UK International.
The preliminary closing date of admissions, October 15, is for candidates interested in studying courses in September 2022 at the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge, as well as those interested in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary degrees at other institutions; ahead of the January 26, 2022 deadline for all courses at universities, and colleges. It typically accounts for about 10% of the overall number of candidates in a cycle.
“UK universities have been working hard to ensure students from all around the world continue to be welcomed and supported during this period. As a sector, we look forward to welcoming the next cohort of students to our campuses and communities,” Arrowsmith said. “Recruitment from the EU continues to be a challenge, with further decreases in EU applicants seen this year,” he added.
EU students contribute significantly to UK higher education, and we hope and anticipate that, in the long run, a UK university experience will continue to attract top students from the EU – as it does to students from all over the world.
The number of applications from the UAE increased from 540 last year to 600 this year. Applications from Ireland also witnessed a 15% increase in candidates for 2022, with 850 applicants compared to 740 last year. Students in Ireland are still eligible for home fees following the Brexit from the EU – saw a 15% increase in applicants for 2022, reaching 850 from 740 last year.
According to the figures, there has been a 5% increase in applications from China – 4,570 this year compared to 4,340 for 2021, following a 31% increase from 3,310 in 2020. Hong Kong applications have declined to 1,470 from 1,530 last year, Singapore to 1,510 from 1,540, India to 1,410 from 1,530, the United States to 1,400 from 1,650, and Malaysia to 680 from 730.
France had the most applications in the EU, with 470 (down from 560 last year), followed by Germany, with 450. (down from 550). According to the statistics, the number of applications from the two countries is lower than it has been since at least 2013.
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